Ear muffled

So I went diving at Albion this weekend and was looking forward to trying out what I believed to be a good way for me to clear my ears. I was plugging my nose, create back pressure, and then kind of go "ka,ka,ka" with my throat. It made my nostrils inflate and I could hear my tube clicking everytime I did it. I've ALWAYS had a problem clearing. Well it sounded good on paper, but in the water it was the same old thing. Pain on the decent. I started before I dove and continued all the way to the bottom. I wasn't even diving very deep. I couldn't. Shortly after I got out my left ear was killing me. I also heard and felt a weird feeling once when I was diving and after that it was more sensitive.  I had to lay down for a while and took some aspirin and it finally subsided, but it's still muffled today (WED) and I dove on Sunday. I'm going to see the doctor this week. I'm wondering if I blew my ear drum? Thoughts?

It wouldn't hurt to take a couple of Sudafed to reduce the congestion.  Ibuprofen is also good for reducing inflammation and may help the symptoms too.  While this may help, seeing the doctors still seems like the right thing to do.

Martin

There are a whole variety of things that can happen to your ears during the pressure changes associated with diving.

Go to the doc

take a look at this article

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=45

I took have always had trouble getting my ears to equalize, I think some day it will end my diving any more than a few feet,

I've blown my eardrum twice diving - both times it was coming up and reverse equalization issues.

The first was about a 1/2 mile back in a freshwater cave in Florida in a sump section, and the second was a final ascent after a final 20 minute decompression stop coming up from a deep wreck on the east coast. In both cases I knew I was in trouble, but simply could not clear, and with limited gas supply had little choice but let it pop.

In both cases the actual tear did not hurt nearly as much as the pain building up to it. In fact it was quite a relief. The overwhelming sensation was severe vertigo which passed after a minute or two. The holes healed on their own without intervention, but I have scar tissue on my eardrum now which has resulted in some hearing loss and of course makes clearing my ears now all that much harder.

I second the suggestion of sudafed, and also find that hot tea (or other hot beverage) immediately prior to diving (or in my case flying as well), seems to help.

Definitely see a doc though.

Was your ex anywhere within 100 miles?  

Sounds like what happened to me snorkelling in Maui.   felt like water in my ears, thought I busted an eardrum.  It was my estucian(sp?) tubes, inflamed and filled with blood... Nothing the doc could do, really, but advise me not to fly.  I was fine, though.

Took a couple sudefed to see how those sit. Never take the stuff.

Only slightly on Topic....have you tried using Doc's Pro Plugs (ear plug for diving) yet?  I used to have congestion and clearing issues about every third trip and have to cut my day short....or shallow. The Pro Plugs helped I always lose the little buggers though.

Comment on the off topic.  I use to use the vented proplugs but found that my mask strap compressing down near my ear would cause my ears to ache.  So I stopped using them.  I also lose at least a pair a year.  What I've started doing is using a half of a cotton ball in each ear.  Does the same thing the plugs did but no pressure.  Cheap and after a dive, I like losing them. 

When I have problems with clearing (seasonal allergies...etc) I would start pinching my nose and clearing the night before a dive.  Pinch, blow and keep it open for 10 seconds or so.  I do that on the drive to the dive site.  I do that on the surface before a dive and during.  Haven't had any problems in as long as I can remember. 

Nate

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I went to the doc today, and the good news is no hole in the drum. She said to continue decongestants and time.