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#1
March 10th, 2007
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Hi
I just went back home from a diving trip to the red sea. During the week a had a lot of problems with with my equalization. Normally i have no problems equalizing (i dive usually between 5-10 m). Even when i having a cold i can equalize. I'm equalizing using frenzel i think (only using the air in my mouth, and then moving my Adam's apple while holding my nose). On the trip to the red sea i have problems for the first time in my live. Every morning my first 3-4 dives to 20-30 meters was without any problems. Both ear clicked simultaneously. But the more dives i made, the harder it was to equalize. At last i had to press constantly all the way down, to Equlize my left ear. During the press i heard a howling sound, until the ear was equalized. After about 20-30 dives i was very uncomfortable to go down even at 5 meters, so i couldnt dive until next morning (then my eq was ok again for 4-5 dives). This continued during the hole week. When the ear blocked after 20-30 dives i also had problems equlising ALSO during my ACCENT from the deep. My ear was howling all the way up and i had a lot of pain. The howling continued for approx. 5 sec after break with surface, until my ear finally was equalized. But it was very uncomfortable. When this accentproblem occured i tried to yawn, move my jaw, holdning the nose while sinking, looking up, looking down, etc. during the accent, to help the natural equlasation. But it didnt helped at all. When i got back home, i made at lot of equlisation during the first day, to check if it was the number of equlisations or the depth that caused the problem. And i think it is a mix. I had a the problem, but it occured later (=more equlisations) than on the trip. For your information i used a nosecleaner daily to wash out the nose. Also tried chili and a hot water bottle on the side of the head to get all of it out (even though i didnt felt snotty) Anyone who have a suggestion on this problem? Or have the have problem yourself? Last edited by bemula55; March 10th, 2007 at 11:00. 
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#3
March 11th, 2007
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Bemula55,
I have the problem myself fairly quickly when doing a series of deeper dives that are beyond my habitual depths and well learned equalization skills. During deep dives I can do about a dozen or so dives before the tubes get temperamental. When I spearfish at more typical depths I might be able to do over 120 dives without any problems, if I remain vigilant about careful equalization on every dive. If I am not careful and strain my ears a little I can have the problem even in shallow diving. Probably part of the problem is just gradual tissue swelling from an unusual amount or length of strain. But I also notice that one ear or the other can suddenly become blocked and then spontaneously clear faster than swelling could form or recede. So I think there is also some free mucous buildup during these dives that can block the tube openings. Basically my point is that during your Red Sea vacation it sounds like you were experimenting with deeper depths than you are used to. Probably without realizing it, the quality of your equalizations was slipping because you were concentrating on all the other new aspects of pushing yourself further. Being even more vigilant with early, gentle equalization, and also just patience for adaptation to the deeper depths is all I can really suggest. If you do get snot in your nose I have heard people say to blow it out your nose when possible, rather than suck it into the back of your throat and then spitting. I think the suck back can lodge mucus near the eustation tube openings. David
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#4
March 11th, 2007
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Sorry guys, I don't want to mess up anyone's thread, but I here's already one about ear problems, so...
Well, for the last few days, I'm having some problems with my ear. Every time I swallow, I feel/hear a "squeak" in my right ear. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it doesn't. Could this be a sign of a ear-infection? I'm probably going to call the doctor for an appointment tomorrow. I should also mention that I had a serious cold during the whole last week. Could this be the reason, as I'm not currently diving (so it cannot be caused by water atm)?
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Sander
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