Swimmers Ear ? - Advice ?
71
Member
675 days
usasportstrain posted 18 weeks ago.
Yeah, the Ent may need to suction the liquid out. If it's infected, then antibiotics may be in store too. Maybe an Urgent Care visit would be good in the interim.
As much as you may hate them, perhaps earplugs are the way to go in the future.
I know there are astringents (I think they'd be called) that would evaporate the water.
I hope it works out for you soon and you can get back to your swimming. :)
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196
Member
868 days
fpugsley posted 18 weeks ago.
What I do is after each swim, i put alcohol/vinegar mixture in my ear. I have a little squirt bottle for ear drops in my bathroom. the alcohol evaporates water, and the acid helps to kill bacteria. Use it every time.
NOT NOW! the alcohol will burn like hellfire if you have swimmers ear right now.
1444
Member
1275 days
brittda posted 18 weeks ago.
If your ear is really bothering you, maybe an Urgent care or family dr (mine I can usually get into same day--and really may be all you need instead of dropping the cash on urgent care). Let them take care of the initial problem. For the future there is a drop you can buy to use after swimming called "swimear" http://www.drugstore.com/templates/brand/default.asp?brand=7950&aid=3374... you can use. I used to have problems as a kid, and this semed to help. This should be used once the swimmers ear is cleard up.
196
Member
868 days
fpugsley posted 18 weeks ago.
Just so everyone knows, the active ingredient in any and all swimear type products is rubbing alcohol. You can buy a bottle of isopropyl alcohol for much less and it has about 20 times the quantity.
404
Member
307 days
Sully800 posted 18 weeks ago.
I just use a qtip after I swim and never have problems with swimmers ear any more.
18
Member
132 days
smashburn posted 18 weeks ago.
Thanks everyone!
I just got back from my Primary Dr since he could squeeze me in. It appears to be just a wax issue ... but lots of wax!!! Apparently I've not done a good job of cleaning and when I went in the pool, especially under for the underwater swim, it just washed/pushed it all down against my eardrum.
The nurse was able to clean out my good ear .. though it was a mess ... but the other will take a few more Hydrogen Perodixe (HP)/Flush treatments, which I should be able to do myself. She recommends cleaning with HP every other month. It's pretty sore from her 'scraping' around in there but it'll be fine soon.
I can't swim again until it's all clean but I should be gold within a week.
Thanks,
Steve
440
Member
425 days
Socket posted 18 weeks ago.
I had that done once when I was a kid. Left the doc's office going "wow! I can hear!"
717
Member
216 days
TriSooner posted 18 weeks ago.
usasportstrain wrote:
I did exactly this! It sounds gross, but my ear wax had soaked up a bunch of water and it hurt so bad I couldn't sleep. Went in the next day and they irrigated both ears. It was very uncomfortable but satisfying at the same time, like pulling out a tooth or ripping off a good road rash scab. It looked like a raisin. Told you it was gross.
Maybe an Urgent Care visit would be good in the interim.
Hi Folks .. another newbie here. At 52, after years of on and off running and biking (racing) .. and occasional thoughts of tri ... I've really gotten inspired to follow through and do it.
So I find a swim group w/ coach that meets MWF midday for swims and join up. First day, this past Wed, was awesome. First lap was about 12 yards and then grab the edge and gasp. Not because of fitness (did a 10K and 1/2 Marathon on the same weekend 2 weeks ago) but due to absurdly terrible form. The coach fixed that in minutes and by the end of the hour I was cruisin. Now I just need practice and mileage (yardage in this case).
However, Wed night my right ear stops up totally. Always had wax issues and was not too surprised .. though it ususally clears in a few hours. This time it did not. I tried the over the counter products to no avail. When I rub it I hear a sloshy sound so I'm pretty sure I have water trapped in there. I've now delevoped a little pain and lot of itchy-ness. I've stopped the over the counter measures as they just add water, from what I read, and that is now the problem. It is likely becoming infected as well .. from Web info .. from the trapped water.
I have made and appt with a ENT doc, but can't get in until next week.. I have some drops for the ear pain that seem to work, but am a little worried about going all weekend without treatment.
I thought of trying to make the group swim but even with ear plugs that is likely not wise. Plus the blockage has my balance a little off anyway, so that's off for now.
Dang!! best laid plans .. :) Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Steve Mashburn
Woodstock, GA