inner ear issues, will this stop me from diving

[SawBum]

My wife and I want to take dive leasons so we can dive on vacation in the caribbean. The problem is she has an inner ear problem that is affected by preasure. I know diving puts a lot of preasure on your body (ears) but is there anything out there that can help. we dont need to deep dive, just shallow reefs, say up to 15 or 20 feet. I am hoping for a miracle answer.
Thanks,
Ron

 

[Buttanic]

Re: inner ear issues, will this stop me from diving

You might want to go here. They can probably point you to a doctor who familar with diving issues.

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/

 

[SawBum]

Re: inner ear issues, will this stop me from diving

You might want to go here. They can probably point you to a doctor who familar with diving issues.

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/

Thanks for the info, very interesting. It looks like she may not be able to dive. She says she has menears (spell???) disease. (told by one Doc.) which is not curable. ????.....Even when we fly, she has a very difficult time clearing her ears. I hope another Doc says different......good luck to me.........I really wanna dive

 

[Rudy Brown]

Re: inner ear issues, will this stop me from diving

If she has problem clearing her ears (equalizing the pressure) she aint gonna be able to go very deep. Every 33 feet is 1 atmosphere of pressure. I have to stop at 10 ft to equalize mine on the way down. Ya might want to snorkle first to see how it will affect her.

 

[Bigjohn1]

Re: inner ear issues, will this stop me from diving

Sounds like you're in the same boat as me. My wife has constant ear issues when we fly and she cannot dive either. I think some people's physiology is just that way. I know you're looking for a silver bullet but alas, I do think there is one. This does not mean the two of you cannot enjoy the water together; she can still go snorkeling on the surface.

 

[Wayne Adams]

Re: inner ear issues, will this stop me from diving

Hello Ron, I had a simular problem and went to the pro ear Doctor..My ear canal was a little small but was fine but caused ear aching and throbing even days after. He told me to use Nassel Spray of your chose the morning of and right before I dove and it would open the passage ways. I though yea right, but you know it worked and now I dive 90Feet + and have not had one problem. After each dive I also use the smimmers ear drops to help disapate the water left in ears. Hope this helps Wayne Adams

 

[fourwinnsdook]

Re: inner ear issues, will this stop me from diving

15-20 feet some people are okay without equalizing, i have to do it every 10 or i get a headache, but have dove quickly (snorkeling) to 20ft without equalizing. Try to snorkel first, see how deep she can go. see if she can equalize. maybe at 6-8 ft instead of 10. Go ahead and get the license, rent some gear before you buy it, and see how it goes.

 

[Bill Adkins]

Re: inner ear issues, will this stop me from diving

The inner ear and the outer ear are seperated by the ear drum, thats commonly where it hurts. The entrance to the eustacian tube is a muscle controlled orfice that is subject to swelling from many things. A cold is probably the most common. I have used asprin on occasion to reduce swelling when I have been a bit off, other than that I havnt used to many things. Actifed was a popular drug for relief of the symptoms for years but I'm not sure if it is still available and it was never considered a safe practice due to side effects. Divers Alert Network as mentioned before is a great source of info. The greatest area of pressure change is in the first 33 fsw of a dive, the pressure increases every 33 feet by 1 atmosphere so the deeper you go the lesser the increase effectively. Just my 2 cents
Bill

 

[SawBum]

Re: inner ear issues, will this stop me from diving

Thanks guy's, I have talked her into another doctor visit, especially since she has had some recent dizzie spells and headaches. She may never be able to dive but we have snorkled together, although she stays at the surface but still loves it. Thanks again.

 

[flavtfan]

Re: inner ear issues, will this stop me from diving

look up the proear 2000, i have always had problems with infections so i got this mask. it keeps the water for the most part out and what is even better is that you're equalizing just air pressure vs. air pressure and water pressure. supposedly you're able to clear your ears better because of it.

 

[MarkV_Deep6]

Re: inner ear issues, will this stop me from diving

"She says she has menears (spell???) disease. (told by one Doc.) which is not curable. ????....."

M?ni?re?s disease, in and of itself, is not a disqualifying diving problem. If equalizing causes the dizzyness then it probably would be a good Idea to go snorkling below 10' or so and see if clearing causes the symptoms.

You usually see more life in the first 30' of water anyway. Ya just can't be slow about yer observations.

HM2\DV from way back!

 

[carlson cps rider]

Re: inner ear issues, will this stop me from diving

I've been diving for 4 years and have run across two people with this disease who said they were fine if they stayed above 30 feet



have fun in the carribean

 

[gene8084]

Re: inner ear issues, will this stop me from diving

My wife and I want to take dive leasons so we can dive on vacation in the caribbean. The problem is she has an inner ear problem that is affected by preasure. I know diving puts a lot of preasure on your body (ears) but is there anything out there that can help. we dont need to deep dive, just shallow reefs, say up to 15 or 20 feet. I am hoping for a miracle answer.
Thanks,
Ron

See an ears, nose, & throat specialist, not a general practioner. My father has had Meni?re's disease for many years. Unfortunately as described by many, there is no cure. Early on it was a nuisance, 30 years ago, now everytime he flies he's in for a day of vertigo. He doesn't dive, but wouldn't even without Meni?re's. Doesn't trust the whole concept of air on your back.

"Meni?re's disease is caused by an imbalance in the fluid in the sacs in the inner ear. When the sacs of the endolymphatic system of the inner balloon within the inner ear, a sudden hearing loss, vertigo, ringing (tinnitus), and/or pressure in the ear occur. This disease is episodic (by definition) and erratic in its progression. If left to its natural course, it may progress to total deafness in the affected ear. At that point, the episodes of vertigo and the tinnitus may spontaneously subside."​

That's why she needs to see a specialist, regardless of her interest in diving. My son developed a Cholesteatoma (skin buildup in the middlear, leads to infections, and in his case disolved the ear bones). The GP's didn't have a clue. A top flight specialist in pediatric ear surgery, 4 surgeries later, and a tinanium ear bone and his hearing is restored to virtually normal.

I've been diving for about 28 years and early on realized I was one of those people that has sinus/ear congestion that made equilizing difficult. However, this problem can be overcome with nasal spray and practice. After all this time I've got it down cold. I know what I need to do based on my condition, time of year, etc.

Your wifes situation is daramatically different. A good specialist can help her size up her capabilities, but in the end it's all about comfort. If your in pain you can not enjoy diving...and if your in pain you could do permanent damage. Trouble equilizing going down can result in trouble equalizing coming up to the point of a ruptured ear drum.

Given my family experience with ears problems and my love of diving you can see I'm a bit passionate on this subjest.

Good luck to you and your wife.

Diving opens up a great world...hopefully the doctor will give her a thumbs up and she can ease into it and develop the nack for equalizing.