Swimmer's ear

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2005-04-15 10:10 AM

Master
1384
1000100100100252525
Brooklyn, NY
Subject: Swimmer's ear
Only recently have I started either reading or (ahem), hearing of swimmer's ear. Seems to either be a growing issue or I'm becoming aware of it since I started training in the water.

Any one taking precaustions against this or am I being a bit anal?

2005-04-15 10:31 AM
in reply to: #142929

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Champion
5183
5000100252525
Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Swimmer's ear
I got it ALL the time as a kid. The best solution is easy-peasy: post swim, squeeze a drop or two of a mixture of rubbing alcohol (to dry out ear) and vinegar (acid keeps bacteria at bay) My mom would make a squeeze bottle full of the stuff and tuck it in our camp bags as kids, and a counselor would squeeze a couple drops in after every swim. Helped a lot. (Now I am a grown up and I do it myself!
2005-04-15 11:00 AM
in reply to: #142949

Master
1384
1000100100100252525
Brooklyn, NY
Subject: RE: Swimmer's ear
possum - 2005-04-15 10:31 AM

I got it ALL the time as a kid. The best solution is easy-peasy: post swim, squeeze a drop or two of a mixture of rubbing alcohol (to dry out ear) and vinegar (acid keeps bacteria at bay) My mom would make a squeeze bottle full of the stuff and tuck it in our camp bags as kids, and a counselor would squeeze a couple drops in after every swim. Helped a lot. (Now I am a grown up and I do it myself!


Thanks. I'd probably cry if some one else did it for me today.
2005-04-15 11:20 AM
in reply to: #142929

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St. Louis, MO
Subject: RE: Swimmer's ear
Swimmer's ear is NO FUN. I was a diver in high school and I missed my sectional meet because of it. When I had it, being in the water at all caused pain, not an ache, but pain. I've been swimming regularly again for the past year. I'm very careful to shake water out of my ears between sets and after a workout. Also, I put a drop or two of that swimmers ear stuff in my ears after every swim. If I forget, I can almost always hear water in my ear for hours afterward. So, I guess my preventive measure is to make sure my ears are clear as possible.

I need to be anal about it because I've always had trouble with ear infections and sinus pressure in the ears. It might not be as big of a problem if you ears drain better. How long have you've been working in the water? I would imagine you may have trained enough to know if you will need to take continuous preventive measures, or maybe just trouble shoot if you have water that you can't get out of your ears.

-Sarah
2005-04-15 12:09 PM
in reply to: #142929

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Master
1249
100010010025
Lexington, Kentucky
Subject: RE: Swimmer's ear
Look for Auro-Dri or Swim Ear eardrops at your local pharmacy. They are acohol/glycerin/boric acid mixtures that dry out your ears after a swim.
2005-04-15 12:51 PM
in reply to: #142929

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Champion
5183
5000100252525
Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Swimmer's ear
yeah those things work, but my "homebrew" is equally good and hella cheaper....

2005-04-15 1:38 PM
in reply to: #142929

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Buttercup
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Subject: RE: Swimmer's ear
I wouldn't use any remedies unless a remedy is called for. If you aren't prone to ear infections, then you don't need to put anything in your ears. Unfortunately, probably the only way to know if you get ear infections is to get an ear infection.
2005-04-15 1:42 PM
in reply to: #142929

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Extreme Veteran
573
5002525
Sherman Oaks, CA
Subject: RE: Swimmer's ear
I have the best solution of all - wax ear plugs. I've been using them since my swim team days in high school. I never got full blown swimmer's ear (I don't think) but swimming laps without ear plugs gives me lots of pain. I can go in the ocean and "play" in the water without ear plugs but laps? No way. You can hear, just muffled - so if I'm talking to someone I have to remove them. No issues on race day either and no worries about having to put in drops or hopping on one foot to get the water out.
2005-04-15 2:09 PM
in reply to: #142929

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Champion
5183
5000100252525
Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Swimmer's ear
yeah, my brother used to get queasy at the smell of mom's potion, so he used silly putty in his ears- works great, you can mold it to fit you, and then it hardens enough to stay in. you just have to be careful to use a big enough chunck that it doesn;t go too far in.
2005-04-15 4:22 PM
in reply to: #142929

Member
35
25
BC/NS
Subject: RE: Swimmer's ear
I agree with Renee-probably not worth worrying about unless you're prone to ear problems (just like some people have a lot of problems with shin splints, blisters, etc., while others don't).
Maybe take precautions if you had lots of ear infections as a child? I had them through elementary school, then no problems until I began swimming and-surprise!-promptly developed infections in both ears. Now I use earplugs and swimmer's ear drops and haven't had any problems since.
It would be interesting to see if others have noticed a connection between swimmer's ear and childhood ear infections-maybe both are determined by the shape of your ear canal.
2005-04-15 4:37 PM
in reply to: #142973

Master
1384
1000100100100252525
Brooklyn, NY
Subject: RE: Swimmer's ear
slovegreen - 2005-04-15 11:20 AM

Swimmer's ear is NO FUN. I was a diver in high school and I missed my sectional meet because of it. When I had it, being in the water at all caused pain, not an ache, but pain. I've been swimming regularly again for the past year. I'm very careful to shake water out of my ears between sets and after a workout. Also, I put a drop or two of that swimmers ear stuff in my ears after every swim. If I forget, I can almost always hear water in my ear for hours afterward. So, I guess my preventive measure is to make sure my ears are clear as possible.

I need to be anal about it because I've always had trouble with ear infections and sinus pressure in the ears. It might not be as big of a problem if you ears drain better. How long have you've been working in the water? I would imagine you may have trained enough to know if you will need to take continuous preventive measures, or maybe just trouble shoot if you have water that you can't get out of your ears.
-Sarah


Thanks Sarah,
I've been training only since January but have always loved the water. I noticed that sometimes I can't get the water out for almost 48 hours. According to my googling, I should consult with an MD before putting anything in there, especially if you've had some issues with hearing (which I have). SIGH! Guess my appointment for an MD is due soon.

2005-04-15 4:45 PM
in reply to: #142929

Master
1384
1000100100100252525
Brooklyn, NY
Subject: RE: Swimmer's ear
Living in a constantly changing altitude country (Guatemala), when traveling as a child, I was prone to ear infections all the time. Drove me to crying until I was about 13 years old. I remember those pains more than any tooth ache yet.

Wax for the ears sounds like a good option.

Thanks All.
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