Ear problems. Advice needed

[kkdavids]

here you go - http://www.proplugs.com/pdf/proplug_sizing.pdf

 

[doyenofcastle]

Xylo Comod Nasal Spray

its strong don't use more than before dive

 

[doyenofcastle]

in my case I clean my sinus by physiol liquid then I use xylo comod nasal spray ,but check first with ENT ,it work for me but only one spray each nose one per week before dive only its a strong medicine with side effect .

 

[Sting Meadery]

In my experience for divers with problematic equalisation the most important equalisation is the first- on the surface above water, second - face in water on surface, third - just under the surface, then as often as possible during descent. Equalise gently, early and often...

Another tip, invest time in chewing gum throughout the day before and the entire morning of a dive as this drains and opens the eustachean tubes.


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[Sting Meadery]

I use SwimmersEar. It is alcohol with a small amount of Glycerin. ( Self explanatory)
And most importantly, lubricate the membrane.
Mineral oil is very very good.
Cheers, K.

Swimmers ear type products are great post dive to rinse and dry the out ear canal.
I have found a combination of alcohol, propyl glycol and acetic acid works best.

Dive professionals often experience excessive in water exposure (ocean, fresh water and pools) due to their in water lifestyle so religious flushing of the ears post immersion is imperative.

Over time unmanaged ears can cause the skin/cells of the inner ear canal to "mutate" and become spongy which makes them susceptible to inflammation and infection which hampers easy equalising.


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[Sting Meadery]

...nasal decongestants can often wear out during the day.

This can cause a reverse block where the inner ear cant release pressure on the way up...causing them to rupture the to panic membrane at best, or the round window at worst which will make you lose you balance and be very unhappy.

My advice, never dive with sinusitis...


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[J Campbell]

I would NOT put acetic acid or alcohol in your ears. Although they will kill most bacteria they are also irritating to the very sensitive tissue in your ear. I use hydrogen peroxide which does not irritate the ear but still kills most bacteria.

 

[Sting Meadery]

I would NOT put acetic acid or alcohol in your ears. Although they will kill most bacteria they are also irritating to the very sensitive tissue in your ear. I use hydrogen peroxide which does not irritate the ear but still kills most bacteria.

The original recipe is from an inner ear specialist/surgeon I used when I had ear problems as a dive professional.
The solution isn't something the average person can make as you need to have the ppm ratio correct for the acetic acid, as it is extremely concentrated but when correct its fine.

I used it for years as a diving instructor with good effect. The alcohol is used to evaporate residual moisture.

I wouldn't put undiluted Hydrogen Peroxide in my ears...


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[Mr. X]

My 2 cents: Much safer (and better) to go to a GP and get some properly researched, licensed & manufactured medication. For example, although alcohol might help evaporates moisture (and dissolve things), it can have other effects too - such as hardening cell walls (botanists use it for that very purpose when preparing microscope slides).

I don't know much about hydrogen peroxide but I would tend to avoid it. Here is what wiki says about it:

"Historically hydrogen peroxide was used for disinfecting wounds, partly because of its low cost and prompt availability compared to other antiseptics. It is now thought to slow healing and lead to scarring because it destroys newly formed skin cells.[43] Only a very low concentration of H2O2 can induce healing, and only if not repeatedly applied.[44] ...

It is absorbed by skin upon contact and creates a local capillary embolism that appears as a temporary whitening of the skin.[48]
...
Higher concentrations may be considered hazardous and are typically accompanied by a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). In high concentrations, hydrogen peroxide is an aggressive oxidizer and will corrode many materials, including human skin. In the presence of a reducing agent, high concentrations of H2O2 will react violently.

 

[J Campbell]

I use off the shelf 3% diluted H2O2

 

[Sting Meadery]

My 2 cents: Much safer (and better) to go to a GP and get some properly researched, licensed & manufactured medication. For example, although alcohol might help evaporates moisture (and dissolve things), it can have other effects too - such as hardening cell walls]:

The alcohol was perfect for my condition as I had spent so much time in water the cells in my outer ear canals had mutated and gone all spongy, so recovering cell integrity was part of the healing process, as was correctly drying the ears after diving.

I agree if you are seeking an ear wash, pay to see a professional specialist for a proven formulated product specific to your requirements.

From memory the one I was prescribed was approx 60% alcohol, 38% propyl glycol, 2% Acetic acid.



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[doyenofcastle]

that medecine I use similar to that create many white waste inside canal and doctor wash my ear

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[Mr. X]

The alcohol was perfect for my condition as I had spent so much time in water the cells in my outer ear canals had mutated and gone all spongy, so recovering cell integrity was part of the healing process, as was correctly drying the ears after diving...

Good point, hadn't thought of that.

 

[sjurba]

I've found flushing my ears with a 2-3% vinegar solution post dive to work fine as a precaution against swimmers ear

 

[psimian]

I've started using a pre-dive coat of mineral oil and a post-dive flush of clean water, followed by a 50/50 isopropyl alcohol and vinegar rinse. I have to disagree with Mark's comment about peroxide not being an irritant, but he brings up a good point--anything that can kill the bacteria that cause swimmers ear can potentially wreak havok on delicate the delicate tissues in your ear (which is my I'm partial to the mineral oil pre-coat)

I would also suggest that if you have even the slightest history of ear trouble, invest in an otoscope and get your buddy to check your ears before and after each day of diving. The first (and so far, only) time I hurt my ears I managed to rupture both ear drums in less than 3m of water thanks to an unfortunate combination of allergies, bad technique, and bad luck. It wouldn't have been so bad except that I didn't realize I'd done it, and kept diving for 2 more days. The resulting ear infection hit me about 12 hours before I had to get on a plane. Believe me, you do not want to go through this.

A tiny perforation of the ear drum is not that big a deal if you catch it right away, and give it time to heal. If you foolishly assume that you just have water in your ear and keep diving, you're in for a world of hurt.

 

[Diving Gecko]

in my case I clean my sinus by physiol liquid then I use xylo comod nasal spray ,but check first with ENT ,it work for me but only one spray each nose one per week before dive only its a strong medicine with side effect .

Nasal decongestents are known to have a rebound effect. Meaning that after handful of days, you often end up the same or worse than when you started using the drug. So, if you have a slight block and you are going our for a day or a weekend, they might be OK.
Don't do them if you intend to dive more than 3-5 days in a row.

If your sinuses are blocked leading to EQ issues then consider nasal irrigation with a saline solution instead. It really does help. At least it does for me - I always nasal irrigate during freedive course/practice trips. Once before bed time and once each morning. I even bring a bottle on the float and sometimes rinse before deep dives.