I am hoping some members might be able to shine some light on issues I've been having with my ears. I'll give a little background. I started diving 3 years ago and always had a bad ear after a few days of training it would stop equalizing. I ended up taking a long break about a year and half. I then moved to Bali to train more. After about two weeks in the water the eustachian tube was not opening and closing properly. I could force air in but it would stay "full" sometimes for over a day. After a month of trying everything I ended up seeing an ENT in Singapore and eventually having Eustachian Tube Balloon Dialation.
After this surgery my ear worked perfectly, in fact it was better than ever. I managed to train for about another six months in Bali. However after about 1 month the tube still functioned well but was not as good as the first month but it did remained stable after that. I was told the effects of balloon are not permanent and usually within 3 years the tube goes back to its original state. I remained careful not to string too many sessions in a row and rest my ears.
Since then I took another six months off and now have come to Dahab to train. My ear is always something I am worried about and I try to not overuse it. After about a month here I was a bit worried. The eustachian tube began to function poorly. I took two days off and tried to dive and I couldn't even surface equalize.
That night I met a new diver who had trouble equalizing. Her instructor taught her a BTV exercise to try. That night when I went home my ear was barely functioning. I could force air in but it would stay trapped for about 30 min. In bed I decided to do some BTV exercises which I had done in the past. After about 4 or 5 of them I tried to equalize. Surprisingly the ear was perfect, a clean sounding equalization.
I'm suspecting that the two muscles which control the eustachian tube have always been the problem. When I stress them they must get inflamed and seize up. I assume that the exercises stretched or moved the muscles so they began to function normal again. Whatever it is, it seems to have worked. Still my ears are sensitive, I need to rest them, but it seems the exercises help speed recovery time.
The questions I have are:
1. Do others think the muscles controlling the ET were the problem?
2. Which muscle controls the opening and which exercises specifically help with that muscle?
3. Are there other exercises that can help?
4. Any tips to keep the eustachian tubes working properly?
5. Does anyone have links to BTV exercises cause some instructions are a little confusing where I am reading them?
After this surgery my ear worked perfectly, in fact it was better than ever. I managed to train for about another six months in Bali. However after about 1 month the tube still functioned well but was not as good as the first month but it did remained stable after that. I was told the effects of balloon are not permanent and usually within 3 years the tube goes back to its original state. I remained careful not to string too many sessions in a row and rest my ears.
Since then I took another six months off and now have come to Dahab to train. My ear is always something I am worried about and I try to not overuse it. After about a month here I was a bit worried. The eustachian tube began to function poorly. I took two days off and tried to dive and I couldn't even surface equalize.
That night I met a new diver who had trouble equalizing. Her instructor taught her a BTV exercise to try. That night when I went home my ear was barely functioning. I could force air in but it would stay trapped for about 30 min. In bed I decided to do some BTV exercises which I had done in the past. After about 4 or 5 of them I tried to equalize. Surprisingly the ear was perfect, a clean sounding equalization.
I'm suspecting that the two muscles which control the eustachian tube have always been the problem. When I stress them they must get inflamed and seize up. I assume that the exercises stretched or moved the muscles so they began to function normal again. Whatever it is, it seems to have worked. Still my ears are sensitive, I need to rest them, but it seems the exercises help speed recovery time.
The questions I have are:
1. Do others think the muscles controlling the ET were the problem?
2. Which muscle controls the opening and which exercises specifically help with that muscle?
3. Are there other exercises that can help?
4. Any tips to keep the eustachian tubes working properly?
5. Does anyone have links to BTV exercises cause some instructions are a little confusing where I am reading them?