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Thread: Water in the ear...

  1. #1
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    Question Water in the ear...

    Okay, this might sound a little dumb and really show my inexperience, but I am having a devil of a time getting the water our of my ears. I dove on Saturday (7/7/07) and I still have water in my ears. The only thing I have tried, so far, is using "Swimmers Ear". It seems to work for a little bit of water in the ears, but not for a lot of water.

    Are there any other methods that might work to get the water out of the ears? I really find it annoying and I dont want to get an ear infection.

    Any suggestions would be wonderful!

    Thanks,
    Frankie
    Frankie W
    DiveCon/AOW- SSI
    Raleigh, NC


    "Jeez, I crack myself up!"

  2. #2
    Wreck Diving Moderator acelockco's Avatar
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    I usually don't have any problem myself. I don't know if this will help or not either. Anyway, I usually make sure I fill my ears up with nice fresh shower water after the dive then tip my head to drain. I do this a few times per ear. I figure it will get the "bad" water out and flush it away with the highly clorinated water my town provides.

    Lets hope that I never have a problem either.

    hope that helped.

  3. #3
    Cave Diver BamaCaveDiver's Avatar
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    You might try some ear beer, a 50-50 mixture of plain isoprpyl alcohol and white vinegar. The acidic vinegar kills any nasties haging out in the ear canal while the alcohol acts as a drying agent. A lot cheaper than the commercial Swimmer's Ear, and a lot of folks claim it works better. I have used both and like the results I get from the ear beer a lot better, but as with most things of this nature YMMV. In really nasty water I use it both before and after a dive and have yet to have any problems with my ears.

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    Wreck Diving Moderator acelockco's Avatar
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    Nice name for the stuff. LOL

    Anyway, how long does the stuff you mix up seem to last? Figuring it will be sitting in a dive bag on a hot boat deck at times. I bet it smells great...

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    Moderator lottie's Avatar
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    I'm afraid I can't help with trying to get water out of your ear. I have also heard about 'ear beer' but putting alcohol in my ear doesn't sound like a good thing (no pun intended )

    I feel your pain and hope it gets better soon.
    Lottie

  6. #6
    Registered Users hbh2oguard's Avatar
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    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.

  7. #7
    Registered Users Carp_dm's Avatar
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    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.

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    Cave Diver BamaCaveDiver's Avatar
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    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.

  9. #9
    Moderator lottie's Avatar
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    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

  10. #10
    Cave Diver BamaCaveDiver's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by lottie View Post
    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!!!!"
    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.

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