Ear trouble

[valsarver]

Hello,

Just found this great group. Returned from dive vacation in Mexico, with a swollen, painful left ear. Started as feeling "plugged" without pain. Of course, I was too stubborn to STOP diving, so I did another two dives after the "plugged" sensation. The night after doing the two dives, I hardly slept as my ear grew more painful, it was hard to hear, and throughout the night, I was awakened by water draining, hopeful that this was a good thing.

Today, it became painful and swollen to the point that it is now difficult to eat. It seems to be slightly improving as I have taken two Naproxen for swelling, and also taken a couple antihistamines. I put some olive oil in the ear earlier. Then recently, I added a couple drops of something called "Otopain" that I got in Indonesia (the last time I had this problem seriously). It looks as though the active ingredient is something called Polimiksin B Sulfate, but of course, I can't confirm for sure as it is in Indonesian! It worked last time though.

Don't have health insurance, can't really afford to go to the Doc if I don't absolutely have to.

Any tips (other than wiser prevention next time - I learned my lesson) - on how to relieve this? How do I get my ear to drain?!

Thanks in advance for your help.

Val

 

[The Iceni]

Hi Valsarver,

If the pain has not yet convinced you to seek qualified advice let me advise you most sincerely to do so, soonest.

Whether or not you have a perforated your tympanic membrane (ear drum) I would guess you have an established infection of your middle ear.

If left untreated this can infect the mastoid bone (a part of the skull) a form of osteomyelitis. which could become life threatening in time, requiring a disfiguring operation and at a minimum permanent deafness in that ear.

SEEK TREATMENT or you may regret it for the rest of your life!

 

[scubadoc]

Hi valsarver:

Agree completely with Dr. Thomas!

In addition, if you have ruptured your ear drum - you should not use the Otopain Eardrops as the polymyxin B is ototoxic - that is, it will cause you to have permanent deafness and balance problems if it gets into your middle and inner ear.
http://www.tchain.com/otoneurology/disorders/bilat/ototoxic_drops.htm

 

[valsarver]

Hello Doctors,

Thank you for your replies, I'll make sure to see a Doctor tomorrow. Hope I haven't done too much damage already.

Thanks,
Val