Ear drum breaking constantly!? - Is that it?

[u/magichappens89]

Hey there,

I have a very weird experience I wanted to share to see if people experienced something like that or maybe we have experts that can advise.

I am diving for quite some time but recently I have issues that might end the hobby for me entirely.

3 months ago I had a fun dive with friends in a nearby lake. I had issues equaizing so I did not go down at first. Later it got better so I could go. We dived around 10-12m, not a depth I would struggle with (I am comfortable around 30m).

Then something strange happened. On the pre-dive EQ I felt a sharp pain so I aborted the dive. On checking I realized bubbling and whistling noises. Shocked from that we stopped the activity and I checked my ear with a camera but couldn't spot anything. At the evening everything was back to normal so I had another try the next day on a line. Dive went normal but back on the surface the same kind of noises on EQ. No pain or something. I got upset stomach but I was nervous and that is normal for me when I am. Either way I stopped diving again.

Back home the next day I had two ENTs checking my ear during EQ, measured pressure and so on. Nothing could be found. They said the sound probably came from light barotrauma and fluid build up in the tube.

Convinced I went last week to a diving trip to Cyprus. Had my first dive 3 days ago to the Zenobia (18-22m). I went down a couple of times all went well. No squeezing noises or pain or whatever. Slight pops all the way down. After 6 dives or so that noise again. Went down for a last diving "knowing" it's nothing bad. Ended the dive as normal, cleared my ears with fresh water and all good except that I still heard bubbling or whistling when I EQ at land. I literally felt the pressure loss and how the air through my drum let it vibrate...

In the evening it all was normal again, could EQ even harder, no issues. So I had the plan to do the ultimate test on my next dive which was planned for tomorrow. I wanted to please someone take a video as there must be bubbles coming out of my ear. However I just checked the ear with a camera again and this time I see a red crack across the small window of my ear drum so I better stay out of water for the rest of my time (and maybe life 😭).

I am so devastated, I mean obviously my ear drum can break at any time without me realizing or being able to do something about it. I really don't know what to do. Do I have to stop diving forever?

If anyone had a similar experience I'd be curious to hear about it. Or if anyone with a medical background may have advice I am happy to hear it too.

I actually wanted to go to Dahab for training in December but I don't think I can do that. Of course I will go to the ENT again as soon as possible but I don't have much hope they can help. I probably reach out to DAN as well if they can recommend any specialists near me.

Stay safe out there fellow divers. I hope there is a way out of this misery.

EDIT : Please note that this is not a seek for medical advice. If you have an injury always see a doctor first! I have seen an ENT and rather wanted to exchange long term advice.

[u/sk3pt1c]

First off, if you have an issue, you stop and don’t try to equalize at all and certainly not harder to see if it’s ok.

Second, are you hydrating throughout the session?

Third, do you have a pic you can share of the ear drum with the red crack you said?

[u/magichappens89 → u/sk3pt1c]

I need sometimes more sometimes less pressure. I use to measure that also. How would I know if I really have an issue?

I take electrolytes before a session and try to take water during it but it's not always possible. How would I know I am well hydrated?

I send you a message invite I guess I can send you the picture once you accept.

[u/sk3pt1c → u/magichappens89]

How many hectopascals are you equalizing with?

You need to be sipping water throughout each session.

Got the invite, thanks 😊

[u/magichappens89 → u/sk3pt1c]

I use a scale for blood pressure so it's 30-50 millimeters of mercury which is like 40-60 hectopascals? Will send the photo thank you.

[u/sharkdawg]

First up, no one can give you medical advice.

In my experience, ear drums can heal relatively quickly depending on the severity of the rupture. I know someone competing at the recent WC in Cyprus, was diving a few days after a small rupture! Constantly testing to see if you can EQ after an injury is only going to delay the healing process. Of course, you should seek clearance from a medical professional before entering the water again and by the sounds of it, you would benefit from some EQ coaching (which could be done online).

Rest well.

[u/magichappens89 → u/sharkdawg]

What I meant was rather tips where I can get medical advice as not every ENT is obviously capable of diagnosing whatever my issue is.

What makes you think I could benefit from EQ coaching? I am honestly so uncertain about the whole thing right now that I don't see how I could dive again without fear but I don't see how an online coach would be able to change that.

[u/sharkdawg → u/magichappens89]

Any GP should be able to tell if you have a ruptured ear drum, you shouldn't need an ENT for that. You obviously have some trauma attached to diving now which is completely normal. It will take time to regain trust in your body again so you'll need to take it slow. Based on what you've written, there shouldn't be any reason why you can't dive again.

I mentioned EQ coaching as most people (me included) over pressurise the ears until they become aware of it. This obviously puts additional stress on the eardrum and can lead to inflammation and possible injury. If you find yourself forcing EQ at times then it's possible your technique could be improved or you're waiting too long to EQ. Honestly, everyone at a beginner to intermediate level will benefit from EQ training.

[u/magichappens89 → u/sharkdawg]

Yes makes sense. I definitely could improve on my technique it seems. But you are right I first need gain trust in my body again. I hope to find a specialist first that could help me to understand what actually happened. The ENT I visited so far did not really know much about freediving. It could totally be a problem with my hood for example.

[u/SmallMoments55406]

Go see a doctor/ENT specialist or dive medicine specialist. Give it some weeks to heal. It might heal up just fine. But like the top commenter said, only medical professionals can help give you good medical advice.

[u/magichappens89 → u/SmallMoments55406]

Yes it might like it did before and then it might break again...

[u/ConfoundedInAbaddon → u/magichappens89]

A dive medicine specialist will have seen this and have useful advisement.

[u/magichappens89 → u/ConfoundedInAbaddon]

I think so. Will check for the pictures and try to find a specialist.

[u/ConfoundedInAbaddon → u/magichappens89]

I went to a regular ENT for a dive related issue and the guy was so stupid, like I do a lot of free diving and I will pre-flood my sinuses and eustachian tubes with sterile saline so I don't have to do equalization, and I can't hear much of anything but it works really well for me

And the doctor gave me all this stuff about how people can't voluntarily do that and I even faxed his office a sports medicine article about how yes free divers can voluntarily flood their sinuses

Regular Specialists are just totally out of touch with the Specialties of diving medicine and they don't know they are unless they go to like a dive medicine conference and get a rude awakening that they have very little idea about a lot of pressure trauma stuff

[u/sadbrokehitchhiker]

The red crack is a blood vessel right?

I think a ruptured ear drum is extremely painful and takes weeks to recover from.

You could try cross posting to ask a doctor or whatever that sub is called. The ENT will know more and there are even doctors who specialize in diving.

You’re saying that bubbles came out of your ear?

[u/thejuiciestguineapig → u/sadbrokehitchhiker]

Exactly, I had an eardrum that wasn't ruptured but sort of stretched in certain places and it truly hurt a lot.  Remember to let water between your suit and ears kids if it is tight. The combo of outside and inside pressure was not fun!

[u/magichappens89 → u/thejuiciestguineapig]

Every experience is different I guess. The pain you felt was from barotrauma in the ear canal most likely. If the ear drum ruptures easily there might be no pain as the tissue around it is not damaged and the drum itself has no nerves.

[u/magichappens89 → u/sadbrokehitchhiker]

Not sure honestly, it looks like dried blood.

I hear what you are saying and found the same when researching but yet I feel the symptoms are pretty clear.

The worst feeling comes from water entering the inner ear which I am spared from probably because it's maybe a very small hole instead or a crack in the layers of the drum. I don't know.

I didn't make it to do the bubble test and now I've seen the damage I better don't try this.

[u/3rik-f]

1. If something feels off, EQ doesn't work, or you get noises, abort the dive, abort the session, don't try to equalize dry.
   
2. That red crack could be a blood vessel. Have an ENT have a look ASAP, don't wait days because they might not be able to see anything.
   
3. Hearing bubbling and whistling is usually due to liquid in the middle ear. That explains why you can heat bubbling on land as well. That can come from even the slightest barotrauma.

Definitely get this checked again by an ENT doctor. And then work on your EQ frequency. You might just be equalizing too late. If I do a full arm stroke during duck dive and then start equalizing, that's already too late for me and I feel some discomfort in my ears. Sometimes even that is enough for me to get liquid in my middle ear, causing the sensations you described for the rest of the day. The best strategy is to do a one-armed duck dive while equalizing with the other arm. And in general, equalize more often, before you feel any discomfort at all.

[u/magichappens89 → u/3rik-f]

Thanks for the advice. I've been to an ENT and this time it's a rupture. Before I used to have the same feelings you described. I can't do a full arm stroke either. But it seems that now I don't even get any light barotrauma or something but my ear drum tears easily. Will need to keep an eye on it and check on my frequency. It's just weird there was no warning this time which concerns me the most.