When to See An ENT Doc

[Zatharas]

aaronle06, sorry about that, did not mean to imply that you were doing that on a regular basis, I worded that post poorly.

It has been years since I studied this stuff, I will look through my materials, when I find a good source and if I remember, I will post it. In any case, the relationship between a sinus blockage and eardrum rupture is via the Eustachian tube. I maybe wrong about this but, my understanding is an eardrum rupture can occur when a sinus blockage shifts and blocks the Eustachian tube and/or swelling due to the sinus infection blocks Eustachian tube. This blockage of the Eustachian tube helps to increase or decrease the pressure in the Eustachian tube adding stress on the eardrum increasing the chance of rupture.

[matt151617]

Lost my medical insurance, so I can't see a doc, but as it turns out, it was bad technique.

I took a couple of non-drowsy Sutafed, and once I needed to equalize, I grabbed my ear lobe and pulled it up/down and left/right, all over. That did it!

[huvrr]

thats a new one on me, pulling on your ears is not exactly the valsalva maneuver.

[matt151617]

Originally Posted by huvrr

thats a new one on me, pulling on your ears is not exactly the valsalva maneuver.

Apparently it stretches your tubes out. My instructor said he's been doing it on people in the class for years, and he's never found someone it doesn't work on. So anyone that has trouble equalizing, give this a shot!

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by matt151617

Apparently it stretches your tubes out. My instructor said he's been doing it on people in the class for years, and he's never found someone it doesn't work on. So anyone that has trouble equalizing, give this a shot!

Correct. There are lots of ear-clearing techniques other than valsalva's, including a number of combination techniques. Anything that stretches the Eustachian tubes out a bit makes the Valsava easier, including tugging the ear lobes, and even tilting your neck from one side or the other. For people, this simple stretch is all they need to clear their ears.

[character157]

When I am getting my gear together for a dive I like to chew a piece of gum...I read somewhere it helps get the tubes ready. I spit the gum out and put the reg...so far no trouble.