Hood vs earplugs for preventing infections

[Duke Dive Medicine]

I'm not sure, actually and I'd hate to guess. I asked my husband, but he doesn't remember what the doctor said (if the doctor even specified). He does have a pending appointment with an ENT, but couldn't get in for a few weeks. That's a bit frustrating as ear infections can get pretty nasty. I'd hate for his problem to become worse just waiting to see a doctor. Still, I'm glad for this because maybe the ENT will have better insight as to what the real root cause is. This morning my husband did say that he feels like there is water trapped in the ear and that he had some drainage this morning. That seems odd to me. I do wonder if some of this is allergy related. It's been a bad year here for allergens. Hopefully the doctor can address that as well since it can take 4-6 months to get into an allergist in our area.

It would make a big difference as to the recommendations as @John C. Ratliff pointed out above. Even visible drainage doesn't tell you for sure, because that can come from a severe middle ear infection that causes the tympanic membrane to rupture. Either way though, he should not dive until this clears up. Doing so could aggravate it further.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[Diverlady13]

Is this salt water diving? I'm surprised; I have a kid who gets an ear infection in freshwater. Every. Single. Time.

But not in seawater or chlorinated pools.

There are reasons not to use 70% ethanol, but that's always worked for me.

Both. Our last dive trip (just a few days ago) was all fresh water. All the sea diving was canceled due to weather, so we only dove cenotes. Trip before that (in April) was all salt water. Plus, we're diving salt water at the aquarium. I know that water is likely dirtier than the ocean and especially since we're stirring up the dirt and algae while cleaning.

 

[GreggS]

I use to have that problem quite often so I started using Ear Shield that fixed mine I feel.

Me, too. Ear Shield is great. A couple of squirts in each ear coats the ear canals and allows easy drainage. Before I started using it, my ears would feel like I still had water in one or both for 2 or 3 days. I've had some wicked ear infections as a result. Now my ears feel completely water free immediately after a dive..

I highly recommend it.

 

[Diverlady13]

It would make a big difference as to the recommendations as @John C. Ratliff pointed out above. Even visible drainage doesn't tell you for sure, because that can come from a severe middle ear infection that causes the tympanic membrane to rupture. Either way though, he should not dive until this clears up. Doing so could aggravate it further.

Best regards,
DDM

Thanks. He'll definitely be sorting things out before we dive again.

 

[uncfnp]

Before you put a lot of effort into plugs and such you/he really needs to clarify the type of infection. Infections in the ear canal (swimmer’s ear) vs infections behind the ear drum(middle ear)/possibly barotrauma. Different causes and different treatment. And different prevention.

If he was given any paperwork from the doctor visit it will be on that. Could be a number (icd10 code) or abbreviation, something like OE or OM.

 

[uncfnp]

I'd look for a diving medicine trained ENT and look for the root cause there not on the internet.

I really don’t understand posts like this since there are many medical scubaboard members including our very own doctormike (an ENT that happens to promote use of preventive drops when used correctly) and DDM. Not to mention tons of personal experience by fellow divers.

Dr. Mike | Michael Rothschild, MD

Swimmer's Ear | Michael Rothschild, MD

 

[BoltSnap]

Not to mention tons of personal experience by fellow divers.

So you will take medical advice from "experienced" laymen on serious medical issues you have?

many medical scubaboard members

There aren't that many here, two, three maybe four. At any rate, for proper medical advice, one needs to go and see a trained specialist physician in person to get proper medical advice especially for people living in a developed country. Trying to rely on the internet for diagnosis on what maybe complicated medical issue isn't really the proper way of going about resolving medical issues related to diving. The problem here on SB, there are MANY armchair "experts" who will mislead the person in need of proper medical advice such as what is being discussed here in this thread.

 

[Diverlady13]

So you will take medical advice from "experienced" laymen on serious medical issues you have?




There aren't that many here, two, three maybe four. At any rate, for proper medical advice, one needs to go and see a trained specialist physician in person to get proper medical advice especially for people living in a developed country. Trying to rely on the internet for diagnosis on what maybe complicated medical issue isn't really the proper way of going about resolving medical issues related to diving. The problem here on SB, there are MANY armchair "experts" who will mislead the person in need of proper medical advice such as what is being discussed here in this thread.

Again, I never asked for medical advice. I was simply seeking some product suggestions for when my husband's infection is sorted. I guess I could have been more clear. Maybe I should have posted in a different forum, but this seemed like the logical place to post.

So....let's just say I'VE GOT IT. No need to keep arguing about going to the doctor. OF COURSE my husband will be seeing the doctor, but he's looking for solutions so that this doesn't become an ongoing issue.

 

[BoltSnap]

Again, I never asked for medical advice. I was simply seeking some product suggestions for when my husband's infection is sorted. I guess I could have been more clear. Maybe I should have posted in a different forum, but this seemed like the logical place to post.

So....let's just say I'VE GOT IT. No need to keep arguing about going to the doctor. OF COURSE my husband will be seeing the doctor, but he's looking for solutions so that this doesn't become an ongoing issue.

I was only responding to the prior comment from @uncfnp

 

[uncfnp]

So you will take medical advice from "experienced" laymen on serious medical issues you have?




There aren't that many here, two, three maybe four. At any rate, for proper medical advice, one needs to go and see a trained specialist physician in person to get proper medical advice especially for people living in a developed country. Trying to rely on the internet for diagnosis on what maybe complicated medical issue isn't really the proper way of going about resolving medical issues related to diving. The problem here on SB, there are MANY armchair "experts" who will mislead the person in need of proper medical advice such as what is being discussed here in this thread.

Hmmm. Perhaps your definition of “serious” and mine are a bit different.

But that is neither here nor there. She has a diagnosis and is now just asking for a bit of guidance from fellow divers, and medical members, on options. Seems quite reasonable to me. Otherwise I am not quite sure the purpose behind the Dive Medicine forum.

As to the medical contributors, there has been at least 3 contributing in this thread alone. And did you also know that there are Medical Moderators that can intervene should there be any truly bad or incorrect advice?