Ear clearning probems? Neat trick!

[spartanws6]

I don't know if this is old news or not... since I am still new to this sport, but I found something that seems to work, so why not pass it on right?

I have always had ear problems since I was very young. The usual song and dance, blown out eardrums, tubes, blah blah blah blah. I am very comfortable in the water, but for the life of me, clearning my ears has always been an issue. I have tried all of the suggestions (massage the tubes, looking up, tilting the head, swallowing, etc) and it made it a bit more bearable, but it was enought to still make me frustrated (as well as the folks diving with me BTW)

A buddy of mine is a nurse and suggested I see the ear docs and see if I can get my ears flushed of the wax. Since I am flying out tonight for Key Largo, this was not an option on such short notice. So, I went to Wal-Mart and bought their high speed, do it yourself $4.00 ear clensing kit. Tried it last night before I went to bed and .... WOW

I woke up this morning and tried to clear my ears and it was immediate. I could not believe the difference. Even now, the effort to clear my ears is nothing like it has been in the past. I am really excited to head down south knowing my clearning problems MAY be a thing of the past

Sorry for the long post, but I am excited. This may be old news, but I figured there may be some newbies like me searching on the subject.

 

[ScubaTwo]

I don't know if this is old news or not... since I am still new to this sport, but I found something that seems to work, so why not pass it on right?

I have always had ear problems since I was very young. The usual song and dance, blown out eardrums, tubes, blah blah blah blah. I am very comfortable in the water, but for the life of me, clearning my ears has always been an issue. I have tried all of the suggestions (massage the tubes, looking up, tilting the head, swallowing, etc) and it made it a bit more bearable, but it was enought to still make me frustrated (as well as the folks diving with me BTW)

A buddy of mine is a nurse and suggested I see the ear docs and see if I can get my ears flushed of the wax. Since I am flying out tonight for Key Largo, this was not an option on such short notice. So, I went to Wal-Mart and bought their high speed, do it yourself $4.00 ear clensing kit. Tried it last night before I went to bed and .... WOW

I woke up this morning and tried to clear my ears and it was immediate. I could not believe the difference. Even now, the effort to clear my ears is nothing like it has been in the past. I am really excited to head down south knowing my clearning problems MAY be a thing of the past

Sorry for the long post, but I am excited. This may be old news, but I figured there may be some newbies like me searching on the subject.

My husband also has some problems ear clearing. Im going to suggest this to him. Thanks for the info

 

[audiodive]

The ear cleaning kits tend to do an okay job, be very careful though. You can do a great job of hurting your eardrums and earcanals, then you really won't be able to dive.

A couple drops of peroxide in your ears, then tipping your head to the side will work for getting the wax out too.

 

[redrover]

I don’t know what the ear cleaning kits are but working in Family Medicine I cleaned a lot of other people’s ears. (Yuck, least favorite task.) We used a water pick with warm water/peroxide.

 

[ScubaTwo]

I don’t know what the ear cleaning kits are but working in Family Medicine I cleaned a lot of other people’s ears. (Yuck, least favorite task.) We used a water pick with warm water/peroxide.

Ouch. I use a water pick for my teeth and even on the lowest setting its quite powerful. I will leave that to the pros

 

[SteveFass]

I find both works best. I use the drugstore peroxide for a few days, then I see my primary care physician to blast it out. No pain.

 

[Walter]

My doctor advised me to never put peroxide in my ears, that if a pinpick hole exists in the eardrum the peroxide can cause you to go deaf.

 

[D_O_H]

This may be a silly question, since I don't really have a firm grasp on how the ear works and have never had any trouble clearing, but how would cleaning wax out of the outer portion of the ear canal help in clearing one's ears?

To clear, don't you equalize the air spaces on the inside of your eardrum, rather than the outside, where wax may have built up?

 

[jepuskar]

What was that Walter? I couldnt hear you.

 

[redrover]

Well Walter, physicians can have different opinions. I recommend you follow your physician’s instructions.

DOH, not silly at all.

Diving Science, Essential Physiology and Medicine for Divers, Copyright 2004, Problems Associated With Descent, Page 251, Causes and Anatomy:

……The diver may create artificial rigid-walled cavities by donning goggles, face mask, and diving suit. … The external ear canal must also be considered since impacted cerumen (earwax), osteomas (bony masses), diving hoods, or earplugs can generate an artificial air-filled, rigid walled cavity external to the tympanic membrane. ……

Page 256, Prevention:
If ear, nose, and throat problems are present the following should be evaluated:
…Condition of the external canal with reference to otitis externa, osteomas (bone growths), and cerumen (earwax) …..

The gist is that if (shudder) gunk builds up in the external ear canal could be termed thick plugs and create artificial air-filled, rigid walled cavities and viewed as masks in regard to squeeze.

People differ in pain tolerance. Some patients would come in saying they hated to get their ears cleaned but as they could no longer hear out of it they had to ‘break down and get it done.’ Other’s would come in sooner saying they knew it was a lot easier on themselves. And other’s just complained of hearing loss, the physician recommended flushing them, the patients balked, and then were offered ‘at home’ treatment recommendations. In those cases, I guessestimate at least half returned having inadequate success at home.

If anyone reading this seeking a solution for equalization difficulties suspecting they may have a build up of ear wax I recommend they see a physician. Some people seek treatments at intervals. They may ask the physician if they can be trained to do this at home. It is a quite simple (if unpleasant) procedure in most cases. I do know of people able to self-administer but it is easier to have a compassionate assistant irrigate.