Clearing my ears

[adminforum]

My last dive vacation I spent seven days diving on a live aboard. The diving was fantastic but I experienced difficulty in clearing my ears toward the end of the trip and even had to sit out the last two dives. I had no problems the first few days. Can you give me any suggestions for my next trip? Larry, Denver

[adminforum]

What you have experienced is not uncommon with dive trips such as live-aboards that give us the opportunity to increase the number of dives we make during our vacation. As you know, it is common for divers in this situation to make four or even five dives a day given the ease of diving and the attraction that these exotic locations have to offer. The downside in the ear department is that your middle ears are exposed to the potential for greater barotrauma and often the cumulative result is what you have just experienced.

During every dive the thin mucosal layer that lines your middle ear and eustation tube undergoes a slight amount of congestion and swelling from the equalization process. Normally if given enough time to recover it will return to normal, but there often is just not enough time in some divers that are doing multiple dives each day over several days for this to occur. The solution is to pay meticulous care to your equalization technique starting with your first dive. It is extremely important that you start clearing early as soon as your head submerges beneath the surface. If you wait to feel the fullness in your ears or worse yet - discomfort – then you are waiting too long to clear. Another important point is to be gentle in your equalization technique. Too many forceful attempts can also damage those mucosal linings and increase the congestion. Try and choose the technique that works best for you and practice using gentle and frequent equalization and don’t be impatient getting to the bottom. Tell your buddy you are going to take your time clearing and you will be doing them a favor too.

Dr.Craig Cook, MD

[marine9]

While recently diving, I had a sharp pain in one ear at about 45 feet, and I lost equilibrium.
I had to end the dive.
I went to Urgent care and saw a P.A., who said that I had a Barotrauma of the ear and should be able to return diving within 7 to 10 days. Required a follow-up with my doctor. Sound right to you?
It's been about a week now and everytime I swallow or move my jaw, that one
ear pop's like it's trying to equalize!
I plan on calling my doctor in the next few days, but he's not a diver and knows little about diving.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.