Has Scuba Diving wrecked my ears?
Discussion
About 10 days ago I did a PADI Discover Scuba Dive at a local indoor pool.
A couple of points descending I noticed some pressure and pain in my ears come on, but equalised (I thought). The following day my ears were a little stuffy/crunchy, followed on the Friday by tinnitus. I went to the doctor on Monday, told them I thought it was barotrauma, she looked at my ear drums said they were ok, and prescribed decongestants and said to keep popping my ears. I believe this is the wrong thing to do. I learned more from Internet forums, she didn't seem to have a clue.
It has been a week since the tinnitus came on, it is in both ears, both are also sensitive to noise, and shows no sign of going. I can hear whistling all day in the office, hearing is not as clear in distant conversations. I have also felt a bit off as it gets into the afternoons as well. I have had to cancel a car show weekend that I was going to with friends today and am cancelling something arranged on Tuesday as I don't feel my hearing could cope with it.
I am just worried that this is how it I'd going to be from now on, living with a constant high pitched whistle, and avoiding noise every waking hour of the day for the next 30+ years
It is a waiting game now, to see if it returns to some sense of normality or not.
Just shows what one small mistake can do, and to never take anything for granted.
I also wouldn't recommend scuba diving!
A couple of points descending I noticed some pressure and pain in my ears come on, but equalised (I thought). The following day my ears were a little stuffy/crunchy, followed on the Friday by tinnitus. I went to the doctor on Monday, told them I thought it was barotrauma, she looked at my ear drums said they were ok, and prescribed decongestants and said to keep popping my ears. I believe this is the wrong thing to do. I learned more from Internet forums, she didn't seem to have a clue.
It has been a week since the tinnitus came on, it is in both ears, both are also sensitive to noise, and shows no sign of going. I can hear whistling all day in the office, hearing is not as clear in distant conversations. I have also felt a bit off as it gets into the afternoons as well. I have had to cancel a car show weekend that I was going to with friends today and am cancelling something arranged on Tuesday as I don't feel my hearing could cope with it.
I am just worried that this is how it I'd going to be from now on, living with a constant high pitched whistle, and avoiding noise every waking hour of the day for the next 30+ years
It is a waiting game now, to see if it returns to some sense of normality or not.
Just shows what one small mistake can do, and to never take anything for granted.
I also wouldn't recommend scuba diving!
Fingers crossed then.
When the instructor and I descended, he was a bit below me and equalised, I was about 2-3 feet above him and my ears started to hurt just as I was about to do the same.
When we went down a bit further the same happened again.
I think it is just a case of waiting it out, I have been on Flixonase nasal spray for the last 4 days. Might stop that now.
When the instructor and I descended, he was a bit below me and equalised, I was about 2-3 feet above him and my ears started to hurt just as I was about to do the same.
When we went down a bit further the same happened again.
I think it is just a case of waiting it out, I have been on Flixonase nasal spray for the last 4 days. Might stop that now.
Not diving related, but I have tinnitus and my hearing can have its sensitive moments both of which came from some type of infection. Mine is a high pitched whine.
For the first few days the tinnitus really got to me. These days even though I know it's always there and will be for life most likely, it never bothers me and I rarely notice it any more. It's just another fact of life.
The hearing sensitivity can flare up every now and then but I think your brain retunes to an extent, and indeed its attempts to retune are the cause of tinnitus.
Anyway, it's very early days for you. It may well be a fleeting thing. Get some better opinions and give it a little bit of time.
For the first few days the tinnitus really got to me. These days even though I know it's always there and will be for life most likely, it never bothers me and I rarely notice it any more. It's just another fact of life.
The hearing sensitivity can flare up every now and then but I think your brain retunes to an extent, and indeed its attempts to retune are the cause of tinnitus.
Anyway, it's very early days for you. It may well be a fleeting thing. Get some better opinions and give it a little bit of time.
I thought I had replied earlier but it doesn't seem to have appeared. To cut a long story short, get a hearing test done either through GP or yourself (probably quicker) with boots, for example, which is free. They will tell you if you've lost any hearing. Whether it's permanent or temporary they probably won't be able to tell you as they are just audiologists.
But finding out officially if your hearing has been damaged and to what extent is important. I got fobbed off 15 years ago by my GP and I had a total loss of hearing in one ear which is permanent. A quicker diagnosis may have saved some of my hearing.
Regarding tinnitus, you do get used to it. I hated it at first but now I hardly notice it, but it is there constantly. White noise, or any noise, helps if you're struggling to sleep.
But finding out officially if your hearing has been damaged and to what extent is important. I got fobbed off 15 years ago by my GP and I had a total loss of hearing in one ear which is permanent. A quicker diagnosis may have saved some of my hearing.
Regarding tinnitus, you do get used to it. I hated it at first but now I hardly notice it, but it is there constantly. White noise, or any noise, helps if you're struggling to sleep.
Scuba is great but you sound like you did it wrong. Millions of people manage without an issue. Don’t force yourself beyond the point of pain, just wait it out then go deeper when your body is ready. Your body gets used to equalising the more you do it. I struggled at first but got used to it the more I dived.
When I was doing my PADI years ago, everyone had followed the instructor down to about 8m but I has having problems equalising. I may of had a cold.
Stupidly I forced my way down and ended up in a lot of pain and blood coming out of my ears.
It was a long time ago but it was many weeks before I could continue training.
My hearing all these years later is OK though.
Hopefully it'll pass but get it checked out.
Stupidly I forced my way down and ended up in a lot of pain and blood coming out of my ears.
It was a long time ago but it was many weeks before I could continue training.
My hearing all these years later is OK though.
Hopefully it'll pass but get it checked out.
I think a lot of people are concerned about being slow or holding up a group by equalising slowly, or in the sea, losing their buddy (which shouldn't really happen...) and so will force themselves down without equalising. Do it early and often is a good thing to remember!
edit: On the general question, when I dived I occasionally had a bit of pain when equalising late, but never tinnitus/ringing. Tomorrow will be a week from seeing the GP so if there hasn't been any improvement it'd seem sensible to get a referral to a specialist.
edit: On the general question, when I dived I occasionally had a bit of pain when equalising late, but never tinnitus/ringing. Tomorrow will be a week from seeing the GP so if there hasn't been any improvement it'd seem sensible to get a referral to a specialist.
Edited by Gareth79 on Sunday 22 April 15:55
I am going to try and get an appointment at the Doctors tomorrow for a referral.
It has not got any better, and driving along the motorway I am having to have both windows open in the car to equalise the pressure. It is a bit uncomfortable if the passenger window is up. I am having my first holiday abroad in about 8 years at the the end of next month and have a pleasure flight booked as well, really don’t want to have to cancel them if things are no better
It has not got any better, and driving along the motorway I am having to have both windows open in the car to equalise the pressure. It is a bit uncomfortable if the passenger window is up. I am having my first holiday abroad in about 8 years at the the end of next month and have a pleasure flight booked as well, really don’t want to have to cancel them if things are no better
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 22 April 17:11
Decided to go and have a hearing check today, rather than try and get a referral from the Dr.s.
Boots were very good, looked in my ears, showed me on the screen that they were clear. The hearing test came back ok as well, which was a relief.
It might just be a case of sitting out the tinnitus, it could be that the ears are getting back to normal following the changes in pressure.
Thanks to everyone on here, and to those that suggested a hearing test. It has put my mind at rest that there hasn't been any hearing loss.
Will see how things go.
Boots were very good, looked in my ears, showed me on the screen that they were clear. The hearing test came back ok as well, which was a relief.
It might just be a case of sitting out the tinnitus, it could be that the ears are getting back to normal following the changes in pressure.
Thanks to everyone on here, and to those that suggested a hearing test. It has put my mind at rest that there hasn't been any hearing loss.
Will see how things go.
WinstonWolf said:
And then wait eighteen weeks for a referral 
I'd focus on clearing the sinus's fully, perhaps try a steam bath with Olbas oil.
Do both? try the steam bath and see if it solves it whilst getting help from the GP/specialist. I only waited about 4 weeks I think for my appointment with the ear chap.I'd focus on clearing the sinus's fully, perhaps try a steam bath with Olbas oil.
Just an update. Still having terrible problems with my ears
About 3 weeks ago I was still having a problem with one ear not sounding quite the same as the other and the ongoing tinnitus. Went to the doctor, he did the tuning fork test, but could not see anything wrong but gave me a referral letter.
My ears were becoming stuffy and a couple of days later driving up a local hill, my ears completely blocked, and I had terrible trouble trying to equalise.
To cut a long story short, started taking antihystimene for hayfever (which I suffer from but never take anything for usually), to try and open the Eustachian Tubes.
Was going on holiday and was very nervous about flying, and lo and behold in descent my ears completely jammed up and I had to do the valsalva maneuver repeatedly as we descended, to stop my eardrums imploding somewhere over Northern Spain. The following days I couldn't go anywhere noisy, stay out late with mates at bars/clubs and even things like clanking plates in the hotel restaurant at breakfast were going through my head.
A friend of a friend who was away with us is a surgeon, reckoned it could be 3 months for a pressure injury to sort itself out, and hayfever probably wasn't helping with the pressurisation problems.
Came back home last weekend, still the same problem descending, so booked in privately with an ENT specialist, as NHS would be 87+ days away.
He took a look in my ears again, said eardrums were ok and pressuring ok, one a little more than the other, but that the Eustachian tube may have gone into a spasm. He prescribed some more decongestant. My ears are very crackly. As for the Tinnitus, he referred me to the British Tinitus website and advised trying to ignore the tinnitus as the more you look for it the more you will notice it. As I had a hearing test (at Boots) and that was ok, he said he wouldn't do another, as the inner ear may not have been damaged. If there isn't hearing loss he reckons that the Tinnitus would get better. It maybe that the ear had just been aggravated.
At the moment I am finding it difficult to carry on as normal, as 8 weeks on as now not only have I got the Tinnitus, I am not going to be able to fly (booking any holidays is now on hold) and I am having difficulty driving around certain hilly roads as my ears won't equalise
I've been to two different Doctors and a Specialist and no-one is really pinpointing exactly what part of my ear has taken a hammering and how long it will take to recover. It may just be me being impatient, but I just get the feeling the advice is take decongestants, try and ignore the Tinnitus and sit it out.
Really didn't think Scuba Diving in a pool, would cause this much long lasting misery
About 3 weeks ago I was still having a problem with one ear not sounding quite the same as the other and the ongoing tinnitus. Went to the doctor, he did the tuning fork test, but could not see anything wrong but gave me a referral letter.
My ears were becoming stuffy and a couple of days later driving up a local hill, my ears completely blocked, and I had terrible trouble trying to equalise.
To cut a long story short, started taking antihystimene for hayfever (which I suffer from but never take anything for usually), to try and open the Eustachian Tubes.
Was going on holiday and was very nervous about flying, and lo and behold in descent my ears completely jammed up and I had to do the valsalva maneuver repeatedly as we descended, to stop my eardrums imploding somewhere over Northern Spain. The following days I couldn't go anywhere noisy, stay out late with mates at bars/clubs and even things like clanking plates in the hotel restaurant at breakfast were going through my head.
A friend of a friend who was away with us is a surgeon, reckoned it could be 3 months for a pressure injury to sort itself out, and hayfever probably wasn't helping with the pressurisation problems.
Came back home last weekend, still the same problem descending, so booked in privately with an ENT specialist, as NHS would be 87+ days away.
He took a look in my ears again, said eardrums were ok and pressuring ok, one a little more than the other, but that the Eustachian tube may have gone into a spasm. He prescribed some more decongestant. My ears are very crackly. As for the Tinnitus, he referred me to the British Tinitus website and advised trying to ignore the tinnitus as the more you look for it the more you will notice it. As I had a hearing test (at Boots) and that was ok, he said he wouldn't do another, as the inner ear may not have been damaged. If there isn't hearing loss he reckons that the Tinnitus would get better. It maybe that the ear had just been aggravated.
At the moment I am finding it difficult to carry on as normal, as 8 weeks on as now not only have I got the Tinnitus, I am not going to be able to fly (booking any holidays is now on hold) and I am having difficulty driving around certain hilly roads as my ears won't equalise
I've been to two different Doctors and a Specialist and no-one is really pinpointing exactly what part of my ear has taken a hammering and how long it will take to recover. It may just be me being impatient, but I just get the feeling the advice is take decongestants, try and ignore the Tinnitus and sit it out.
Really didn't think Scuba Diving in a pool, would cause this much long lasting misery
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