Mucus and equalizing?

[kpk]

Sometimes , after a few divings , I have serious problem to equalize. Before diving my ears are fine ( I equalize very easily before diving). The strange thing is that , only one ear haw the problem. The other ear "equalises by it's self" (I mean very easily). The "bad" ear opens piecemeal , after 2-3 hours. The next day everything is fine
I guess that mucus is the cause of my problem. Eustachian tube closes because of mucus.
Does anyone has the same experience?
What can I use for cleaning eustachian tube of mucus before and during of diving?

Thanks in advance

[Adrian]

A 2 lemon, plus horse radish combo fruit juice with a liitle pepper and ginger sprinkled in will definitely help, (before the dive) but it's a little strong. You could mix in some carrots or apples to sweeten it but not too much. Also stay free of milk products, sweets and fried foods a couple of days before diving, and no eating just before going to bed, all this helps to reduce mucous. The fact that one ear is stickier than another is very common. Try stretching your neck on the sticky ear's side while you equalize, sometimes that helps out.

Adrian

[trullalla]

hi,

what i find very helpful is steam with camomile. take a pot of boiling water, put some camomile inside, put a towel on you head and breathe the fumes for 10/20 minutes. do that every day, even when you don't dive, but be consistent. after one week/ 10 days you should notice a great improvement.
hope that helps.

linda

[Alexx]

Chewing gum also helps.

[bolts]

I find Afrin (nasal spray) helps dry my sinuses up.

[tylerz]

KPK,

I have exactly the same problem, although I did used to. I am also assuming it is mucous, but originally thought it was fatigue. However, sometimes it would happen only after a few dives. The first dives I have no problem whatsoever and equalize without any effort handsfree. Afterwards I can't even equalise with hands.

Anyhow, I think it was in Jome's article on equalization, that I saw the mention that mucous can build up and get shot into the eustacian tubes. Therefore, it was recommended to clear your airways between each dive. Blow your nose and clear the back of your throat is what I recommend and I seem to have had success in the few times I have remembered to do so. It makes sense that with a mask on and the unnatural breathing, that mucous is built up more than usual.

I think pre-dive nasal sprays or solutions may assist but may not be very effective for this problem. Prior to diving, there does not appear to be a mucous buildup or blockage.

Cheers,

Tyler

[ADR]

I think it was in the PFI course that they said don't blow your nose but sniff it back and then spit out the mucus. Blowing can shoot the mucus into the eustacian tubes and block them due to the positive pressure when blowing. I always feel the gunk comes loose after a few dives and the need to clear it and blowing sometimes caused the blockage problem for me. Since moving to sniffing it back and spitting the gunk out I haven't had this problem....touch wood!

[Donna]

Originally Posted by ADR

I think it was in the PFI course that they said don't blow your nose but sniff it back and then spit out the mucus. Blowing can shoot the mucus into the eustacian tubes and block them due to the positive pressure when blowing. I always feel the gunk comes loose after a few dives and the need to clear it and blowing sometimes caused the blockage problem for me. Since moving to sniffing it back and spitting the gunk out I haven't had this problem....touch wood!

- I was eating my breakfast when I read that....

Donna

[tylerz]

Originally Posted by ADR

I think it was in the PFI course that they said don't blow your nose but sniff it back and then spit out the mucus.

Well, good idea... but considering that half the mucous is in the form of something less technically known as snot, I think I will take my chances spitting without sucking back, and then blowing. Just my picky preference.

[DeepThought]

Heard you can reduce this "blowing blockage" effect if you keep both nostrils open when you do that, might be a solution for the more refined...

I can see the future poll :"do you blow or suck?"

[gill]

I found something called NeilMed. You can get it in Walgreens or Albertson's. You can also go to NeilMed.com to see other stores or order directly from the website.

It is basically a pH balanced saline solution and I love it. The side effect of clearing out your sinuses is that all of the passage ways get air etc.....

I used to have to take a prescription nasal mist before going to bed so I could breath and not snore so badly. This keeps my nasal passages dry the whole night or day.

FYI, don't lean your head back when doing it. Lean your head forward. If you want to get it deeper into your nasal passages then snort it a bit once the bulk of the fluid has exited your other nostril. Read the directions and you will understand what I am saying.

I hope this helps.

gill

[SEDATE]

Clean Up:
on the surface draw a very little sea water from your noise, it will make your sinuses wet and spitting the gunk out is the best you can!
Do not forcely blow out from your nostrile !
Hope that works!

[Narsil]

Jokes aside, since I started sucking / spitting rather than blowing my nose to clear flem about 6 months ago, my equalisation issues have virtually become non existant - try it