Diving and Ears

[dohzer]

I've been doing some spearfishing at around 7 - 10m over the last few days, equalizing each time I dive by holding my nose and blowing out.
After around two hours of diving, I got out of the water and my eardrums sound and feel like paper bags crumpling when I "blow out" or "suck in" while holding my nose. They also sound blocked, but I don't have any water in my ears (at least, not outside my eardrum).

My mother thinks I may have water trapped behind my drum says I should try "sucking in" to open/clear my Eustachian tubes so the fluid can escape, but it just feels unnatural and it makes it hard to hear if I don't "blow out" after doing this.

I had a few ear infections when I was a kid, and I'm fairly sure at least one of my eardrums ruptured, so I'm not sure if that would cause any problems with diving, but I just wanted to ask if this is an unusual feeling? Is there anything I can do to better protect my ears?

 

[monkeyhatfork]

If you squeezed your ears a bit you could have some blood in your eardrum wich can give you a feeling a having water in your ears, if minor it can go away on its own, if bad a doctor will have to drain it. if that is even the problem you are having, if it doesnt go away in a day or so I would see a doctor for now I would just leave your ears alone to let them recover, they might just be mad at you.

 

[monkeyhatfork]

I like a product called doc's pro plugs, just make shure you size them correctly

 

[blaiz]

I like a product called doc's pro plugs, just make shure you size them correctly

I agree, though I dont personally use them my dive partner has had similar problems with his ears, started using the plugs and loves them. He has dove to 100ft with the plugs with out any issues, but as stated make sure you size them correctly.

Also you might try and get some "swimmers ear" drops or something similar. They are usually a mixture of alcohol and saline solution which helps evaporate the water in your inner ear. I usually put a few drops in my ear after each dive.

 

[spaghetti]

My doc came to the conclusion that my ear problems came from the Nostrils (the holes in my nose). He said they were too narrow. This brought to insufficient ventilation, which brought to infection, which brought to schmucus and again infection in a permanently sore middle ear.

he gave me two alternatives: drill larger holes or toy about with antibiotics, machine nebulizations, inhalations, thermae. Thermae are so much funnier than drilling nostrils. And it helped a bit. (ah: and oily drops!)

 

[dohzer]

I think the strange feeling in my ears is dying down, but it still hasn't totally dissipated. I'll have a look into the ear plugs.

My doc came to the conclusion that my ear problems came from the Nostrils (the holes in my nose). He said they were too narrow. This brought to insufficient ventilation, which brought to infection, which brought to schmucus and again infection in a permanently sore middle ear.

Interesting that you point out narrow nostrils as a problem. Last time I saw a doctor I asked him about my nostrils because for a few years they had felt like they weren't wide enough. He seemed to think it was an allergy and put me on a nasal spray, but it hasn't done anything.
Was there a specific test you had done to check the width of your nostrils?

 

[Old Man Dave]

After 40 years of diving with almost no problems I have had 3 serious ear infections (outer ear - swimmers ear) in the last 3 seasons. I now use the Doc pro vented ear plugs. I'm not currently using any ear beer or similar but may move on to that if I still have problems. I believe in my case diving in poluted (human sewerage) contaminated water was the main cause. However, it may just be old age or even just bad luck.

Loads on the internet. I should know as I spent many desperate hours last season when 3 courses of different antibiotics didn't work. Eventually I had a minor operation to scape out the infected cells from inside my ear. Fixed it but at a price as in financialy :rcard not physically.

Dave.