Trying to get back into the water...

[gunbunny]

Hello from the USA. I've been scuba diving since I was 12, but haven't been able to dive in the last 8-9 years.

My eardrum was ruptured when I got the flu a few years back (sneezing and coughing at the same time did it.) Now, any time I descend greater than 3 feet, even though I am equalizing the whole time, it ruptures again.

I recently bought a mask that has the earcups that are equalized with the mask volume (via little tubes), but I've been a little hesitant to try it out yet. I finally have been able to get access to an olympic sized pool and a deep well, but I'm going to need some pointers about getting my sea legs back!

I've been told to use Afrin 10 minutes before getting into the water, and it will open up my ustationary tubes to allow easier equalization. I've also been told that if I practice regularly, the ability to equalize properly will come back.

Any hints would be welcome.

 

[BatRay]

Welcome to Deeperblue

It would probably be helpful if you can find a doctor who specializes in medicine related to divers and their particular issues. That way, you could get some definite, helpful answers. I'd recommend talking to one of them if you haven't already.

 

[Rik]

A severe rupture in the past can damage the integrity of the eardrum. I do think that it would be wise that an ENT would evaluate if integrity of the eardrum is sufficient for to be decleared fit for diving. A myringoplasty might be needed, depended on what the ENT would find, but that is his/her call to make.

 

[Kars]

I can give you a list of things to improve equalisation.

Repeating one of my old post:

Equalisation Tips:

For clearing your tubes, the aforementioned nose wash can be a great help. But I rather would work on preventing excessive being formed in more natural way as opposed to the chemical phsudafet that btw is on the doping list.
Don't eat anything forming mucus, milk, chocolate, meat, etc.
Drink more than enough water.
Be rested.
Sniff in the air and traces of slime whilst holding the other nose hole closed.
Have a HOT shower in the morning landing on your forehead, warming up and steaming.
(after this I usually do the nose wash under the shower.)
Use the pressure points vertically under the eyes, just under the cheekbone to have the glands in the sinuses produces cleansing fluid, to be cleared by sniffing in.
Massage the tubes, and sinuses.


A: Regular cleaning of sinus and tubes would help.

B: Training the muscles involved.

C: Making your tubes more flexible.

D: Improving relaxation.

E: Equalise more often, at shorter depth intervals.

F: Pre-equalise at the surface before you dive.

G: Have a warm head -try having extra insulation in the form of a swimming cap under your hood.

H: Practice BTV with a sloped dive profile, say going down following the gradually deeper bottom.

I: Practice BTV doing VWT heads up.

J: When you experience a gentle block, in my experience it's best to turn intermediately and slowly get to surface. There inhale through your nose any mucus in that has come loose with the previous dive. With some knocking and rubbing on the sinuses you can loosen up some more.

K: Avoid mucus forming foods and drinks, milk, meat, butter, cheese, sugar etc. before the dive.

L: Have a good hot shower before the dive landing on your forehead. Rinse your nose with a Netti pod and physiological salt solution.

M: Learn to do Frenzel-Fattah, it saves much energy to equalise from the mouth.

http://forums.deeperblue.com/equalisation/85712-increasing-effectiveness-hands-free-equilisation.html

From your words I detect you cannot afford to ride your ears at all, so continuous equalisation is needed, learn BTV. Whatever you do, think it through and go -very- slow.

Love, courage and water,

Kars

 

[gunbunny]

Thank you, Kars. I'll practice before I attempt to get back into the water. I had tubes in my ears from the time I was under 1 year old until I was 12.

I started diving once the doctor said I was done with them, and never looked back. I used to be able to equalize without pinching my nose. I just did it; It was easy. Not anymore. That all ended about 9 years ago when I got the flu, and sneezed/coughed at the same time and busted my right drum. That hurt- and had to use Cipro drops for the next week and a half.

The next time I dove, it ruptured again, but not when you would expect- I was stationary on the bottom at 90 feet in Ft. Lauderdale at the wreck of the Thunderbolt. Just started bubbling out, no pain, nothing. More Cipro drops.

Ever since then I couldn't dive without it happening. My local doctor just said I had a lot of scar tissue and that I should stop diving. Well, that's nice for him, but I'd rather not go that route. I guess I need to see another doctor.