Ear 'Squeeze', Infections, Dizziness, Problems? - Information & Discussion.

[Fee]

<font color='#0000FF'>Dear Mark

While I am not a diving doctor, I have worked in ENT and this is my advice

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Olive oil, keeps your ears nice and clean, dip cotton wool buds in and then into the ear

Don't stick anything sharper than you elbow in your ear.  Cotton buds are bad for 2 reasons
1. trauma caused by inserting objects such as keys, matchsticks, fingernails, or COTTON BUDS is more likely to give you otitis externa
2. I'd like a pound for the number of times I've pulled the end of a cotton bud out of someone's ear.  Also I have seen people perforate their eardrums accidently with them

swimming is associated with otitis externa, so you may need to lay off for a few weeks. &nbsp;I know its a pain, but the ocean will still be there next month!

oral antibiotics really aren't much good - you need something like gentisone HC ear drops. &nbsp;If your otitis externa is really bad then a referral to ENT on call who can give your ear a really good clean out might help.

Good luck Fee

[JohnK]

I will feedback on the ProEar mask as soon as it arrives and I get it in the water.

Going back to my ear problems - I`ve been getting these since I started diving !! - initially just in the pool, now it is after every dive. I`ve been on antibiotics, strong antibiotics, used swimear, earClear, olive oil, sterile saline - even had my lugoles vacuumed twice by my nice consultant.

Overall verdict: - I just have sensitive lugs. Actually the Swimear and earclear made things worse. The medication works in the short term, just my little lugs dont like getting wet and spring into infectious action at the merest hint of sea or freshwater.

Can you beleive my consultant actually said `give up diving`!!!!!!

`sorry old bean, but you can F*** right off` was my response - such is the diving bug (sorry)

So now its £58 for the proear mask - I reckon if it works I will save this in 6 months based on the number of prescriptions I have had recently. Yes I`ll look like Mickey mouse but I am past caring - divin comes first !!!

[Mark Davies]

<font color='#000080'>Fee,

Thanks for the advice. In additon to the antibiotics (625mg Augmentin) I've also got a spray (dexamethasone + neomycin). That seemed to work reasonably well and managed to hold off the last outburst without having to resort to oral antibiotics. However, I do have a source for the Gentisone, so I'll give it a go.

I've found that the pills at least clear up the inflamation in the ear canal but I've been left with really irritating itchiness in both ears, which has never really gone away. I've arranged to go back to the GP after the inflamation has cleared up so he can have a good look at it.

I'll see what he's got to say, but at least you've all given me a few things to think about trying.

Cheers.

[parahandy]

I was going to mention that I'd heard some mixture with Alcohol was used by saturation commercial divers think they suffered quite a bit from ear infections when they were blown down.
Chris Hall's concoction seems very similar if not the same as the one they used..  

Tony

[Fee]

<font color='#0000FF'>There really is no role for oral antibiotics unless you have an absolutely raging otitis externa. &nbsp;The best treatment I repeat is gentisone HC ear drops, possibly combined with a good hoovering out of your ear canals and maybe insertion of a Pope wick (sort of like a weeny tampon)

Fee

[SSAC Jim]

I suffered for over a year with recurring otitis externia and the pain was progressively worse every time. The GP was useless prescribing stronger and stronger antibiotics and steroids then suggested I gave up diving as he was fed up see my ears.

Went to a HSE approved Doc who took a wet swab, had it analysed and prescribed the correct antibotic drops and I was cured in 24hrs. E-coli 156 in the lug is not good.

3 years later I've never had a problem Other tip from the doc is never put anything smaller thanyour elbow in your ear, i.e leave the wax alone to do its job of protecting your ears. If you swim or dive regularly wax shouldn't be a problem.

[Mark Davies]

<font color='#000080'>Thanks again, everyone.

The antibiotics and drops seem to have done the trick for now - I'll reserve judgement for a few weeks to see if it flares up again.

If it does Jim, I'll follow your advice and try to see an HSE doc for a more expert opinion.

For the time being, fingers crossed!

[Mark Davies]

<font color='#000080'>Another infection (in fact the second since my last post; six or seven this Summer now) and another dive trip cancelled.

Should have been going up to St Abbs to hook up with John Gulliver and his Swedish group for a couple of days. I was really looking forward to that. Quite honestly, I could put up with the pain and discomfort - what's really annoying me is the way that it's interfering with my diving!

Well, back to the GP in the morning and I'll be asking for a referall to an ENT specialist at least.

I'll keep you posted.

[JohnK]

Mark - see my post &quot;chocolate teapot` in the equipment section.

[Bob Cooper]

Is this just a fresh water thing?

I get otitis externa regularly after diving in fresh water. &nbsp;On a long cave diving trip I used to suffer really badly with it. &nbsp;I never get it after diving in the ocean though.

Buddy of mine in USA recommended &quot;swimmers ear&quot;, not &quot;swim ear&quot; or any other kind of preparation like it. It has to be &quot;swimmers ear&quot; he said. He's used it for years and never had a problem (he teaches cave diving so he spends alot of time in the water). &nbsp;I got some, put 2 or 3 drops in each ear before and immediately after every dive and never suffered once during recent trips! &nbsp;I've not seen &quot;swimmers ear&quot; in UK, so last time I was in USA I wanted to stock up. &nbsp;Guess what...............? &nbsp;They've &quot;stopped doing it&quot;......typical.

Anyway, looking at the label it's 90% isopropyl alcohol, 2% boric acid and 1% salicyclic acid. &nbsp;When my swimmers ear runs out and if I can't get any more, I'm going to just use isopropyl alcohol.

Hope this helps.