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Very new freediver burst eardrum

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
My tubes open anytime I close my glottis and think real hard. Without my glottis closed I can not open them at all.
 
Oh yeah, I forgotI can also open them by pressure, as in the valsava if my glottis is open, but otherwise no.
 
Works for me. I probably won't be going very deep. If so, my clearing technique will probably have to change. What is a glottis?
 
Glottis = slitlike opening between the vocal folds in the larynx.

Epiglottis = cartilaginous flap that flips down to cover the opening of the trachea when we swallow.
 
Guys, particularly jsharbel & Commonerg, I had a new ear drum grafed on from my bum years ago. It may be of interest to u.
Check the Forum new link "EAR OPERATION" under general freediving, posted 29/10/04.

Hope it helps you in any way.
dont hesitate to contact me if you want to talk further.
Steve Thommo-Depthman
 
Guys, particularly jsharbel & Commonerg, I had a new ear drum grafed on from my bum years ago. It may be of interest to u.
Check the Forum new thread "EAR OPERATION" under general freediving, posted 29/10/04.

Hope it helps you in any way.
dont hesitate to contact me if you want to talk further.
Steve Thommo-Depthman
 
Apologies guys, my previous note was typed too quickly.

It should have read that I had a new Eardrum grafted on from skin on my bum/butt cheek....

Also, the details are on the new thread tittled-EAR OPERATION in the general freediving section.

Cheers!
Steve Thmmo-Depthman
 
You need to have a gynacologist look at your ear, FAST! Don't worry, doood...A rupture can heal for sure. Last year Oct. I ruptured my right ear during an record attempt, blacked out, and all that....Wasn't pretty
owned.gif
...gynacologist looked in my ear and said "....." Actually I forgot what he said. But basically the gist of it is...Do NOT try to equalize it while it's trying to heal...I know it's cool to blow air through it and amaze your frineds that you can breathe through your ear but don't. When you push air through it, it doesen't allow it to heal and keeps the wound open...It will take about 7-10 days to heal shut and then I'd say about 1-2 months to be 100% like new. 10 days after my rupture I was back in the pool again. Just take it easy and give it some rest time.
 
Re: all is not lost!

Tympano Terror! I like it..

just a few reassuring words from someone who has been there...

In 2002 and 2003, I perforated and ruptured both ear drums, on scuba and freediving several times. Depending on the severity this involved six weeks out of the water for a big rupture (or in the pool with ear plugs) down to just one week for the tiny holes... I saw several docs and a couple of specialists. Every time, they popped before they hurt.

One theory is that this happened because I had grommets in my ears as a kid and the scars were still there so pressure wasn't spreading evenly across the drum.

Anyhow... I have now adapted my equalisation technique to equalise earlier and more often, dive a bit slower on the first part of the descent and.. touch wood.. I haven't had a problem for about a year...

so it doesn't mean you have to give up, just play carefully for a while! and while they are fixing.. keep em dry.. even in the bath or shower. Get some swimmers ear plugs and use them when you go near any kind of water... that way they heal a lot quicker.

Sam
I have just burst my ear drum. I was diving a few hours ago in shallow water. I also felt no pressure or pain before it went. Just a pop and the feeling of my head filling up with water. I am absolutley gutted! I haven't seen the doc yet but I know it going to mean two months off diving. Thats my summer spearfishing denied! -And i bought a boat this week! GUTTED!!
I too had had grommets when i was kid. Maybe there is something in that theory.
:confused:
 
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Is it only possible to burst your eardrum by delaying with equalizing or are there other ways as well ? And can it happen only during the descend?

Not that I'm interested in bursting my eardrums, I just want to be aware of the dangers.
 
A tight hood is a frequent reason for burst eardrums. If it seals well to your head, keeping a pocket of air in or around your ear (or ears), the pocket will contain lower pressure than the one of the environment. If then the hood suddenly unseals, or the pressure gradient grows and the full pressure penetrates the ear, it will likely cause an injury. Another possibility is that only one ear is sealed with lower pressure outside, and while you are trying to compensate the other one, you burst the covered ear from inside.

It is therefore important to let water into the hood, doing small holes with a hot nail near the ears, or keeping a straw or some tie under the hood, so that full pressure can enter easily.
 
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It is therefore important to let water into the hood, doing small holes with a hot nail near the ears, or keeping a straw or some tie under the hood, so that full pressure can enter easily.

Trux: shortly after entering the ocean I put my fingers into my hood close to the ears and let them flood with water. I only do this once and it seems to work fine. Any reason that holes or straws would be better?? Thanks
 
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Trux: shortly after entering the ocean I put my fingers into my hood close to the ears and let them flood with water. I only do this once and it seems to work fine. Any reason that holes or straws would be better?? Thanks
Yes, it mostly works. Mostly. Until it then does not work and you burst your eardrum, because there remained a bubble, or got there from other parts of your suite (it can be even an accidental fart that lands in your hood :) ), or air gets inside when you are on the surface again. You either need to open the hood regularly at each dive, or use the holes or straw, otherwise you risk an accident anyway.
 
Re: Circular Equalizing

A couple points:

#1. We have had a fellow, here on Vancouver Island, who has just had the same thing happen to him. He has had difficulty with his ears all his life, bursting them a couple times. He has just got into diving over the last while and diving relatively shallow and under normal circumstances, his eardrum burst. He didn't even feel it building up or bursting. Just knew by the sound and sensations afterwards. Continued his dive :( and was not amused to say the least later.

#2. As I recommended for him, I would also recommend for anybody with sensitive ears, difficult ears, history of rupture, etc., that you attempt to learn what I call "Circular Equalizing". I am in the process of writing a detailed explanation of it, but essentially you need to learn how to the single mouthfill equalizing technique, as explained in Eric Fattah's detailed document. Then modify this slightly so that you do not do individual equalizations, but instead maintain tongue compression to leave the eustacian tubes open throughout the descent. As you are about to run out of air, you open your throat whilst squeezing air up from your lungs in a valsalva maneuver, to IMMEDIATELY maintain pressure on the eustacian tubes as you fill your mouth once again. This is essentially two things at once. A valsalva maintenance equalization and a mouthfill. The thing to keep in mind is that you don't let your eustacian tubes close, so it is not technically an individual valsalva equalization. Close off the throat when the mouthfill is complete and IMMEDIATELY switch to tongue compression. Cycle this until your depth, or until you can no longer do the mouthfill.

The benefits I see of this technique, is that you are not allowing the eustacian tubes to close, therefore you can maintain a constant pressure on the ear drums. This stops the scenario where you have sudden opening of the eustacian tubes followed by sudden pressure on the eardrum. As well this assist for people who can perform an equalization but often their tubes get "sticky" or tired as they continue to equalize. The continual open and closing of the tubes can create an environment that is more suceptible to sealing shut, due to fatigue, swelling, and suction created in the closing. Or that at least is the theory I have so far.

So, overall I see this as a much safer means of equalizing for all, and much more pleasurable as you are diving, except that it would not be viable to do handsfree, unless you tightened your mask considerably. The pleasure coming from the fact that you are never equalizing or feeling a change in pressure in your ears. It is silent and smooth.

Cheers,

Tyler
Hi Tylerz! A few years ago you posted that you were writing a document on "circular equalising". Did you manage to do the document please because I have soooo much trouble with tiny eustacian tubes that just don't want to be helpful!! I am an open water scuba and have been using Valsava (10 mins to 10m hmmm not ideal!!). I've now done a freediving course and learned frenzel but am still having problems. My best attempt was 7.5m in 45secs...a huge improvement but still not good since after that I could only get to 5m before ears hurt. Can you please help??!! I really want to scuba with my husband and do a little freediving but am stuck.
 
There are several good documents and videos about equalizing, so be sure to have a look at them - you may find some help there:

equalizing @ APNEA.cz

The UWTV video is worth of looking at!
 
Re: Circular Equalizing

Hi Tylerz! A few years ago you posted that you were writing a document on "circular equalising". Did you manage to do the document please because I have soooo much trouble with tiny eustacian tubes that just don't want to be helpful!! I am an open water scuba and have been using Valsava (10 mins to 10m hmmm not ideal!!). I've now done a freediving course and learned frenzel but am still having problems. My best attempt was 7.5m in 45secs...a huge improvement but still not good since after that I could only get to 5m before ears hurt. Can you please help??!! I really want to scuba with my husband and do a little freediving but am stuck.


Hi bobcat, I too have tiny tubes and it's taken me years to get to the point where I can equalize OK - for me, valsalva doesn't work AT ALL so I'm at least as bad as you. My hot tip - frenzel with tongue piston (not using just the throat muscles as I was doing until recently) and the crucial point - doing it with a "yawn". :mad: For me, this means lowering the jaw while doing the frenzel - in fact it works so well that I can keep the pressure on continually for the first few metres, as Tyler was talking about above. The thing I discovered only a couple of weeks ago is that the most effective way to lower the jaw is to keep the lips and teeth apart. It might sound madness to have the mouth open underwater :confused: but the tongue provides a good enough seal to stop any water ingress and for me, it has made all the difference. :)

Cheers, Bryan
 
Re: Circular Equalizing

Huge thanks Bryan. I really appreciate your help and its good to know I'm not the only one...I was starting to feel like a freak of nature :( The only thing I'm a bit doubtful about is managing my reg, with my mouth open whilst doing a good Frenzel. I think I may spend a while on the 3m shelf having a play and experiment. Its going to be like learning to rub your tummy and pat your head at the same time!!!!!!
I'm not diving for a couple of weeks but will let you know how I get on...
Cheers Bobcat
 
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