Why more trouble equalizing on a CCR?

I'm sure it's the high O2 at the end of the dive. I often wake up in the middle of the night with a painful suction in both ears, I have to be very careful to equalize gently as they just go pop really fast and hard. This only happens after diving high O2 mixes on OC or after any rebreather dive. If I make sure to constantly equalize maybe 15 or 20 times over 2 hours after the dive I don't wake up with this squeeze. It has to be related to the inner ear canal absorbing the O2 just like other tissues in the body do.
 
Remco said:
air at 70 ..? no thanks...
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Point was, A breather with 10/50 breath s a lot better than a oc reg at 70m on air , having used both iv never had this ear problem

So im Still not convinced the problem has much to do with breathers of ppo2 ,
 
I would suggest its due to static lung loading, positive pressure at the mouth on ascents for instance, you dont get that with OC, those that keep up with the lung volume and dump gas before it causes a positive pressure probably dont notice this condition.
 
ccrdave said:
I would suggest its due to static lung loading, positive pressure at the mouth on ascents for instance, you dont get that with OC, those that keep up with the lung volume and dump gas before it causes a positive pressure probably dont notice this condition.
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good post ,
 
ccrdave said:
I would suggest its due to static lung loading, positive pressure at the mouth on ascents for instance, you dont get that with OC, those that keep up with the lung volume and dump gas before it causes a positive pressure probably dont notice this condition.
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This makes some sense but I have not experienced this problem.

I wonder if this problem is more often experienced on rigs with back mounted counter lungs? I have almost no experience with back mounted lungs except some try dives with ill fitted rigs. Those were the only times I have experienced chipmunk cheeks etc.

I am not trash talking Bmcl! I am however under the impression that they are more sensitive to being properly fitted.
 
PeterN said:
This makes some sense but I have not experienced this problem.

I wonder if this problem is more often experienced on rigs with back mounted counter lungs? I have almost no experience with back mounted lungs except some try dives with ill fitted rigs. Those were the only times I have experienced chipmunk cheeks etc.

I am not trash talking Bmcl! I am however under the impression that they are more sensitive to being properly fitted.
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I dive with BMCL's and have never had the problem,
even with the occasional chipmunk cheeks :(
 
If I understood the OP correctly the problem is experienced after and not during the dive. Then it could be following effect: if you need to equalize during a shallow deco stop, you pump more or less pure O2 into the middle ear, where it remains. The ear tissues are consuming the O2 constantly until the low pressure creates a barotrauma. There are two ways to avoid this. Either watch carefully your boyancy, so you don't need to equalize. Or equalize every half hour after the dive till there is normal air in the middle ear.

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since going CCR I occasionally experience trouble equalising my wallet but I'm another who hasn't experienced any difference with my ears.
 
Frequently I'll wake up the morning after a dive with a screaming headache and crappy ears. SWMBO notes that my snoring, already fairly robust, hits epic levels after diving too.

Never happened on OC air, can't remember what it was like on high O2 deco.

If I remember, equalising for the rest of the day after the dive calms it down. Mostly.
 
Middle ear oxygen absorption syndrome, seems more likely to effect those that descend on o2 to 6m/20ft to confirm cells, also more likely for those with narrow Eustachian tubes.
Several thousand OC o2 ascents, never experienced it, always on the breather...

4 years later, first post...
 
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Kelvin Davidson said:
Middle ear oxygen absorption syndrome, seems more likely to effect those that descend on o2 to 6m/20ft to confirm cells, also more likely for those with narrow Eustachian tubes.
Several thousand OC o2 ascents, never experienced it, always on the breather...

4 years later, first post...
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Never had a problem with it either, after getting my sinuses scraped out surgically (D&C) every 15 years, I'm now able to scratch the back of my head using an index finger through the nose:cheers:

Seriously since having it done twice in the last 30 years, I don't have problems equalizing, even with a bad cold, and get less colds too.

Michael
 
jamproof said:
If I understood the OP correctly the problem is experienced after and not during the dive. Then it could be following effect: if you need to equalize during a shallow deco stop, you pump more or less pure O2 into the middle ear, where it remains. The ear tissues are consuming the O2 constantly until the low pressure creates a barotrauma. There are two ways to avoid this. Either watch carefully your boyancy, so you don't need to equalize. Or equalize every half hour after the dive till there is normal air in the middle ear.

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This is what I have been advised occurs.
 
What about the basic differences in OC/CCR and the dry/wet gas factor?

Our sinus and eustachian tube runs on sticky gooier snot and fluids, that block up the passages. In OC mode, the moisture in our sinus / inner ears will evaporate / subliminate into the dry air, and also dry out the underlying tissues more in OC - hence less chance of sticky fluid clogging up the eustachian tube after a dive, while its doing its normal offgas from the surrounds?

Just a thought.
 
First time back in the water after Mod 1 two weeks ago and had the issue again.

I've dove this particular site a dozen times or more on OC, pretty much the same dive, depth, time at depth, time in water etc. and have never had this much problem with my ears after the dive or the next day; so to me it is definitely something to do with the CCR.
 
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