Bad Tubes

[scuba22]

Has anyone ever tried plugs that assist with equalizing?

My last dive vacation ( 6 dives in 10 days - no deeper than 40 ft) left me with a 3 wk long hearing loss. I just cannot seem to equalize my left ear.

My doc told me my eustacean tubes , "weren't meant for diving"
so, yeah..that's not going to fly...just wondering if anyone has
a similar problem.

thanks everyone!

[Witfull]

never had a diving problem,,,guess thats cause i could swim before i could walk. first problem i every had was from diving off of the jersey shore...double ear infections....needless to say i have never gone into the the local waters here again.

[scuba22]

Nope..I was swimming too- before I was potty-trained!
for some reason, it's the depth that gets me more and more
as I age.
(I've been diving for over 20 yrs... my first was in October in Rhode Island with a commercial Lobster fisherman who took me to 60 ft and into caves, when I was not certified and no-experienced. It's amazing I continued the sport after that nightmare!-BTW, we never had a 2nd date!) but the older I get (I'm 42) the worse the re-'percussion' tubes have become.
Guess I'm destined to SNUBA and do shallow wrecks and live deaf for a few weeks afterwards.
I'm going to try the equalizer plugs though

[Witfull]

shallow diving can be oh so great,,,reefs above 30 feet are most visually appealing~

[scuba22]

I agree..PLUS SNUBA is so free! -back to the boat anytime, pretty much!
..I have to get over my Barraccuda fear tho, for some reason, reef sharks and I are friends, no fear -no prob. But Barraccuda scare the hell out of me! (It's that mean look on their faces..)

[Cougra]

I've had problems equalizing as well during dives so I would be interested in anything you find out.

I've been swimming forever as well and find that being able to equalize at depths doesn't have anything to do with it, however I've been prone to ear infections ever since I can remember, it's an inner ear problem.

[ironman361]

i personally have very sensitive ears and have the same trouble with equalizing.since my last dive i stick to shallow dive when all my friends plan wreck dive trips i have to pass on cause of this sensitivity ear problem if there where a solution ill be a guinea pig!!

[music man]

I have the same issue whenever I go more than 15 feet or so it starts to hurt like crazy, anything over 40 is unbearable. I bought some $400.00 plugs my doc recommended, took 2 months to get them and they work like a charm if you dont move a muscle, as soon as your shoulder muscles bunch near your head the sucker fills with water, then you have pressurized water traped in there, the only way I could have wasted money easier would be in Vegas or AC. and that's atleast fun.
I think they might work O.K. in the bath tub though. I wouldnt know I lost them or dumped them I realy don't remember.
Maybe burbon, my doctor said use alchohol after diving, I think he meant in the ears, I don't remember that either.