I've been to a ENS(ears, nose, throat) specialist when I was a full time swimmer and he even said the 50/50 mix is fine to use.
I've been to a ENS(ears, nose, throat) specialist when I was a full time swimmer and he even said the 50/50 mix is fine to use.
I use the same stuff as Bama and have for some time now with no ill effects. With all the rain down here the bacteria level in the local waters has been higher than normal, so I have been using it before & after. I haven't noticed any of the mix going bad, but then I'll use it up before it has a chance.
I usually mix a pint at a time, and I have never noticed any problems from age. Growing up in central FL where swimming in the local phosphate pit was a normal everyday thing, we used alcohol on a regular basis to dry our ears out; just add a drop or two and turn your head to drain and as the alcohol evaporates it takes some of the water with it. I have heard of a few ENT's recomending the homebrew over commercial concoctions.
I asked my mum about the 'ear beer', despite what you all say about it, I'm not convinced. She's been nursing for 30 odd years, including a number of years as an ENT Sister/Senior Staff Nurse. I must add that the following is her opinion only and I thought it would give y'all a different viewpoint on whats been said thus far about the ear beer.
"I do not agree with putting anything in your ear unless it's been prescribed by a doctor. You could, in the long term be damaging the inner ear, especially with the vinegar, keep that for your fish and chips as the constituent of vinegar is ascetic acid and this could, in time damage the ossicles (the three small bones in the inner ear). It's the same with Earax to get rid of wax, thats made up of a petrol derivitave and the amount of problems people get in later life with their ears, it's best not to go there.
Hope that clarifies, but this is my own opinion and the result of my ENT training - remember you should put nothing in your ear smaller than your elbow!!!!"
Lottie
If you were using full strength vinegar, it is doubtful that the molarity would be high enough to cause any real damage, unless of course you were just letting it stay in there for a few days or weeks. The ear beer is along the same lines as the commercial products (swimmer's ear, etc.) just cheaper since it does not include the coloring and fragrances, etc. I have talked to several doctors, a number of whom are practicing ENT's, and most seem to prefer the homebrewed concoctions over the commercially available blends simply because the homebrew works. The ear beer is more of a wash, you put it in and then turn your head to drain (no letting it sit for five or more minutes like you have to do with some medications.) The vinegar produces an acidic environment that retards the growth of any bacteria or other nasties that may be staging for an attack, and the evaporation action of the alcohol dries everything out quickly. For folks with problem ears it is probably best that they check with their doctor first.Originally Posted by lottie
http://www.proear2000.com/index.htm
no more worries check out the thread "Masks that seal off "
Water in the ear
Hello Eveybody, I'm the fooddude, and this is my first post. I'll be posting a formal introduction later, but as far as water in the ear... my ENT for 30 years has me use Afrin or another nasal inhaler PRIOR to the dive. It helps keep sinuses clear and allow for proper drainage. My ENT has me use a small amount of mineral oil / peroxide mixture to keep the ear wax at bay and prevent infection. My mixture is 50/50, and I store it in a small bottle with a medicine dropper. I don't bring this on the boat or to the dive, but use it as part of my regular hygeine after a shower once a week or so.
The "Afrin Extra Moisturizing" works great, as a matter of fact, I went diving this past Saturday nite (07/14/07) and forgot to spray, and was full of swishing water all day yesterday. I used it last nuight and within a n hour, the water was drained.
Hope this helps, glad to be a part of the group.
Back to the OP....
The thing with that "full" feeling in the ears that seems like you've got water in them... It may not be not water at all. Among scuba divers, the kind of sudden post-dive problem that Frankie describes is more often a slight trauma to the ear, which is why it doesn't just go away with an ear-wash solution.
Products like "ear beer", Swim-Ear, Auro-Dri, and Aqua-Ear are only meant to keep away infections of the outer ear--acute otitis externa--whereas the feeling of fullness caused by barotrauma is in the middle ear. I'm sure Lottie's mum can confirm this. Otitis externa first causes itching before the infection gets bad enough to cause swelling/blockage and is associated with other symptoms such as pain when you pull the earlobe. OTC products simply help prevent the growth of the "nasties" in the outer ear. They can do nothing for barotrauma.
This slight trauma to the ear that happens to divers is called barotitis media, and is very often sub-clinical, meaning it doesn't need specific treatment other than rest. It usually happens right after a dive, but can take up to a day to appear. It comes from not equalizing soon/often enough, sometimes from ascending too fast, and is something like a little bruise. The area gets a bit swollen, fluid builds up in the middle ear and causes a feeling of fullness. It only gets better when the fluid is reabsorbed and the swelling is gone. There is no pain associated with it.
Although this is a problem typical of new divers or those who dive infrequently, I get this myself if I have to do a series of bounce dives, such as working on CESAs with Open Water students (you know, the skill where you have to surface from 6-9 meters while exhaling--controlled emergency swimming ascent--students generally ascend much faster than my ears can keep up, causing a slight reverse squeeze).
If it doesn't go away in a couple of days without diving, it's best to go see an ENT because maybe the trauma isn't so slight after all.
In terms of prevention, I always tell my students not to wait until they feel the need to equalize on the initial descent, but to equalize on every breath so that the pressure doesn't get ahead of them.
Last edited by Quero; 07-18-2007 at 12:34 AM.
I heard of that and since i couldnt fit my elbow in i thought id stretch it out a bit with my fingers so it would fitNever seem to have any ear problems probably because of all the dirt and junk on my fingers kills anything that gets remotely close but it works.
Matt
Like Bama said, it's a quick rinse, not a marinade. I have been using swim ear, or something similar since at least high school. My hearing has changed some, but that had to do with work conditions (machinery) and time.
Mostly, I've noticed that my hearing has become more selective.
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