How long for busted eardrums?

[Griswold]

I blew an eardrum freediving last weekend.

For all you guys who have been through it, how long before you were good to go?

I've also been working out swimming laps in the pool lately. What are your thoughts on continuing that, with earplugs, while healing?

[Marcus]

Doctor told me 3 months. I'd give it a little extra and be cautious of extreme pressure gradiances, i.e. diving off the boat into the water. I busted mine again doing that before it was healed good.
Earplugs while swimming laps shouldn't be a problem.

[Slay Ride]

I busted both of mine. Doc said a couple weeks. Yeah right. Waited a month and blew again. I'd make sure to go to a doctor and have them looked at (providing you have insurance- it's cheap). But yeah I'd stay out for 3 months.

I don't know about the earplugs. Personally I'd stay out of the water as to not put anything solid or liquid inside my ears, but what do I know.

[chasintail]

You dumbass! Right at the peak of snapper and cobia slayin too.

[seahabu]

Give it time to heal right or you can risk worse problems including uncontrollable dizziness/vertigo; definitely not a good thing to have happen in the water. I know one guy who swears by these special earplugs to help protect his healed ears: http://www.proplugs.com/. DAN has a cautionary article about these earplugs: http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/me...p?articleid=33

[Griswold]

Originally Posted by chasintail

You dumbass! Right at the peak of snapper and cobia slayin too.

If this appeared a little harsh, allow me to translate.

I'm sorry to read about your unfortunate situation, is there anything I can do to help? How did this happen?



Since you are obviously so concerned, I'll fill you in on the embarassing details.

Was so busy making sure everyone else's stuff was straight that I didn't get my stuff straight...failed to attach the riding rig to my hawaiian breakaway.

Let's just say that I have officially confirmed that freeshafting doesn't work on the rigs. I chased a big mango from 15' to 40' very quickly to catch-up to my shaft and ice-pick tip. Got the shaft, but lost my left eardrum.

The nice thing was that it was my first dive of a weekend trip. I don't know which was worse, the pain, the nausea, or being the boat biatch for the rest of the trip. Yea I do, being stuck on the boat was brutal. I'd trade 10 shafts for a good eardrum.

[chasintail]

Moron.You knew better than that.I'll call you tonite.

[tugsus]

This is the opinion of my wife who just so happens to be an audiologist.

Definitely use whatever precaution you can to keep water out of that ear, and see your ENT regularly to check on your progress.

If you have a traumatic rupture it could be a VERY LONG (6+ months)time before you are good to go.

But on the other hand, if it is only a small perforation, you could be back in the water in no time(+/-3 months).


I cannot stress this enough, OBEY your ENT's orders. Or you could find yourself being the boat biatch FOREVER!!!

Again this was just her opinion, you should seek professional attention in this matter.

(You like the disclaimer?)



Hope this helps, and good luck.

[Gauge]

I ruptured my ear drum about three weeks ago. ENT told me not to dive for one month, but did tell me to come back in before I make another dive. I asked him if I should try to keep it dry or do anything special, he said "no, just no diving and try not to fly".
I should also say that I injured my ear on saturday, went to a general practitioner on tuesday who said it was ruptured. I then went to an ENT on Friday who told me the perforation was already closed up. Maybe that ment a faster healing time? In any case, after reading the comments above, I am going to make sure to go talk to him again before I go diving.

[Marcus]

I speak from experience. Make sure it is healed before going back in. Don't mess with your ears.

[los coz]

Everyone heals at a different pace . Give it plenty of time to heal then listen to your body . I ruptured my right ear then 3 or 4 months later i dove off a high diving board and reinjured it . Now I have a"LazyEardrum" its dammaged and doesn't lay right which makes me almost deaf out of that ear .They can do surgury and fix it but then i couldn't dive so I now I just turn my head to the right when people speak . The ENT originally told me that should be plenty of time so i started pushing it , in hind site i should have given it more time because it didn't feel quite right , but i was just impatient.

[Griswold]

Gauge,

Who's your ENT quack? Looks like I'm in the market.

[Slay Ride]

Originally Posted by Griswold

Gauge,

Who's your ENT quack? Looks like I'm in the market.

I would not necessarily go to that quack. I learned this the hard way. Just because a perforation closes does not mean that it has "recovered" enough to dive. Mine were closed within a week. I waited a month and blew them both again. That was two weeks after the doc said it was fine to go back. My original ENT was not specialized in diving related injuries. Once again I learned the hard way.

Just trying to help. Not discrediting Guages ENT or anything by far, just recounting my experienc to you. Here's my story that I posted on SB earlier this year. Good luck. Seriously- it all sucks not being in the water.

Les

http://www.spearboard.com/showthread...light=eardrums

[Griswold]

Les,

Thanks for the concern, advice, etc.

I searched and read your account before posting my question. Your situation is exactly what I want to avoid. I view the ENT as just another data point, but I would like to know how bad it looks and his opinion on swimming laps.

My goal is to be good to go for a freediving class in January.

[chasintail]

My goal is to be good to go for a freediving class in January.[/quote]


Lost shaft $45.00

A reel for your speargun $180.00

Ear drum damage?