England - dive/ENT doctor recommendations please

[Blue Straggler]

Hi, not sure if this should go straight into Training-Equalisation but I'll put it here for now.

Until about two years ago, I could easily equalise hands-free, which I just did instinctively (i.e. I didn't know it was a "special" technique that some people strived to perfect!)

It would appear that I picked up a minor ear infection in my left ear whilst in Dahab doing a "beginner" AIDA course in October 2006 - I found myself unable to equalise whilst descending head first. Subsequently I have been limited to pool dynamic, and free-immersion (feet first). I optimistically hoped it was something that would clear itself up; no amount of Swim-Ear or olive-oil or "diving through the pain, maaaaan" or just blowing harder, has given a positive result.
My GP is rubbish in terms giving me referrals to a specialist, and it is really time that I got this seen to (as much I do love feet-first FIM, it is not great for buddying a partner!).

So I turn to the wisdom of Deeper Blue. I am pretty sure this needs a specialist ENT or dive doctor to have a look. I doubt that it is serious (doesn't affect my everyday life). As I said, I've tried various "lo-fi" approaches.

I am based in the East Midlands but am happy to travel some distance to get this sorted - I visit London, Manchester and the north-east of England reasonably regularly anyway.

Fishing for recommendations from people who've had similar symptoms successfully ameliorated.

Thanks all!

 

[Blue Straggler]

Anyone.....?

 

[Blue Straggler]

Sorry, the above was a mildly cheeky/provocative reaction to the utter lack of response.

In actuality, my ear sorted itself thanks to repeated feet-first free-immersion dives to the 18m-20m mark over a few sessions - I guess frequent equalisation somehow "freed up" a tube or some such thing. I tentatively had a few goes at head-first FIM very carefully and slowly and only to 8m or so...then 12m...etc. and once I could hit 20m (that's the bottom of our quarry) I started CW work and all was well. So no ENT or other specialist required.

 

[Waterysmile]

Glad that it sorted itself out. Is this quarry near Lufbra, like Markfield? (I grew up in Lufbra).

 

[davewastaken]

clearly u need to see a specialist and get a a new GP because u could cause permanent dmg. sorry abit late but was refering to if u continued to dive with the problem persisting

 

[Blue Straggler]

u could cause permanent dmg.

How so? All is well at the moment.

 

[Blue Straggler]

Glad that it sorted itself out. Is this quarry near Lufbra, like Markfield? (I grew up in Lufbra).

Dosthill Quarry near Kingsbury/Tamworth, off the M42. About 35 minutes' drive from Loughborough. Would be 25 minutes if I lived west but I am near the train station.

 

[Waterysmile]

Dosthill Quarry near Kingsbury/Tamworth, off the M42. About 35 minutes' drive from Loughborough. Would be 25 minutes if I lived west but I am near the train station.

Ah, thank you.