Ear infections?

[ScubaRook]

My finance and I just fininshed our open water dives about two weeks ago. Now, just within the last few days, my finace has had an ear ache. Last night she went to the dr. and it was confirmed that she has ear infections in both ears. The dr. ended up being a diver (btw, not an ent, just a dr.) and she said that ear infections are common when diving in in-land lakes in Michigan. She said it is due to the high amounts of bacteria in the water. She also said it was not really a problem and it can usually be avoided by using specific ear drops right after a dive that dries your inner ears. She recommended that if the problem presists after our next dive, which will be in French Polynesia in salt water, to see an Ent., but she doubted it would happen in salt water.

What do you think? It sounds reasonable but I just wanted a few second opinions.

 

[TravisT]

I learned the same thing in my OW. My instructor always kept some alcohol ear drops (can't remember the name). But anyway, we always put in some of that after finishing what we were doing in the water and it seemed to work because right now I didn't put any in after lastnight and still feel like i have water in my left ear. =/

 

[xSandman3]

My daughter has chronic ear infections, and she dives at least once a week with me. We use Swim-EAR, which is an alcohol based drop that you can get at any drug store. Use it before and after diving to get rid of whatever little creatures you might have picked up underwater.

 

[The Kraken]

We use a home made mixture of 1:1 alcohol to hydrogen peroxide.
It's like a Happy Fizzie Party in your ear!!!

 

[GoBlue!]

Sounds like a reasonable plan. No need to see an ENT at this point... "just a Dr." seems to be doing just fine.

Jim

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

Well am I glad I came to SB today, I'm a recent mid-west convert who recently started doing lake and quarry dives around here. Confirmed Wednesday that I have the first ear infection I can remember in 30+ years. CIPRO drops, and no diving for 14 days 8(

Will be a dedicated swim-ear fan after that!

 

[louisianadiver]

We use a home made mixture of 1:1 alcohol to hydrogen peroxide.
It's like a Happy Fizzie Party in your ear!!!

You can also use a mixture of 1:1 alcohol and vinegar--same as that "swimmer's ear" stuff. -Clay

 

[dyarab]

I also got an ear infection... but I got mine just from the pool sessions of my OW class. I had gone to the ER to get some antibiotics so it would not get out of control and saw an ENT 2 days later(benfit of working in healthcare and knowing how to manipulate the system). I have/had "otitus media".

I am on oral AB and AB drops. The ENT sucked out some of the crap that was in my ear and it felt much better after the appoitnment. I see him again in two weeks, hopefully to be cleared to go back into the water.

Most of these infections, are caused by the bacteria that is already in your ear. The water just gives it a media to grow in... thus the infection.

Personally I would see an ENT, but thats just me an I obviously can do that quicker than most. I will, from now on, rinse my ears with some form of alcohol or OTC drops. Price of getting old I guess... grew up in a pool and never, ever had a problem.

 

[Fitzy]

I have some stuff called Aqua-ear. A few drops after each dive cleans and drys my ears and no probs at all. Avail at yr local chemist.

 

[Charlie99]

You can also use a mixture of 1:1 alcohol and vinegar--same as that "swimmer's ear" stuff. -Clay

The OTC products I see in the US, such as Swim-EAR are 95% isopropyl alcohol, 5% glycerin. They good to dry out my ears when used only once in a while, but the 95% alcohol is too harsh for frequent use.

I use a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar (5% acetic acid) and rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl alcohol), but only if there is trapped water or I feel a bit of irritation.

The theory is that by letting the mixture sit in your ear for 5 minutes, the pH of the skin is lowered to the point where bacteria can't grow.