My First Dive!!!

Mr. Tezza

Hey folks!

Went on my first dive while I was away on holidays in Lanzarote with www.aquasport.eu.com, was a brilliant experience, so much so that we booked a second dive for later on in that week before we were due to fly home and now I'm hooked!

I'm having problems with my ears though, got drops over there (Otocerum) after speaking to our instructor, he said it was probably just water trapped in my ears but its still bothering me, we went diving on monday and flew back tuesday, its not thursday and they still bothering me, is there somethign I can do?

Freedive Ireland

when you say trouble what do you mean> ears ringing dullness of sound pain or ?etc In any case go to a Dr. and get him to have a look and make sure the drum is not perforated. If it is then infection is possible and prob antibiotics. the drum will heal again over time. It may not be the case but go and check. Infections can be bad and damaging and usually treatable so go today. Its probably nothing but just to be sure.

Mr. Tezza

Freedive Ireland wrote: »

when you say trouble what do you mean> ears ringing dullness of sound pain or ?etc In any case go to a Dr. and get him to have a look and make sure the drum is not perforated. If it is then infection is possible and prob antibiotics. the drum will heal again over time. It may not be the case but go and check. Infections can be bad and damaging and usually treatable so go today. Its probably nothing but just to be sure.

I can hear everything fine but it feels like i'm wearing ear plugs or something? it dosen't hurt really they just feel uncomfortable.

I don't think they're infected cos I was using the ear drops I got over there and the woman in the pharmacy where I got them said the drops were antiseptic? Maybe she gave me the wrong type of stuff?

Shud I go to a pharmacy over here where they might understand my problem better or shud I go to a doctor?

Thanks for the help

Freedive Ireland

Mr. Tezza its not something that can be diagnosed over the net or in a pharmacy. If its just water lodged stuck in the outer ear then it should dislodge itself in time and you will wake up with a wet pillow. However my concern woudl be anything on the inner ear. Its highly unlikely the eardrum is ruptured as its usually painful the instant it happens, not something you would ignore. However a look inside would be the best course of action it could just be water lodged inbetween some wax that cant get out. Ears are precious though and I never put anything smaller than my elbow in my ear so resist the temptation of cotton buds etc.

Mr. Tezza

Freedive Ireland wrote: »

Mr. Tezza its not something that can be diagnosed over the net or in a pharmacy. If its just water lodged stuck in the outer ear then it should dislodge itself in time and you will wake up with a wet pillow. However my concern woudl be anything on the inner ear. Its highly unlikely the eardrum is ruptured as its usually painful the instant it happens, not something you would ignore. However a look inside would be the best course of action it could just be water lodged inbetween some wax that cant get out. Ears are precious though and I never put anything smaller than my elbow in my ear so resist the temptation of cotton buds etc.

I called in to the guy who was instructing us on the dive a few hours after the dive when they were still blocked and I think he said something about the water being trapped behind some ear wax or something like that. he recommended I get the ear drops cos it happens him sometimes, said it was stuff called opto something he could not remember the name fully, I'm beginning to think that the stuff I got while in Lanzarote is not the right stuff?

If i "wiggle" my ear (not sure if that the best explanation for it but can't think of anything else) the feeling goes away but slowly comes back? But I can't feel any sloshing around inside my ear either so thats why I'm confused? Looked up a few different forums and stuff and a thing called "swimmers ear" seems to best describe whats wrong.

I might ask in a pharmacy and if they can't help go to a doctor then. I hope this doesn't happen me all the time now cos I'm hooked on diving and want to get going on courses and get gear and stuff and this would real a real annoyance if it was to happen after each dive!

Thirdfox

Did your ears squeak while diving and equalising?

Mine does - and I had similar problems - it almost feels like one ear has let the air out properly. It's gone away after a week and a half for me - any longer and I would have just gone to the doctors as a precaution.

And as for not sticking anything in your ears - I find that's a European (UK/US/Irish) notion? In Asia where I come from ear canal cleaning with a spoon is a routine hygiene ritual. In fact, in parlors you can even get others to pick out your ear wax if you wish - akin to getting your hair cut or nails done over here.

Mr. Tezza

Thirdfox wrote: »

Did your ears squeak while diving and equalising?

Mine does - and I had similar problems - it almost feels like one ear has let the air out properly. It's gone away after a week and a half for me - any longer and I would have just gone to the doctors as a precaution.

And as for not sticking anything in your ears - I find that's a European (UK/US/Irish) notion? In Asia where I come from ear canal cleaning with a spoon is a routine hygiene ritual. In fact, in parlors you can even get others to pick out your ear wax if you wish - akin to getting your hair cut or nails done over here.

Hey Thirdfox,

Yea if I remember right i could hear squeaking in my ear while diving and had a bit of trouble equalising, I can't "pop" my ears by holding my nose but I heard of other ways of doing it?

Not sticking stuff in my ears?! I've had cotton buds/fingers and drops in my ears all week messing around trying to sort them out lol! Got stuff from a chemist, that look like ear plugs and tried them, now my right ear feels fine but my left ear still feels like its blocked?

Its starting to worry me a small bit but I can feel liquid in there alrite, if it doesn't drain out by monday i'm thinking of going to a doctor and getting them checked out?

Fratton Fred

It could be a number of things.

Stop playing with it, see how it goes after a few days (sticking cotton buds in your ear could be aggrevating it) and if it isn't showing improvement, get to a doctor.

It might be soggy wax, which will sort itself out, but could become infected if you poke it, or it could be an infection of the middle ear aka swimmers ear. This might sort itself out, or you might need drops.

It could also be water trapped behind the ear drum, this happens when water goes up your nose with some force, such as jumping in without holding your nose. The water will drain, but can get infected and you will need antibiotics.

I think you can also get air pockets in earwax which again is painful but should sort itself out.

You aren't going to get a diagnosis on here, so as I say, stop playing with it and see what happens.

Freedive Ireland

Mr. Tezza wrote: »

Hey Thirdfox,

Yea if I remember right i could hear squeaking in my ear while diving and had a bit of trouble equalising, I can't "pop" my ears by holding my nose but I heard of other ways of doing it?

The squeaking you guys are hearing is more likely to be mucous in the frontal sinuses moving around. A neti pot or Neils med is a good way to help this. You canpo yor ears using several methods either Valsalva. or Frenzel (marcate odaglia) or by BTV (using your jaw muscles) if you have a lot of trouble see an ent guy and get him to tak e a look. Some peoples eustachian tubes are harder and have a tighter bend in them but its more likely to be head position and the need to relax a whole lot more. Also if on scuba heads will be much easier to equalise rather than duckdiving.

Mr. Tezza

Freedive Ireland wrote: »

The squeaking you guys are hearing is more likely to be mucous in the frontal sinuses moving around. A neti pot or Neils med is a good way to help this. You canpo yor ears using several methods either Valsalva. or Frenzel (marcate odaglia) or by BTV (using your jaw muscles) if you have a lot of trouble see an ent guy and get him to tak e a look. Some peoples eustachian tubes are harder and have a tighter bend in them but its more likely to be head position and the need to relax a whole lot more. Also if on scuba heads will be much easier to equalise rather than duckdiving.

Thanks for the advice,

Not to sound like a total noob (even though I supopose I am) but what do you mean by an ent guy? Its only my left ear that seems to be bothering me now does that mean that the tubes in my left ear are have tighter bends in them? If I go to any gp can they look at them or is there a certain type of doctor I need to go to?

yankinlk

Mr. Tezza wrote: »

Thanks for the advice,

Not to sound like a total noob (even though I supopose I am) but what do you mean by an ent guy? Its only my left ear that seems to be bothering me now does that mean that the tubes in my left ear are have tighter bends in them? If I go to any gp can they look at them or is there a certain type of doctor I need to go to?

ent = ear nose and throat doctor.

I had ear issues before - went to one. Got some decent advice, i recommended the same to you. For me, i had to get an MRI so make sure you have your insurances paid up. Ears, like feet, need to be minded. Never stick anything smaller than your elbow into them.

Mr. Tezza

yankinlk wrote: »

ent = ear nose and throat doctor.

I had ear issues before - went to one. Got some decent advice, i recommended the same to you. For me, i had to get an MRI so make sure you have your insurances paid up. Ears, like feet, need to be minded. Never stick anything smaller than your elbow into them.

Ah ok, just looked it up there after I sent that reply, there's actually one not far away from me so I might go see them just to make sure!

Thanks for the help!

Freedive Ireland

Mr. Tezza wrote: »

Thanks for the advice,
Its only my left ear that seems to be bothering me now does that mean that the tubes in my left ear are have tighter bends in them?

It could be several things like the tube itself or polyps in the sinuses but in 95% of people equalising problems are not physical but either mental by not being relaxed enough, head position, or just not enough time given over to practice. There are tubular exercises you can do. Majority of scuba divers dont do them as they dont need to. Equalising is a much bigger issue for freedivers so we spend longer at it and doing strange things to make it easier at depth. There are muscles there but we tend not to use them in everyday life so we need to reawaken the sensitivity of them through exercises. If your still have trouble down the road look them up and practice but get a clean bill of health for your ears first.

Mr. Tezza

Thanks a bunch for all the advice!

One other thing, can I go to any GP about my ears and get them checked our or should I try and go to a specialist if I can?

Freedive Ireland

I'd go to a Gp first and see if he spots anything then he or she might refer you to a specialist. If they are not sure look up a diving GP there is probably a list somewhere on the CFT website.