Help, I'm prone to swimmers ear and can't use alcohol

[Eastbayfe]

From the DAN article with mention of Hydrogen Peroxide:

Clearing That Waxy Buildup
If you're diving for an extended period of time, the cerumen in your ear may build up and cause the external ear canal to become blocked off. Once this happens, it greatly reduces the effectiveness of the external ear prophylaxis and makes an infection much more likely.

If you think your ear canal is blocked, the best way to find out is to have someone who is trained to use an otoscope use one to look in your ear. If the eardrum isn't visible, the excess cerumen should be removed. Don't use swabs or other instruments to remove cerumen. Gently flushing the canal with water while in the shower, with hydrogen peroxide, or by using commercial over-the-counter solutions designed to remove earwax are the best bet. If that doesn't work, see a doctor to have the wax removed. Any intrusion into the ear canal should be done by trained medical personnel only.


Lots of other good info...

Thanks for reference Steve

 

[Scubasteve08]

I suffered from swimmers ear too. On a plane ride home last year I saw a Dry Ear device for sale for $99 in a catalog. Although I can justify spending thousands of dollars on equipment, I could not justify spending $99 for the device in the catalog. Long story short, I am in the final stages of launching Clear-EAR that will sell for $40. Please see my website for additional details @ clear-ear.com (note that the site is still waiting for updates to officially launch). I am willing to send anyone a unit at a significant discount if you agree to report back to the board your honest opinion of the product. I assure you that you will not be disappointed. This product worked for me and I am sure it will work for you.

 

[bfw]

It hurt so bad I wanted to cry. It felt like someone poured molten lava in my ear and I couldn't get it out.

When medicine tastes bad, that means it works!

If it burns that bad, you have broken mucous membrane or something else going on. Have an ENT check it out.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

That was my thought when I read your initial post. The only times I have had issues with a solution containing alcohol causing pain was when I already had an active ear infection and an inflamed ear canal. In that case, the molten lava feeing can result.

If you try it again when you know your ear canal is not infected, and get similar results, consider using just plain vinegar cut 50/50 with water. It would probably work just as well to kill off bacteria, it just would not have the same drying effect as 50% alcohol and 50% vinegar where the alcohol absorbs the water.

If I am on a trip and develop an infection in my ear canal, I will use hydrogen peroxide to kill it off. You have to repeat the treatment periodically and it can cause some other issues but as a field expedient where you do not have access to antibiotics, it often works and in my very non medical opinion is better than letting an untreated infection get worse.

 

[rdolmat]

50/50 alcohol and vinegar?

That's what I've been told as well...I've been doing that after each dive, and no problems yet!

 

[TMHeimer]

Try the "Pro Plug" ear plugs. These have tiny holes in them especially for divers' equalizing. I use them particularly when without a hood, as they tend to move around too much with the hood on. They are connected to each other by a plastic string, which you can wrap around one side of your mask strap so you'll never use them. Good luck.

 

[jupitermermaid]

I agree with TMHeimer. I always had a problem with swimmer's ear. I started diving using a specialized mask that kept the ears dry, then had the opportunity to try Doc's Pro Plugs. At this point, I don't need to wear them all the time, but when the water gets cold they go back in, as I've found that I'm more prone to ear infections in colder water. The great thing with the plugs is that they have holes in them so they don't interfere with your hearing, and they keep the water out of your ears. Good luck.

 

[adjuster-jd]

I too am an advocate of the Sahara Dry Ear. When I am teaching in the pool it is usually several hours before I can get home and apply the 50/50 alcohol/vinegar mix, so I use the dry-ear device in the car from the pool back to my dive store.
While I can't say it is the dry ear device alone or the alcohol/vinegar mix which prevents my otitis externa infections, I can say that I havent gotten an infection since I began this preventive routine.

 

[neilkendra]

Hello folks,iŽ´m quite new to diving,in fact i have just returned from my 2nd month long holiday in the Andaman islands in the Bay of Bengal,where i spend hours snorkelling every day and 12 dives....A thing i noticed is that so many peoples (including me)suffer with that which they attribute as ear infections.
A friend visited a ear,nose and throat specialist doctor in the southern indian city of Chennai (formerly Madras)between visits to the Andamans and was told that the infections most folks get in tropical waters is fungal as opposed to viral and was given a prescription for a ear drop solution that has the commercial name of Norflox,and the active inggiedients therein are Norfloxacin IP at the rate of 0.3%. And Benzalkonium Cloride NF as the preserving agent at a rate of 0.01%.The rest of the solution i presume is distilled water, it is certainly not alcohol.What i do happen to know however is that this solution works supremely well..
And what i should like to know is if there exists a european equivalent?

 

[alex_tx]

Here is a scubaboard thread relating to swimmers ear , ear infections & preventive maintenance suggestion.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/advanced-scuba-discussions/269454-ear-infections-4.html