Ear infection?

[John P]

Hi guys,

I've been swimming in the sea and doing a bit of diving over the last week.

About halfway through the week my left ear started to ache - felt a bit like i was hit in the ear. It seems to have got better now after a few days.

I don't know what it was - has anyone had a similar problem? and is there anything I can do to prevent it happening again?

(I was wearing a hood).

Cheers,

John.

 

[turtle]

If it hurt 'like getting hit' DURING the dive, it's either a, hood squeeze or b, poor equalizing. Both of these mean you should change your dive habits a bit.

If it hurt AFTER diving, then you may have trapped water in the ear, or an infection.

In any case, something like Doc's proplugs (vented) i've found to be useful - Specially in colder water like the UK. Very small, easy & cheap. You can fill your ear with fresh water, then plug them with the proplugs, or let them fill with seawater on their own once you begin diving.

Lots of divers swear by things like a few drops of olive oil in the ear post-dive sesh. This will help with trapped water, and (possibly) help with mild infection.

Otherwise check with a doctor who knows about diving - the inner ear's very fragile & close to lots of important, cool bits of anatomy.

f

 

[John P]

Thanks for your advice.

Yeah it was after diving/swimming not during. I was only in shallow water so I think it was due to the cold water or an infection rather than pressure or failure to equalise.

A few drops of olive oil after diving? - that might be an idea, I've heard of people doing that in general just to help clean their ears I think.

Pro plugs also sound like a good option.

Cheers,

John.

 

[turtle]

If you go for the proplugs, you need to size them correctly with the chart on their site otherwise they don't do much...

f

 

[Adrian]

Hood squeeze can also manifest after the dive. I've had it happen to me where I woke up with sharp pain and blood coming out of my ear after diving several hours before. The doctor confirmed it was due to a bent, but luckily not broken eardrum. An ear infection will probably get worse unless you treat it (my experience) but a squeeze will subside after a few days if there is no infection. Many people use a 76% rubbing alcohol/boric acid combination to dry out and disinfect the ear after a day's diving.

This has been my experience and it works well, no infections for years. But do have a check by an EMT - just to be sure that what you have has gone away or cleared up totally.

 

[jimqpublic]

See this Deeper Blue article:
More on Swimmer's Ear by Divers Alert Network on DeeperBlue.net - Fanatical About FreeDiving, Scuba Diving, Spearfishing & Technical Diving

I think mixing equal amounts of white vinegar and Dickinson's Witch Hazel (14% alcohol) should work perfectly.

Note the importance of a full 5 minutes in each ear, and also how moisturizers tend to remove protective wax and dead skin.

 

[Ale Andres]

How about searching a doctor??

 

[John P]

Hi,

Thanks for all your replys.

I'll go to my doctor if it causes me any more problems (I suppose they'd have to refer me to an ENT specialist if need be).

That's an interesting article about the swimmer's ear - I may well make up some mild solution to use after dives. I assume 'swimmer's ear' is basically an infection?

Are ear infections quite common?

Thanks again,

John.

 

[John P]

Hi,

It seems to have got worse again (I went back in the water - perhaps too soon) so I've made an appointment to see a doctor tomorrow - I'll see what they say.

Cheers,

John.

edit:

I've seen the doctor and been perscribed some ear spray and told it will probably clear up soon.

 

[fflupo]

after all these sprays and other things like oil and earplugs etc. cleaning with fresh-water right after diving helped the most..
later when i have the shower i clean them again

all the best
wolf

 

[John P]

Hi,

It seems to have pretty much cleared up. I've had no pain from it in 5 days and I can hear fine again.

The only problem that remains is that although I can hear external sounds ok, the sound of my own voice is a bit odd (to myself I sound like I have a cold althgough I don't).

I really hope it goes back to normal soon. I've stopped using the spray I was perscribed as there has been no more pain and I though it possible that the spray was causing the problem.

Cheers,

John.