Swimmer's Ear

squirtle · May 9, 2005

I have a question for anyone familiar with swimmer's ear... I spent a majority of the weekend in the pool. A couple of hours after I got out yesterday I realized I had some water still trapped in my left ear. I used to have trouble withthat as a kid and we always used a 50/50 mixture of rubbing alcohol and vinegar. I put some of that in my ear but my ear started getting sore last night and this morning is worse. I know there is still water trapped. I tried to get the doctor to call me something in but they won't without seeing me. I am too swamped at work to make an appointment over the next few days. Does anyone know if it is safe to use the alcohol/vinegar mixture for the next few days to free the water?
I am so frustrated my doctor won't call in any drops, it is just swimmer's ear and I have had it before

kiwideus · May 9, 2005

Since you are in Florida, I would hope that you have a scuba diving store nearby. They sell drops for swimmers ear - I suggest you try those. Good luck!

squirtle · May 9, 2005

Thanks Kellye! And yes, there is a dive shop about a 1/2 mile from work. I will go there at lunch time. I never thought about that!

bumpy · May 9, 2005

They have a medicine for this!!

All I do is to tilt my head to one side and jump up and down over and over again. Another thing I do that sometimes work is to put more water into the ear again, such as washing it or simply wetting a finger to put it in the ear. Sometimes it helps and all the water comes out.

laureen227 · May 9, 2005

Originally Posted by squirtle

Does anyone know if it is safe to use the alcohol/vinegar mixture for the next few days to free the water?

it's not going to hurt you, but it may not help, either. if the infection has already started, the alcohol/vinegar won't do anything for that. if it's just trapped water, it will. read the label on the special drops from the scuba store before buying - no point paying for alcohol/vinegar in a special package when you already have some!

gailc · May 9, 2005

My sister is a college swim coach. I'll be taking with her tonite and she what she recommends.

mom of franz · May 9, 2005

laureen227 said:
it's not going to hurt you, but it may not help, either. if the infection has already started, the alcohol/vinegar won't do anything for that. if it's just trapped water, it will. read the label on the special drops from the scuba store before buying - no point paying for alcohol/vinegar in a special package when you already have some![/QUOT

I have to disagree with the above. Your ear canal and ear drum contain very sensitive skin, the ear drum is a membrane, you could really irritate it and make matters worse, espcially with the alcohol! Vinegar belongs in a salad not in your ear. You can buy drops over the counter for swimmer's ear. Remember the old adage, never put anything smaller than you elbow in your ear!

jazzy · May 9, 2005

My ears are bad now cause of swimming when I was a little kid and the water went to my ears.

squirtle · May 9, 2005

Originally Posted by bumpy

They have a medicine for this!!

All I do is to tilt my head to one side and jump up and down over and over again. Another thing I do that sometimes work is to put more water into the ear again, such as washing it or simply wetting a finger to put it in the ear. Sometimes it helps and all the water comes out.

That almost always works! Jumping up and down with my head tilted over, I do that everytime I feel water in my ear. But this time I jumped up and down until I could jump no more and it still wouldn't come out. The dive shop was closed today due to a death in the family

so I am off to try the pharmacy. A friend told me I could find the drops there.

As far as the alcohol/ vinegar mix... I keep finding conflicting answers to that. I am worried about putting stuff in my ear because as a kid I had a lot of trouble with them and have had my ear drum rupture twice. I know they are nothing to play around with. I am going to try the drops for 2 days and if it doesn't clear up I will definately visit the doctor. It's just that I literally don't have the time to go until at least Thursday.

katl8e · May 9, 2005

The producr called "Swimmer's Ear" is avai;able at any drugstore. It contains a drying agent. In the future, use it BEFORE you go swimming. Better yet, use earplugs.

I told Sam to use this for twins, last summer and, after their initial bout, had no more trouble.

Swimmer's Ear

squirtle

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kiwideus

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squirtle

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bumpy

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laureen227

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gailc

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mom of franz

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squirtle

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katl8e

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