Equalizing / Eustachian Tube - Genetics

[diveR_100]

Hi all

I am new diver who has only dived about 6 or 7 times. I would like to develop my freediving skills so that I can become a better spearfisherman. I have managed to get my dry breath hold up to a pb of 3 minutes and average about 2:20.

When I dive I find that I can't get down to more than about 6 or 7 metres due to the pressure feeling in my ears. At first I thought this was normal however now I am wondering if I may have Ear Fear or some sort of conidition with my inner ear.

I have previously broken my nose and my airway in my nasal cavity are not too great. I had an operation to clear my nose about 12 months ago however it is still blocked intermidatly.

When I am diving I equalize constantly and I take my time however I still cant shake off the pressure feeling.

I have been doing a bit of reading up on the different presurization techniques and was wondering if there is any way possible to determine if you have been gifted with ability of being able to equalize easily?

When I swallow or flex the back of my throat I get my ears to pop and click constantly and can do it for extended period of times. Is this normal is it good or is it bad?

Is it normal for me to have these sorts of problems when trying to equalize? I dont take any dairy products and I am planning on taking some sort of ecculaptus losange to try and open up my airways before I dive and see if this improves my equalization.

I know this is a very simple question but any opinions, comments that you could provide would be greatly apperciated.

 

[Newbie_spearo]

I am assuming you are using the frenzel technique when you equalise by what you have said? It's possible that you can't equalise well enough using this technique at this stage? Look up valsalva, frenzel is a safer way to equalise but valsalva is generally used by most new comers as it almost garuantees equalising. Be careful not to push too hard and do damage to your ear/eardrum.

 

[cdavis]

Welcome to DB.

Being able to easily crack your ears on the surface should mean that you are close to hands free equalization in the water. Learn how to frenzel. Easy way to tell if you are doing frenzel is to seal your nose, then do the tongue piston thing. You should be able to see and feel your nose try to inflate. If your ears don't crack at the same time, swallow and your ears should crack and you should feel the middle ear become slightly overpreasured. Sometimes it is a coordination problem between doing frenzel and doing whatever cracks your ears at the same time. Frenzel alone will do it, but it is much easier to do both together.

Get the above figured out on the surface, then try it underwater head up, slowly going deeper till you are past 10 m. Then do it body horizontal, then head down. Once you get it going head up, it is just practice to get it all the way.

Good luck with it

Connor

 

[diveR_100]

Thanks for your replys

I am having trouble with just using the nose pinch and blow method.

I just tried the "tounge piston" method and I think it is working however I cannot be 100% sure. How do you tell if your nose is inflating from the piston tounge action or you are just accidently pushing air into your nose ?

 

[cdavis]

You can see your nose expand.

Connor

 

[diveR_100]

But your nose also expands when pushing air through it. Its hard to tell whether the nose is being inflated by blowing or tougne piston movement.

 

[cdavis]

You should be keeping your diaphragm and ribs relaxed during frenzel practice. That way the only thing that can be filling your nose with air is the frenzel process (tongue piston)

Connor

 

[Newbie_spearo]

I was told by some one very experienced last week that if you say the alphabet, its the movement just before you say K that is what you do when you are trying to frenzel? I just tried it with regards to the nose inflating thing and it seemed to work, I think it'll take a bit of time to perfect but it seems the most natural way to do it?

 

[azapa]

standard answer: read this
Prevention of Middle Ear Barotrauma

and watch the long video embedded in this page:
Doc's Diving Medicine Home Page

BTW: you can Frenzel with your mouth open, its a great way to tell if you are cheating or not. Try holding a pen between your teeth as you do it. Valsavla is impossible to do that way