Wet Equalization Experiences & Techniques

[Michael]

Don,

I have done some experimenting with wet equalization. First, let me say that I do not personally believe that the risk of infection is so great as to make the method impracticable. I have for years snorted salt water at the beach when I had a cold, and it has never caused me any problems.

So, I have experimented with a very simple method of wet equalization. I dove without a mask or nose clip, at around 30m I snorted water in my nose, and then frenzeled that water into my eustacian tubes, and continued the dive. It was simple, but it did feel uncomfortable to have the feeling of a head full of water. I also found that the eustacian tubes did not fill completely with water. So, I had to continue using small amounts of air.

I believe that wet equalization can be simple and effective and relatively safe.

[Longfins]

Originally Posted by donmoore

...but what is my max with my limited lung volume and how many years will it take to get there.
don

Don,

This is a little off topic, but to account for my own lung volume experience,

When I started freediving my ribcage is pretty much collapsed, and I know my VC was way below average. Stretching them were a bit difficult because the muscles between each rib are pretty short. I started using neck weight at the pool 2 years ago, starting with 5 lbs with a full pack (no suit), doing DWF and DNF. Today I'm using 9 lbs on a full pack, so I know my lung capacity has increased by 1.8L within the past 2.5 years because I have to fully pack my lungs to stay neutral in the pool. When my head start to sink I'll know it's time to add more lead. I like this method because it's an objective measurement of my total lung capacity on a given day.

So don't give up! It's harder in the beginning but it gets easier as your ribcage gets stretched. It took me a year to progress from 5->6 lbs, but only a few months to go from 8->9lbs.

Peter S.

[Panos Lianos]

Don,

I couldn’t help smiling when I read what you wrote. I’ve had a similar experience.

I haven’t actually done any serious dives using the wet equalization technique but I have done some playing around with it, mainly to help with my normal Frenzel technique.

Some years ago one of my ears wouldn’t equalize, probably because of some leftovers from a cold. It just wouldn’t. The Eustachian tube seemed to be blocked. I got some 0.9% sodium chloride solution from a pharmacy and did some sinus “washing” but it didn’t seem to help. What I did was to tilt my head back, close my soft palate and inject the solution in my nose. Keep the soft palate closed and breath through my mouth for about 20 seconds, then tilt forward and “blow” my nose.

This didn’t help “clean” the Eustachian tube very well so I decided to equalize “with” the solution to force some of it in the middle ear hoping this would clean the tube. Again tilt head back, inject the solution and equalize quickly. I obviously used excess force and pushed too much solution and after a while it started to hurt a lot. I couldn’t open my Eustachian tubes to let the solution out so you can imagine that I was VERY MAD and in pain. I laid down in bed and after a few hours the solution “trickled” out and the pain was not unbearable anymore. It was there but I could live with it. Also the tube of the problematic ear was clean and I could equalize again.

Ever since then, in the rare occasion that I can’t equalize in the sea (maybe once a season?) I get some sea water in my hand and put it under my nose and quickly tilt back to let it go down my nose, then bring head back (so the area in no longer flooded and equalize gently. This pushes some “drops” of sea water in the tubes and helps open them since they are “wet” and open easily. However this is not a nice sensation since you can feel some “burning”

So, not really related to 100% wet equalization but it’s the same mechanics and for some people it might help with the Frenzel.

[cdavis]

Wow, talk about different results from the same action. Very occansionally, I will equalize inverted but slightly over on my back. A little bit of salt water, a few drops, gets forced into my e-tubes. Immediately it is difficut to clear, the tubes feel gooy and the valves don't open very well. It takes a day or so to clear up. Why the difference?

Connor

[donmoore]

Panos,
Nice sharing. I think the excess force was the main cause for pain for me too.

In trying to find what kind of solution to use, I did several searches on the internet for “cleaning middle ears”, “cleansing middle ears”, etc. All I could find was veterinaries who did it to dogs and other animals. Veterinaries are unique in that they are not bound by the medical restrictions MD’s (liability, insurance, etc.) and are willing to try things without having to worry about establishment restrictions!

Connor,
In theory a hypertonic (higher than 0.9% saline solution) is suppose to draw fluid away from the mucus membrane, but one study I read where they used 4.5% saline solution in one group of asthmatics and 0.9% in another in their nebulizers found the 4.5% user to have more irritation which resulted in more congestion and difficulty breathing, so it appears a true 0.9% maybe better. If using salt water from the ocean it would be hypertonic and would also have who knows what other things in it.

Maybe this could shed some light on why they became more sticky for you.
don

[jome]

Once about a year ago I first read about the "snorting saltwater" tip. I tried it, but got mixed with the unit conversions, and accidentally made a solution that was about 3 times stronger than isotonic.

My nose was glued shut for 2 days. So at least for me, it didn't really help. It was running like a tap and absolutely not one single molecule of air would pass through it

With isotonic solution, I've never had problems (although I don't find that it really helps that much either...).

Maybe some people (me) are more sensitive...If I get water in my nose at the pool or in a lake, it will be running for a day or two straight...Like some kind of allregic reaction almost.

[Lachlan]

Hey guys,

I tried a little experiment yesterday just for my own benefit. I made a 0.9% isotonic soloution using steralised (twice boiled anyway) water and added non-iodized salt (after boiling so as not to get volumes wrong from evaporation). First I used some of this solution to clean my sinuses out as to reduce the risk of infection. I then put some of the saline solution into my mask and snorted some into the nasal cavity. I used a very weak valvalsa equalising technique as Don stated using Frenzal caused too much pressure on his ears. This instantly put water in them and they felt fine.

I repeated this process twice (Only a small amount that did not fill them right up) and then opened the Eustachian tubes to let the water out. Most of it drained out straight away with out a problem but I could still feel some in my ears. I tried to equalise again and could hear a gurgling sound inside my ears. This noise could also be heard by my Mum so it was obvious water was still trapped. I lay down to see if that would help but after a while the side facing the ground became sore. This pain developed after about 2 hours and it became quite painful at one stage. I stayed lying down and eventually it went away but the water was still trapped so I used the 1/3 each of rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and vinegar and put it in my outer ear. This is as Don recommended earlier. My ears hurt for a little longer as I kept trying to open the tubes to let the water out but with no success. I also had the side effect of being able to smell the isotonic solution which led me to believe it was slowly coming out of my ears and back into my sinuses. Also every now and then one of my eyes would drip what seemed like a teardrop (only one eye though which is strange!!) Nine hours later the feeling of water in my ear was gone and today everything feels normal.

I found this process very easy to undertake and wasn't too bad at all. The hour of pain was bearable and my hearing was fine also. This also seemed to help lubricate the E tubes as I can now equalise my sticky ear lots easier than previously.

Just thought I would share my experience. Will definately try it again. Give it a go.

Catchya, Lachlan

[efattah]

Peter S.,

Although using your ballast in the pool as a measure of buoyant lung capacity can be useful, keep in mind that your body fat percentage also plays a role in your buoyancy. If after a few months you need to change your neckweight mass, it could be either because of a lung volume change or from a body fat % change.