Water stays in ear canal for days or weeks...

[gill]

My definition of swimmer's ear is an actual ear ache. I know swimmer's ear can be prevented by using rubbing alcohol in your ear after diving, but an ear ache is not my problem.

I don't have ear aches, but the longer I dive, the longer the water stays in my ear canal....it interferes with my hearing and my equilibrium to a degree.

I did a week long live aboard in the Bahamas and I swear that I had water in my ears for at least two weeks afterwards.

Anybody else come across this?

Thanks,

David

 

[Poida]

No I've never been to the Bahamas.

 

[John A]

Go to an ENT Dr., you may have wax build-up in your ears that blocks the water in. I go about every 6 months for a "cleaning" since the same thing happens to me.

John

 

[gill]

Great, thanks John. I had not thought of that.

-David

 

[DeepThought]

Another (less likely) option is that you get some water up your nose and push it into the middle ear by equalizing. Still, water getting stuck for 2 weeks is uncommon, might lead to some infections, ENT would do best.

 

[Huan]

I had a problem with sloshy ears too last year and I went to the hearing aid chap for a free checkup he said that there was a big ball of wax causing the problem and recommended a substance called waxsol which dissolved the wax and allowed it to come out as I ascended.
after that no problem.
I believe that one of the constituents is Peroxide but it worked well for me.

 

[gill]

Thanks, Huan. I was actually reading on WebMD.com that can work but only on loose wax. The harder wax balls must be removed by an ENT and are always painful as they are dislodged. I also read something that said the Hydrogen Peroxide can also get "behind" the wax and get trapped there. I am not sure that happens often, but just an FYI.....

-David

 

[gorazd]

Thanks, Huan. I was actually reading on WebMD.com that can work but only on loose wax. The harder wax balls must be removed by an ENT and are always painful as they are dislodged. I also read something that said the Hydrogen Peroxide can also get "behind" the wax and get trapped there. I am not sure that happens often, but just an FYI.....

-David

Hi

The wax you are talking about is important product of immune system. A big sterile siringe 200 ml filed with body temeperature sterile water is the best to wash avay wax. This is usula medical procedure. Should bi done properly.
Wax is antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial mix, sometime it atached with old skin in the hohle and in such cases the water stay inside.

Hev nice time Gorazd

 

[Mr. X]

...I swear that I had water in my ears for at least two weeks afterwards.

2 weeks is a lot. I usually pool swim 3 times a week & quite often get water stuck in my ears for a few hours -- longest maybe 3 or 4 hours. Massaging the ear sometimes frees it, usually it clears itself -- it seems to warm up & flow out.

I don't have a problem with ear wax but I know several people that get their ears syringed regularly (although usually not often enough!!) -- they get noticeably deafer. I think the doctor gives them some sort oil (maybe evening primrose or almond oil - something unusual) to soften up wax before their visit. In the US there also used to be an off-the-shelf product for swimmers - don't recall the name but I believe if came will a small bottle (of oil?) & a suction bulb (as used to clean babies' noses) -- they sponsored the US Olympic swim team. I have heard of a similar product (different brand) in the UK recently. The above link includes this quote:
"Over the counter drops that help remove wax are largely basically water, oil and peroxide solutions (e.g. brand names are Debrox or Murine)." I have also heard of people using olive oil.

On other threads on this forum several US contributers recommended ear candles (I would add a link but the site is screwed up after the upgrade today!). Haven't tried this yet (too pricey at 8-10 pounds a set...they look really cheap too - like they cost 10 cents to make!) but I notice they are on sale at "Chinese medicine" & health stores in most towns & cities in the UK now(I think the Chinese store might light you up - not sure though). There also ear candles for sale in the internet -- but they look quite different to me (more like candles than cones).
For pros: http://www.lynnehancher.co.uk/aaahop.htm
For cons: http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/candling.html <-READ THIS FIRST
http://www.tchain.com/otoneurology/disorders/hearing/wax2.html

 

[Huan]

I always thought those ear candles were like a fuse that you lit, once they burnt down your head blew off!

 

[Capespearo]

I have found that if I have the same problem,turning your ear downwards and blowing into it with a hairdryer set on low for a minute or so helps dry it out as well.Water stuck in the ear for prolonged periods will definitely cause infection :rcard

 

[jthurst]

I often have had that problem. I've tried alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, more water, shaking my head, punching my ear...nothing worked. It's been maddening!

Then out of desperation I thought of wicking it away. So I discovered if I twist a corner of tissue paper into a long thin delicate string I can ever so carefuly feed into my ear canal while twisting it in the direction that won't unravel it, when it makes contact it instantly wicks the water away. The twisted tissue is so narrow and delicate that it is difficult to get all they way in without it bending so it takes a few tries and some practice, but that's what I do whenever I have a drop of water stuck in my ear.

 

[Mr. X]

I always thought those ear candles were like a fuse that you lit, once they burnt down your head blew off!

Somehow the idea of burning your ears clean appeals to me (in a similar cartoon-ish way)...but apparently that ain't how it works (or doesn't work -depending on your perspective).

 

[gill]

All of the suggestions are definitely appreciated.

I went to a link where they discussed water in the ears etc....

They absolutely were against the ear candle thing, because apparently it occaisionally happens that a small piece of hot wax will drop directly into the ear canal. This can be very dangerous and you cannot really tell when it will happen.