Stopped up ears after certification dive

[teejay58]

The ear plugs are $15. They have saved my diving career and I am exceedingly grateful for them. They also are allowing me some time to learn other ways to equalize. The extra time when you can equalize against air instead of water is a dive saver.

When I do get barotrauma, my ears will feel stopped up. If I turn my head so one ear is pointed at the ceiling and one at the floor, I can actually feel the liquid (blood and bubbles apparently) move inside my ear and my hearing changes. It's like putting your ear up to a seashell. These are the symptoms for me, that I pushed my ears too hard and caused them to fill up with blood in the middle ear. It does resolve, but slowly. Takes a week or two. My ENT doc said it's not harmful unless the fluid stays in your ear in which case it could cause loss of hearing.

One other symptom that I have, is when I ascend, I get vertigo as the air attempts to escape. You didn't mention this one, so maybe it's just the way I'm built.

 

[DandyDon]

Here is another recent discussion along these lines...
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/diving-medicine/354737-water-behind-eardrums.html

 

[TSandM]

Dandy Don, I would be very careful about advising people to take antibiotics. Oral antibiotics are used for otitis externa primarily for two reasons: One, the canal is so swollen and painful that it's impossible to get in a wick for topical antibiotics, and two, the infection is resistant to or has failed to response to topical medication. It is an unusual situation where oral antibiotics are required.

Oral antibiotics are used in otitis media if it is clear that it is a significant bacterial infection. The difficulty is that barotrauma LOOKS very much like otitis media (red, inflamed drum) and has similar symptoms (ear pain and diminished hearing). So a diving-naive practitioner may be tempted to diagnose otitis media on appearance, not realizing that the history is more consistent with simple barotrauma (which neither requires nor responds to antibiotics).

If this is simple barotrauma, as I suspect, there is no really effective treatment other than time. Oral antiinflammatories are recommended by some specialists, as are oral decongestants (to optimize middle ear drainage) and chewing gum (which is a mechanical way of doing the same thing). I am unaware of any studies that show a significant effect of any of these approaches, but they're unlikely to do harm.

 

[DandyDon]

I guess I did overstep my sharing there, thanks. I've had docs give me oral antibiotics along with ear meds for ear infections and I guess I bought into the shotgun approach. Glad you were able to get back here and correct me there. :blush:

 

[rajohn]

I have ear troubles. I have to descend very slowly because it's hard for me to equalize. And the same thing on ascending. If I come up a little too fast, I get vertigo, a most unpleasant sensation. I think I prefer the pain of descent to vertigo. At least I can tell which way is up so i can relieve the pain. In any case, the ear plugs you're talking about, were extremely beneficial to me. Doc's Pro Plugs. They have tiny holes in them that will eventually let the water in so the plug doesn't get pushed into your ear canal. But they let the water in slowly. This gives you more time to equalize your ears against air which, ya know, is not quite as dense as water. I can now descend like a normal person. I still get vertigo on ascending unless i'm pretty careful.

I think I got this link here on scubaboard. It is excellent, though. And it's helped me find new ways to equalize.

Prevention of Middle Ear Barotrauma

If you have no trouble equalizing, and you're getting problems with your inner ear, then equalize more often. And do it before you feel pain. Good luck.

Wow...Thanks for the lead on Docs Pro Plugs. I have thought for years there should be something like this. I can't believe it took me this long to actually find them by following your lead. I have ordered the pack which has 4 different sizes as there is no dealer in my area who sells them where I could get fitted. All four delivered are only $35 and if they work that's cheap. Once I find the correct size I can order single pairs in the future if I need them for only $12.95 plus shipping. I'll be diving in Cozumel in two weeks and I can't wait to try them. I'll report back and let everyone know how they work. I figure there may be someone on the dive boat I can give the ones that don't fit if they need them.

 

[flots am]

correct size I can order single pairs in the future if I need them for only $12.95 plus shipping. I'll be diving in Cozumel in two weeks and I can't wait to try them. I'll report back and let everyone know how they work. I figure there may be someone on the dive boat I can give the ones that don't fit if they need them.

I'm glad they were cheap, since they won't fix anything.

Physics is a harsh mistress. Any water pressure the plugs don't let in, will be on the outside jamming the plugs into your ears. If you need more time to equalize, you should be learning how to control your descent, not looking for a quick equipment fix.

Also if they happen to plug up on descent, you're going to be in a world of hurt.

There is no device aside from a submarine or a full hard suit that will allow you to descend underwater without equalizing.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/di...nted-ear-plugs-work-topic-comes-up-often.html

 

[mallbritton]

I don't think anyone who is interested in these types of ear plugs is trying to get away with not equalizing. At least I'm not anyway; I don't think anyone else has seriously thought that's what those ear plugs are for. Speaking for myself I would not mind a little help learning to equalize properly, and if Doc's ear plugs help with that then I say great.

Regards,
Michael

 

[JoeSpirit]

I once had a clogged ear passage after a dive. It didn't clear up over the next week so I visited an ear, nose, and throat specialist for treatment.

He took a look with his exam tool, flushed my ear out, and told me to keep it dry. He said he seen some blockage, but that it should clear up in a few days. It's been so long ago now that I don't remember if he gave me a prescription or not, but my hazy memory suggests the possibility of an antibiotic prescription.

I kept it dry like he told me and sitting in bed reading some nights later I felt something hit my shoulder. Thought maybe a spider had dropped from the ceiling for a moment. Looking down I found a ball of cotton laying beside me. I often dry my ears with a swab after I dive. Guess that cotton had come off the swab stick, and stayed in my ear, held there because the moisture kept it swollen.

That doctor sent me a bill for $100 for that office visit. I called, and told his nurse about the cotton falling out, and that my hearing was now okay, and that I didn't feel the doctor's work was worth $100.

Reckon he agreed with me some because he knocked off half the bill, and only charged me $50.

 

[Lor'Ca]

I will spare everyone my horror stories about barotrauma. Suffice it to say, I had one with every dive in the beginning. Then, because I wasn't satisfied with the answers I was getting on PREVENTION, I did some research on my own. The internet is a wonderful tool! I finally found the key to prevention!!! NeilMed Pharmaceuticals, Makers of Sinus Rinse, NasaFlo Netipot, Nasal Irrigation Neilmed Sinus Rinse.
This has been my miracle cure. I cannot express how fabulous this product is!

 

[DandyDon]

I once had a clogged ear passage after a dive. It didn't clear up over the next week so I visited an ear, nose, and throat specialist for treatment.

He took a look with his exam tool, flushed my ear out, and told me to keep it dry. He said he seen some blockage, but that it should clear up in a few days. It's been so long ago now that I don't remember if he gave me a prescription or not, but my hazy memory suggests the possibility of an antibiotic prescription.

I kept it dry like he told me and sitting in bed reading some nights later I felt something hit my shoulder. Thought maybe a spider had dropped from the ceiling for a moment. Looking down I found a ball of cotton laying beside me. I often dry my ears with a swab after I dive. Guess that cotton had come off the swab stick, and stayed in my ear, held there because the moisture kept it swollen.

That doctor sent me a bill for $100 for that office visit. I called, and told his nurse about the cotton falling out, and that my hearing was now okay, and that I didn't feel the doctor's work was worth $100.

Reckon he agreed with me some because he knocked off half the bill, and only charged me $50.

:lol:​

You know that you should never stick a swab inside your ear? Alcohol in the suggested mix dries well, maybe too well if used too much - like straight, or an ENT physician who posts on ear threads in the Medicine forum likes the electric ear dryer.

I will spare everyone my horror stories about barotrauma. Suffice it to say, I had one with every dive in the beginning. Then, because I wasn't satisfied with the answers I was getting on PREVENTION, I did some research on my own. The internet is a wonderful tool! I finally found the key to prevention!!! NeilMed Pharmaceuticals, Makers of Sinus Rinse, NasaFlo Netipot, Nasal Irrigation Neilmed Sinus Rinse.
This has been my miracle cure. I cannot express how fabulous this product is!

It has been practiced in India for centuries as one of the disciplines of yoga. My home bud likes it, and the ENT physician who posts on ear threads in the Medicine forum recommends it.