Help and Advice about Eustation tube problems

[scuby looby]

Ok was wondering if any of you have any info or advice that could help.

Basicaly to cut a long story short, Iv not been able to dive since March, and I was having problems before then.

Iv got what is know as Eustation Tube Dysfuntion (my Eustation tubes inflame, and close off) At the moment they are like it most of the time. I have been to see an ENT Doctor, who has tried all the medical routes, such as decongestants, steaming, Steriods, and anti inflmaitaires, as well as anti biotics (as this problem arised from diving on an undiagonsed ear infection.)

The next step is to have a gromit put in, which will mean no diving for a year from the date that is is put in, so I could be out of the water for a long time, and its not a certainty that the gromit will work either.

If anyone knows of any alternatives, even if they have not been medicaly proven e.g herbal remedies, please let me know. Any help or advice will be much appreciated as I just want to be able to dive again.
__________________

[SoggyFox]

funny old thing, i've just been to my docs about yet another ear infection. and another round of drops, what your saying worries me but i've been looking at the IST Pro ear mask cos theres no damn way i'm giving up diving. I've been having infections on and off for about 18months now, but the case of drops works for me but i think i realy need to stop the infections before they happen.

would this be of any use for you?

IST Pro Ear Mask in Masks,Masks from Simply Scuba

[SilvaFish]

If you keep getting recurring infections in soft tissues, I would be tempted to try (for prevention) - Garlic supplement with a HIGH Allicin content (Holland and Barrett's do one called 'Maximum Garlic', comes in a white box), Cranberry supplements and Daily Euchanea (sp?) but do no more than 2 weeks on, then 2 weeks off for the Euchanea, and it is safe to repeat the cycle.

Lou

[Sipadan]

first off, you have my full sympathy. another ear perf (my 6th) last august kept me out the water for 9 months. i missed out on a whole load of trips, including an egypt LA which i arranged for my club (20 people). it was very frustrating. no, that's an understatement, it was f*ck*ng miserable.

i think you really need to speak to a diving ENT. the average NHS ENT consultant isn't too hot on diving-related matters. i don't want to make life more complicated for you, but gromits may have caused my problems, so you may be solving one problem (ETD) and end up with another (ear drum perfs). also, you will not be able to dive for the length of time the gromit(s) are in plus the amount of time it takes for your ear drum to heal. my last perf took 6 months and i was scheduled to have surgery (myringoplasty) which thankfully i didn't need.

hence the advice about talking to an expert even if you have to pay for it. it's so difficult to accurate information on these matters because the research simply isn't there.

as for the pro-ear, it will not help ETD because your problems are on the inner side of your ear drum.

for the record, i have been using a pro-ear for sometime now. if you're diving in blue water without a hood and have a shaved head, it's great. otherwise things get more complicated. if you're wearing a hood or have hair, you will need assistance from someone to don it properly. it's good, but not 100%.

i'm about to start experimenting with pro-plugs, but they won't help ETD for the same reasons.

hope this makes sense

andrew

[drysuit repair dave]

This may not directly help you, but if your eustation tube is reduced in diameter (rather than completely closed off) you may still be able to equalise by using a different method.
The valsalva (hold nose and blow) method used by most divers is pretty inefficient (but very easy to explain, hence why it is the method normally taught). The Frenzel is much better, but requires quite a bit of effort to master for most people, as you must learn to control your soft pallete. This document gives the best description I have seen, with step by step instructions; www.liquivision.ca/frenzel.doc

cheers
dave
drysuitrepair.co.uk

[David]

Originally Posted by scuby looby

Iv got what is know as Eustation Tube Dysfuntion (my Eustation tubes inflame, and close off) At the moment they are like it most of the time. I have been to see an ENT Doctor, who has tried all the medical routes, such as decongestants, steaming, Steriods, and anti inflmaitaires, as well as anti biotics (as this problem arised from diving on an undiagonsed ear infection.)

I think I would go and pay another ENT doctor before excepting a year off diving from when you get gromments put it. it could be a long time waithing for the op too.


I would be very upsett if I could not dive for a year. hope you get well soon

David

[Neill]

Beware of the internet.

If you keep getting recurring infections in soft tissues, I would be tempted to try (for prevention) - Garlic supplement with a HIGH Allicin content (Holland and Barrett's do one called 'Maximum Garlic', comes in a white box), Cranberry supplements and Daily Euchanea (sp?) but do no more than 2 weeks on, then 2 weeks off for the Euchanea, and it is safe to repeat the cycle.

I, too, experience ear difficulties from time to time. Ensure that you secure professional evidence based clinical advice.

best wishes

Neill

[DannyB]

Originally Posted by drysuit repair dave

This may not directly help you, but if your eustation tube is reduced in diameter (rather than completely closed off) you may still be able to equalise by using a different method.
The valsalva (hold nose and blow) method used by most divers is pretty inefficient (but very easy to explain, hence why it is the method normally taught). The Frenzel is much better, but requires quite a bit of effort to master for most people, as you must learn to control your soft pallete. This document gives the best description I have seen, with step by step instructions; www.liquivision.ca/frenzel.doc

cheers
dave
drysuitrepair.co.uk

Now that makes and interesting read, have some green.

Danny

[Midnight]

I agree with most people in saying that you should get the advice of more than one professional person, it would seem that you have been put between a rock and a hard place by one expert. As you are getting a not too "friendly" prognosis get it double checked, just in case they have missed something.

For an alternative you could try chewing gum that contains Xylotil which is a naturally ocurring antibiotic and the chewing action actually massages the Xylitol into the openings of the eustacean tubes inside the throat. I have a couple of sticks a day since I heard about the benefits as I used to have "slow" ears (particularly at the start of the season), not so now!!

I am not saying it will cure all that ails you but it is something you could try alongside any professional help you get and it will not cut into their territory or cost you very much.

Good Luck
Hope you get back under soon.

Midnight

[DIVE BUDDHA]

Originally Posted by Neill

Beware of the internet.




I, too, experience ear difficulties from time to time. Ensure that you secure professional evidence based clinical advice.

best wishes

Neill

i think we are talking more prevention than cure !

i had many reacuring ear infections when i first started to dive including the eustacian tubes becoming blocked and the tympanic membrane also becoming sore especialy after dives !incuring massive amounts of otamize spray into both ears 4 times a day !with anti biotic backup!

i think useing alternate methods to keep the bodies immune system in tip top condition cant do any harm,i.e garlic and euchanea although i would like to say im a great advocate of seeking propper medical advice on such conditions as at the end of the day they have your best intrests at heart ! and can advise u further so as not to complicate matters further !!!

good luck and best wishes leigh