Help!! Ear ringing!!

[glubglub]

OK I went in for an easy 25ft dive to get used to monofinning again, and as usual my left ear didn't equalize well (thus I'm maxed out at 40ft, but that was on another session). This dive was the first after 2 weeks hiatus from any aquatic activities, so I wanted to take it slow.

Now, my left ear is still ringing now, and the dive was 3 hrs ago. My right ear is fine. The ringing happened right after my last ascend (I was actually on surface when it started). Also my head feels a little full on the left
side. I don't have any pain, fluid drainage or hissing, it's just ringing a little and feels very full / heavy. Already tried yawning, sucking air with nose pinched etc, still nothing.

Any ideas what might happened? I read something about reverse block, but from the description it doesn't look like it (mainly no pain). The more accurate one I see is from MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Ear barotrauma

My hearing "loss" now is only for the high frequency (the treble, if you will). I can still hear lower range frequencies, so I don't think I ruptured my drum.

I will see doc on Monday to make sure. I'm almost positive this had happened to all of you one time or another. Can you help sharing how long this went on for you? The hearing loss, etc?

Thanks!

[irtrogdor]

Well, if you're not bleeding out of your ear, it almost definitely heal. I'm no doctor, so I can't say when. But what might have happened is you induced a small barotrauma in your inner ears, with caused your body to fill it with plasma. That happened to me last week, and i just went diving yesterday. I think I still have some fluid in there, but it didn't inhibit my diving.

But you should go see the doc.

[glubglub]

Thanks for the reply! I saw the doc yesterday, but no diving doc. My tymphanic membrane is intact, "very red", and bulging outward. She tested more with some device (suck / push motion) and it's moving accordingly. She gave 1 week antibiotics for "ear infection" and decongestant to relieve pressure. I asked her whether my oval / round window OK or not, she couldn't see it. I guess due to fluid build up.

[irtrogdor]

Yikes, at least it wasn't broken. I read somewhere that you should allow two weeks for more serious barotrauma. So if you plan on diving in the next two weeks or so, try to really take it easy until you are sure your ears are up to it.

its funny how such a small membrane can determine weather or not you can participate in a sport.

[fflupo]

me i had a revers block on the way up, 3 years ago and i m still suffering quit often a tinitus and the loose of high frequencies

the ENT said that with the loose of hearing the system reacts with the high pitch sound but only when it is to noisy around me

[samdive]

I have had tinnitus for about 3 months - my doctor says it must have been caused by freediving, even though I don't remember any trauma at that time and wasn't even doing much diving then..... got another appointment with an audiologist but they've basically told me to put up and shut up.

It's not that bad, just irritating sometimes. Has anyone got a good coping strategy? (other than never being anywhere quiet!)

[glubglub]

I haven't gone to ENT yet, will make appointment today.

I downloaded a nifty frequency generator. I lost hearing right about 8kHz and above on my left ear. Amazing...

My right ear can hear this crystal clear up to about 15kHz, my left ear can't even detect it. So this is why my left ear can only detect what I call "AM radio" quality while my right is still good for "HD radio".

I read somewhere due to brain plasticity (rewires itself), eventually tinnitus sufferrers like us will simply "ignore" that frequency. The problem is it will ignore literally ALL frequency near and around that frequency range.

P.S. Conversations happens between 4khz - 8khz... Piano keys range from 27.5 - 4186.01 Hz. Mariah Carey hits 220Hz - 3,500Hz.

[Britney Spearz]

Yep, I've had a constant ringing sound in my ear since I had Glandular Fever a few years ago, I should probably get it checked out...

[Pinball]

Originally Posted by glubglub

I haven't gone to ENT yet, will make appointment today.

I downloaded a nifty frequency generator. I lost hearing right about 8kHz and above on my left ear. Amazing...

My right ear can hear this crystal clear up to about 15kHz, my left ear can't even detect it. So this is why my left ear can only detect what I call "AM radio" quality while my right is still good for "HD radio".

I read somewhere due to brain plasticity (rewires itself), eventually tinnitus sufferrers like us will simply "ignore" that frequency. The problem is it will ignore literally ALL frequency near and around that frequency range.

P.S. Conversations happens between 4khz - 8khz... Piano keys range from 27.5 - 4186.01 Hz. Mariah Carey hits 220Hz - 3,500Hz.

I was diving last week with little bit of allergy and I think my right eustachian tube was blocked.

Now I also have tinnitus and hearing loss of over 6500 Hz and little bit of vertigo.

I went to the ENT and he checked my eardrums and they were fine. He told me to come again after three weeks if it doesn’t get any better.

I think that I have Perilymph Fistula (American Hearing Research Foundation (AHRF) Perilymph Fistula)

Maybe you have this too?

I hope it heals.