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Scuba Forum / General / March 2007Learning the hard way
You guys were right. I just got back from the ENT and it looks like that dive to the bottom of the pool did damage my ear (just a little blood in there). But, he solved the original problem by removing some hair up against my eardrum. Wonder why my MD didn't see it? Anyway, the ENT is a diver, and said I should take my scuba lessons as scheduled and have a great time. "You'll love it." He also told me that the injury I had is very common among divers, but much more prevalent among snorkelers. He claimed it's hard to clear your ears when you have no air to do it with. His method of preventing problems like this is to keep rising a little bit every time you descend. I guess this is the theory that you should be clearing all the way down BEFORE you feel any discomfort. When I asked him if he wanted to check to see if I could clear without any problems (look at my eardrums while I try and equalize) he said, "Nah. You'll be fine." Anyway, whoever told me when I felt that pain it was too late was right. And, like my ENT said, "Let this be a lesson to you." Thanks all. Sheldon > You guys were right. I just got back from the ENT and it looks like that > dive to the bottom of the pool did damage my ear (just a little blood in > there). But, he solved the original problem by removing some hair up > against my eardrum. Wonder why my MD didn't see it? You have hairy ears? No wonder. Hairy ears is an absolute contraindication to scuba diving, at least as a stroke. No way to be properly handsome unless you wax. Ear wax doesn't count. > Anyway, the ENT is a diver, and said I should take my scuba lessons as > scheduled and have a great time. "You'll love it." Sure, so he can make the big bucks off you when you rupture something major. Keep a good lawyer on retainer, that's my only advice. > He also told me that the injury I had is very common among divers, but much > more prevalent among snorkelers. He claimed it's hard to clear your ears > when you have no air to do it with. His method of preventing problems like > this is to keep rising a little bit every time you descend. I guess this is > the theory that you should be clearing all the way down BEFORE you feel any > discomfort. Some even advocate clearing at the surface, before you even start. It's at least a good way to know if your tubes are clear before you start the descent. Me, I chew and swallow my way through breakfast, monitoring my ears closer than I monitor my coffee, trying to figure if I can make it through the day without my drugs or not. I stayed drug-free in Bonaire until the last day, when I was coming down with the cold that Janna had at the beginning of the week. One more reason for solo diving. Anyway, Sudafed kept me OK until the fourth and last dive of the day and trip, the notorious Town Pier, where I subjected my poor tubes to lots of up and down in the 0-20' range where it sucks the most. Dive accomplished, but I couldn't hear right until just the other day. You want to preserve your ears? Take up golf. Otherwise, take a good ASL class and enjoy your diving with the rest of us. Hint: listen to all those old records you love while you still can. What? Oh, sorry, I thought I heard you say something. >> You guys were right. I just got back from the ENT and it looks like that >> dive to the bottom of the pool did damage my ear (just a little blood in [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > contraindication to scuba diving, at least as a stroke. No way to be > properly handsome unless you wax. Ear wax doesn't count. I asked if the hair was growing next to my eardrum and he said no, it just somehow worked it's way in there. >> Anyway, the ENT is a diver, and said I should take my scuba lessons as >> scheduled and have a great time. "You'll love it." > > Sure, so he can make the big bucks off you when you rupture something > major. Keep a good lawyer on retainer, that's my only advice. Interesting theory, but I seriously doubt it. Still, I do have a good lawyer. >> He also told me that the injury I had is very common among divers, but >> much [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > It's at least a good way to know if your tubes are clear before you > start the descent. I've heard that's a very good idea. >Anyway, Sudafed kept me OK until the fourth and last > dive of the day and trip, the notorious Town Pier, where I subjected > my poor tubes to lots of up and down in the 0-20' range where it sucks > the most. Dive accomplished, but I couldn't hear right until just the > other day. He recommends Afrin right before diving. Another ENT on the Net, who's also a diver, recommends Afrin. This doc even had a handout for divers and gave me one. > You want to preserve your ears? Take up golf. Otherwise, take a good > ASL class and enjoy your diving with the rest of us. Hint: listen to > all those old records you love while you still can. Well, I hear ya, or maybe I don't. I do value my hearing and will be extra careful from now on. > I asked if the hair was growing next to my eardrum and he said no, it just > somehow worked it's way in there. Somehow, I bet. Have you been abducted by aliens lately? The "hair in the eardrum" is a common way to disguise alien worm-seed implants. > Interesting theory, but I seriously doubt it. Still, I do have a good > lawyer. Your mountain country-boy lawyer will be no match against the aliens. I'd find a good immigration lawyer if I were you. > I've heard that's a very good idea. Some advocate against it, believing that it overly stresses the tubes and they might not last as long as you really need them. A good rule of thumb is to avoid inhaling boat engine exhaust, no matter how good it might smell. The tubes hate it. > He recommends Afrin right before diving. Another ENT on the Net, who's also > a diver, recommends Afrin. This doc even had a handout for divers and gave > me one. The problem with Afrin is the rebound effect. Once you take it, you gotta have more. Each and every morning you wake up post-Afrin, you will have to remedicate. On a long dive trip/liveaboard, your nasal passages could eventually get inflamed. My ENT gave me Nasonex to squirt in once the Afrin starts to hurt after a few days. I never had to use it, probably because my halcyon cocaine days left my nose numb to minor aches and pains, but it does seem to work on those really bad allergy days that aren't fazed by mere Claritin. Oh, sh.t, did my spell-checker substitute "cocaine"? I meant "cooking". Lots of exposure to raw chopped onions have kept my nostrils strong. I did try snorting Vivarin when I was a lot younger. I don't recommend it. > Well, I hear ya, or maybe I don't. I do value my hearing and will be extra > careful from now on. What? >> I asked if the hair was growing next to my eardrum and he said no, it >> just [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > to minor aches and pains, but it does seem to work on those really bad > allergy days that aren't fazed by mere Claritin. One problem with Nosonex is that it can cause the mucus to get thicker which may cause a problem for equalisation. Flushing out with salty water is very effective esp. if a bit of bicarb is added. > One problem with Nosonex is that it can cause the mucus to get thicker which > may cause a problem for equalisation. Flushing out with salty water is very > effective esp. if a bit of bicarb is added.- Yeah, one of my original instructors said he like to snort a bit of sea water if he were having problems clearing. I've tried it several times now, and I can't say whether it works or not. I sometimes bring a bottle of Papaya/Pineapple enzyme chewable tablets with me, purchased cheap enough at the local Trader Joe's (a west- coast based chain of nifty natural food & booze stores), but a certain chair of the Biochemistry Department of Stanford Medical School scoffed at the idea that they might have an effect on loosing ear mucus, embarrassing Janna who was otherwise taking them on my fond recommendation. They have a nice tart taste, in any case, and I doubt they can hurt. Murray Grossan, a ENT based out of the hospital where I was born, makes his own (or used to, at least) brand of enzyme pills with the same desired result, called Clear-Eze or something like that. Murray used to post here, but it's been a while. One day I might pay him for an office consult. Chair of Biochemestry at one of the most prestigious medical schools in the world, versus a successful ENT at a Jewish hospital in Beverly Hills, who knows who's right? Meanwhile the chewables are $5 or so for 100, and they do taste good. The other thing I've heard is that dairy products increase mucus formation. I've toyed with the idea of avoiding cheeseburgers for lunch or cheese omelets at breakfast, but I've never been that gung- ho, especially not when Sudafed and Afrin are readily at hand. >> One problem with Nosonex is that it can cause the mucus to get thicker >> which [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > lunch or cheese omelets at breakfast, but I've never been that gung- > ho, especially not when Sudafed and Afrin are readily at hand. I must admit I don't like the idea of taking medication to help clear my ears. I find that if I equalise early and often than I rarely get problems. Never heard of these enzyme tablets, might have a look on the web > One problem with Nosonex is that it can cause the mucus to get thicker > which may cause a problem for equalisation. Flushing out with salty water > is very effective esp. if a bit of bicarb is added. Well, so far you guys are right on. I'm supposed to use a lot of saline solution during the day. He turned me onto some stuff called Simply Saline. Great delivery system, and no preservatives. >> One problem with Nosonex is that it can cause the mucus to get thicker >> which may cause a problem for equalisation. Flushing out with salty water [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > solution during the day. He turned me onto some stuff called Simply > Saline. Great delivery system, and no preservatives. That's what I use in the truck. I've always been a snot wagon, but since Christmas I'm leaving a snail trail of this frikken -epoxy- like industrial grade mucus where ever I go... Aerosol saline w/ snot nozzle. What'll they think of next... I take a couple heavy hits before I shower. For my money, Vick's Sinex Ultrafine Mist is the very finest, but, two days usage burns you like an eightball. >> I asked if the hair was growing next to my eardrum and he said no, it >> just >> somehow worked it's way in there. > > Somehow, I bet. Have you been abducted by aliens lately? The "hair > in the eardrum" is a common way to disguise alien worm-seed implants. I was reading about that in The Enquirer. >> Interesting theory, but I seriously doubt it. Still, I do have a good >> lawyer. > > Your mountain country-boy lawyer will be no match against the aliens. > I'd find a good immigration lawyer if I were you. Agreed. :-) >> I've heard that's a very good idea. > > Some advocate against it, believing that it overly stresses the tubes > and they might not last as long as you really need them. A good rule > of thumb is to avoid inhaling boat engine exhaust, no matter how good > it might smell. The tubes hate it. Damn, you're taking all the fun out of diving. >> He recommends Afrin right before diving. Another ENT on the Net, who's >> also [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > to minor aches and pains, but it does seem to work on those really bad > allergy days that aren't fazed by mere Claritin. Seriously, I've been addicted to Afrin and I quit cold turkey, and no, I don't want a medal. But I still use it when I have a cold and when it's over I'm fine. I am aware of the rebound effects of Afrin, but thanks for pointing that out. Others may not be. > Oh, sh.t, did my spell-checker substitute "cocaine"? I meant > "cooking". Lots of exposure to raw chopped onions have kept my [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > What? Well, when you're down there you use hand signals, and right now we're communicating without speaking. I did go to one too many rock concerts when I was a kid, so I'm more than aware of the value of hearing well. So far so good. > He recommends Afrin right before diving. Another ENT on the Net, who's also > a diver, recommends Afrin. This doc even had a handout for divers and gave > me one. Very addicting stuff... Stay away from it... >> He recommends Afrin right before diving. Another ENT on the Net, who's >> also a diver, recommends Afrin. This doc even had a handout for divers >> and gave me one. > > Very addicting stuff... Stay away from it... As I said in a previous post, I'm well aware of it. Thanks for the heads up. > As I said in a previous post, I'm well aware of it. Thanks for the heads > up. I say it from personal experience... I had a cold once and started using it... Basically, I lived with a bottle of it in my pocket for over a year... Finally caught another cold and was able to quit using it at that point since the cold actually gave me some drainage... Nasty sh.t... I'll never use that stuff again... >> As I said in a previous post, I'm well aware of it. Thanks for the heads >> up. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > it at that point since the cold actually gave me some drainage... > Nasty sh.t... I'll never use that stuff again... I got hooked, too. I found I could kick it cold turkey, but it wasn't easy. Now I only use it when I have a bad cold to help me get to sleep, and I may just spray one side one night and the other side the next night. I think it works okay if you have a lot of respect for it. I also use the "regular" and not the 12 hour variety, and then quit as soon as my head starts to clear. Anyway, it looks like removing that hair against my eardrum solve my scratching and popping problems, but he wants me to stay on the Nasonex and saline for now. I'll report back to him after my scuba class or if I have any problems in class. On Mar 30, 2:35 am, Grumman-581 <grumman...@DIE-SPAMMER-SCUM- gmail.com> wrote: > On Thu, 29 Mar 2007 21:27:59 -0600, "Sheldon" > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > it at that point since the cold actually gave me some drainage... > Nasty sh.t... I'll never use that stuff again... I've heard this before, on a different forum. Maybe it hits some people harder than it does others, or maybe you just have a more addictive personality. I can smoke for a week straight, then give it up cold turkey without a twitch. Somehow other people have to go to all sorts of extreme measures in order to quit. Caffeine is my bane, but that's only because I have to get up so early (i.e. before noon). I actually did two caffeine-free days on my last trip, probably the first time in years I went so long without. And then there's that "last drink" that has always eluded me after I've had a few too many already . . . But Afrin never fazed me, other than the rebound effect that causes you to need it the next day, and the next. As soon as the dive trip is over, I endure a few days of an Afrin-free stuffy/runny nose and it's over. No rehab clinic. No methadone. No problem. |
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