Ear/equalisation issues

[krit]

I've been freediving for about a month and a half, mostly up to and around 8-10 meters, for 2-3 times per week. At the end of the last 4-5 days I've been leaving with partial hearing loss on my right ear, which seemed to recover fully after a couple of days. By hearing loss I mean that everything sounds muffled, as if I have water in my ear (I don't, at least not in the outer ear).

Last Wednesday I've had the same issue, only slightly worse. Muffled hearing took longer to go away (5-6 days), and I've had a lovely tinnitus to go with it. The strangest part is that some frequencies sounded "metallic" (as if ringing), and when I whistled, I'd get a second, harmonic note from my right ear. Yes, I could hear my whistling with a second, different note as if a second person was whistling along.. All the symptoms have gradually disappeared (6 days later) except from tinnitus leftovers which should be vanishing soon.

During my dives I've never had any pain/discomfort. Just some "push" on the eardrum which would just go away with equalising, not more than it should be. The only feeling out of the ordinary was that during my dives that were towards the end of each day, my right ear would need much more time to equalise (ie airflow was gradual when equalising, so I needed to keep the pressure for a second or two). I don't recall pushing more than I normally do to equalise though.

My otolaryngologist was away until today. I visited today (after 6 days) and he did some tests and said that nothing's wrong with my ears and that there's no infection and nothing to worry about. When I saw the tympanogram and inquired about the parts of the graph that should have been peaks but weren't he said that its just my ear recovering from the dives and that it's normal. I'm certain that something happened though.

My guess is that even though I felt no discomfort, I might have accidentally put more pressure than I should during equalisation, or perhaps I didn't equalise when I should. The pressure in the middle ear might have caused liquid/blood to accumulate which might or might not have been accompanied by a small infection (I don't think it'd disappear this fast though).

I'm using frenzel to equalise.

Any opinions/similar experiences?

Btw hello everyone and it's great to be part of deeperblue!

//edit: on second thought, maybe this should have been created under equalisation.. any kind mods to move this please?

 

[glubglub]

For me it's my left ear. And counter intuitively, it's worse when my dive is only 5-6 m than if it's 8-10 m. In my case it has something to do with mucus in the Eustachian tube. When I dive deep enough and equalize correctly, on the way up the air inside my ear has enough pressure to push through any mucus that may block the tube. But at shallower depth, it doesn't and on surface may cause either ringing or loss of balance. At one point I had a complete reverse block and the air in my ear didn't flow back and instead push my eardrum outward; I loss high frequency hearing for about 4 months.

So now I surface rather slowly to let the pressure gradually change...

 

[devondave]

Glubglub, you may not have mucus in the tube, it could just be that you have a narrow tube and cold water can inflame the lining, making equalizing more difficult. If the inflammation happens on the way down a reverse block can occur.
An ENT doc' can test the width of your tubes and maybe recommend a mild anti-inflammatory to use, usually a nasal spray.

Dave.

 

[mermaidgirl]

Krit,
I have had a lot of trouble with my ears and equalizing, in general. I have had what you describe in addition to rupturing both ear drums in my last comp. dive.
I think what happens with you is you are equalizing too late and then having to blow too hard thus making your ear sore and swollen( barotrauma) There is fluid behind the drum and that's why it feels like there is water in there and your hearing is impaired. I used to do this ( had to get Dr. to drain ear) until I realized to eq. early( even on the surface before the descent) and be more gentle. I practiced going down the line feet first with my head up until I got comfortable with the equalizations.
In the meantime( since the ent said you are ok) drink lots of water, take Advil ( anti-inflammatory) and sleep with the plugged ear up.Try a sinus rinse to clear mucus. Believe me, I try everything!
My problem now is with equalizing at depth and mouthfill- it's always something

 

[krit]

Thanks for your answers...the problems are now gone, and I've noticed that I don't get these ugly effects if I equalise more often.

Is it possible to get water in your inner/mid-ear if you equalise while being upside down and having loads of water in your nostrils?

 

[mermaidgirl]

no, I don't think so. I do not think the eustatian tube is connected that way. I t just feels like there is water in there from the swelling and fluid. It will dry up on its own in a few weeks.

 

[azapa]

you certainly can force water into the inner ear and sinus cavities. this is even used as an advanced and quite risky equalization technique for deep dives. unclean water (the ocean for example) in there will often cause a nasty infection.

Do you try to sleep with the bad ear up? should help drainage.

I agree above though, equalize at the surface and (for example) every two fin kicks: kick - kick - eq - kick - kick -eq etc. The trick is to do them often and without force. With more diving this becomes easier.

Every time I try to go deep again after a few months of spearing I have problems remembering this. Its just practice, technique and relaxation.

 

[blueface]

I had inflamation on just about every dive occasion and finally figured out my problem. I was worried too much about descending efficiently and quickly so I didn't equalize early enough. This caused swelling, reverse block, sinus pressure, and head aches.

As azapa mentioned, you must eqalize early and often to prevent problems. I started equalizing earlier-on the surface before the duck dive-and very early BEFORE any discomfort. I know it's been mentioned so many times before but it did not sink in until I tried it. I thought, "ya ya that's not the reason" but, it was the reason.

Equalize EARLY AND OFTEN.