Noobie with some ear/sinus issues

[FlatOverCrest]

Hello all. I am completely new here. I have been an avid snorkeler but have been getting very interested in free diving as I have become more interested in local shipwrecks that keep getting deeper and deeper.

My concern is: I have finally this summer hit a whopping 40 feet. My problems have started around 17-22 feet though.

I have noticed some trouble equalizing my left ear. In correlation with this I noticed orange loogies. Didn't really think much of this at first (maybe left over energy drink or something). I didn't have any severe pain involved but maybe a bit of discomfort. I certainly didn't feel like I was pushing anything.

When I hit 27 feet the first time I had a bit of trouble equalizing my left ear and no pain. On the way to the surface, I noticed gurgling and a pressurized glob of snot shot into my mouth. I spit and noticed it was orange. I instantly felt like there was a blockage removed from my left ear. I dove and felt great, easily popping my ears. Shortly after a few successful 30 foot dives I began tasting and then spitting a bit of blood. I freaked! I came home, did some research and found this to be a common issue similar to a bloody nose. I have noticed this with all of my most recent 15 outings. It has never been uncomfortable.

I do notice after a large mucus release my left ear hearing improves and equalization isn't a problem. But within 1.5 hours of diving I begin to notice my left ear clogging up. I have no tinnitus, just very slight muffling in my left ear that last until I dive again.

I am not looking for advice best left to a doctor (I plan to see one soon) but do I have blood pooling in near my left ear and causing this problem until it clears when I dive again? Is this possible? Should I be worried?

This seems like a very knowledgeable forum with lots of experience. Thank you for hearing me out.

Erik

 

[fcallagy]

Erik not a doc and would suggest you see a ent specialist but blood can come form the nose caused by ruptured vessels in and around the sinuses. You have 4 pockets above the nose that do not need to be equalised but if you have a mucous blockage they could case a blood vessel to rupture even though you can equalise ok. Your equalisation is from just up and behind you nose via youe e tubes to the tempanic membrane. so even if you can do that you may still have a blocked sinus cavity. Try a sinus rinse using a neti pot and saline soloution or a neils med type device. This can help keep sinuses clear and you can do tubular exercises to streangthen them. This vid from my last course shows the sinus rinse using the neti pot. Its a yoga tool and most yoga shops or online will have them. but go see a doc to be sure. I have no idea what orange stuff meay be so get that checked out.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNmWdZ9sBkk]YouTube - Freediving discovery 28 08 2010[/ame]

 

[devondave]

It is possible you have a sinusitis, I had one once and the orange snot sounds familiar, later I had bright yellow mucus dripping from my nose.
The blood is most lightly coming from the sinuses as Feargus suggests and is probably not a serious problem.
If you continue to dive, be very conservative or you could cause complications.

As for the doctor thing, we have to recommend you see a doctor or preferably an ENT specialist, like every other post of this sort, people can give you their best guess as to what you have, the problem being you have no idea if they are right or not, two conflicting views make it even more complicated.

The only advice you should take as gospel is SEE A DOCTOR.
My wife is a doctor and even she can't diagnose people over the net, the reason is although divers get a fairly common set of complaints, it's the uncommon ones that have to be allowed for, you see the problem?

Go see a doc', get it sorted, stay safe and healthy, don't turn a mild symptom into a major disease.

Dave.

 

[Anders]

I agree with the posts above, go se an ENT. I have sinusitis, and although some of my symptoms are similar to yours, the periodic difficulties you have with equalizing your ear makes me think something different might be giving you problems. Either way, go see an ENT! Best of luck to you and hope you get it fixed.

 

[FlatOverCrest]

Thank you everyone. Appointment is scheduled with a local ENT. I more or less was looking for a little comfort and also wanted to go talk to the doc with a bit of research already done. Just looking for ideas really.

Thank you all for the info. I am happy to be here on this board.

Thanks
Erik