David, dont rule out HBO. Some facilities suggest tubes for all their HBO patients. If your doc ever advises you do HBO, you would have a consult with the HBO center's doctor. You would also have a tech monitor your vitals daily before and after a dive and see the HBO doctor on a weekly basis. At least thats how all the HBO facilities I went to worked.

Ive had tubes put in my ears on two occasions so I could do HBO. Getting tubes put in is no big deal. Sometimes it can even be done right in the ENT's office. I have very small ear canals, like a childs so I always had to get mine done in a hospital as an outpatient procedure. One time I felt fine, like I had nothing done at all but the second time I was pretty sore for that night and the next day.


PS, Mike its not big deal. I was just surprised you hadnt ever seen HBO discussed here as its a fairly common topic. If you use the search box in the upper right you can find just about anything you can think of related to OC on the forum.