12 replies to this topic

[Motek]

Since my trip to Png In june I have had 5 ear infections, Each time my infection cleared went for a dive and walla infection was back 2 days after diving. I have never suffered from ear problems even when working as a diver. I have been to 2 ENT since and have not dived for the last two months since my last case - ear is good so far, I have ordered somw Doc's pro plugs. Any one got any experience with these?

Edited by Motek, 22 January 2013 - 07:02 AM.

[DiverPam]

Sorry to hear about your ear problems. My ex used these for years after he got an ear infection on a dive trip - around 2001. It left some scarring on his ears and he had a hard time equalizing after that infection and the ENT he ended up seeing was a diver and recommended them. They are vented and allow the ears to equalize easier. He used them on every trip we went on after that and did pretty well. His ears would start bothering him some during a long dive trip and he would take a day off and rest them and be back in the water. We shared extras with folks over the years on trips and everyone has loved them that we introduced them to.

Good luck with everything. I hope you have this behind you and that these work for you. - DiverPam

[okuma]

For the past 32 years ,at night after every day of diving we use several drops of "Ear Beer"
Mix 40% white vinegar + 20% glycerine + 20% alcohol and put in a squirt bottle.
Apply inside each ear. Never had an infection and we have dove in some sewer like conditions.

[SwiftFF5]

I've had good luck with the "Doc's Pro Plugs". I don't wear them all the time, but they do seem to help.

[Timmoranuk]

For the past 32 years ,at night after every day of diving we use several drops of "Ear Beer"
Mix 40% white vinegar + 20% glycerine + 20% alcohol and put in a squirt bottle.
Apply inside each ear. Never had an infection and we have dove in some sewer like conditions.

I second this preventative, to be taken after each dive but rinse your ears with fresh water first. Take a look at the DAN www site and seach for 'otitis externa'. I also use medicated olive oil before diving ('Earol') and gentamicin antibiotic after diving. If tell-tale itching starts which is always a precursor to 'otitis', I immediately start a course of oral antibiotics which for me is 'ceflaclor.'

HTH, Tim

Edited by Timmoranuk, 22 January 2013 - 01:04 PM.

[Gary.Makai]

Ear infections usually come in 2 flavors, internal and external.
Viniger, alcohol, domboro solution and combinations of the 3 all work well for external ear infections. Antibiotics are for mor stubborn versions of this condition. It is possible that your canal has become colonized after your first infections and now recurrs whenever the conditions allow. (acidic environment and alcoholk drying help to provide an unfriendly environment for the bacteria)
You may need a longer appropriate (culture proven sensitivity) course of antibiotics for a resistant external infection.

Internal infections are more of a problem, and may be related to barotrauma and eustachian tube dysfunction. Again appropriate antibiotics are the best course with adequate duration. Eustachian tube dysfunction may be helped with tuboplasty, Dr Poe in Boston has pionerred this.

Perhaps you need to see a diving medical physician near you to help with this.

Hope this helps.

[tdpriest]

I second this preventative, to be taken after each dive but rinse your ears with fresh water first. Take a look at the DAN www site and seach for 'otitis externa'. I also use medicated olive oil before diving ('Earol') and gentamicin antibiotic after diving. If tell-tale itching starts which is always a precursor to 'otitis', I immediately start a course of oral antibiotics which for me is 'ceflaclor.'

HTH, Tim

Watch out for side-effects and resistant bugs after taking cephalosporins: my (personal) solution is to use an antibiotic/steroid ear drop and take flucloxacillin if the symptoms don't improve in 48 hours. I use regular eardrops, like "Earol", but also a drying drop ("Swim-Ear") after diving. Regular ear-syringing helps: many of us have exostoses (bony growths in the ear canal) that trap wax and water, a result of "swimmer's ear". Weirdly, I've found that short hair helps...

[tdpriest]

Internal infections are more of a problem, and may be related to barotrauma and eustachian tube dysfunction. Again appropriate antibiotics are the best course with adequate duration. Eustachian tube dysfunction may be helped with tuboplasty, Dr Poe in Boston has pionerred this.

Perhaps you need to see a diving medical physician near you to help with this.

I would regard tuboplasty as a rather uncertain option, certainly for a diver: I would want to involve one of the rare diving ENT surgeons in any potential case. Self-management and sensible medication is the best solution for most of us.

Strangely enough, not many divers ask me for advice on ear problems, although I've seen some nasty ones on those hard-diving trips when CF and SD cards start to glow from the number of photographs being taken...

Edited by tdpriest, 23 January 2013 - 01:00 PM.

[Glasseye Snapper]

Funny, for me it is the other way around. I regularly have ear infections on land, or at least itchiness, and it goes away after a few days of diving. I assumed the bugs didn't appreciate the salt in the water. Diving also solves dry skin for me, or maybe it is not the diving but just getting away from the bone-dry Canadian winter air

On another funny note: for the ultimate new-age ear infection cure you should head over to Marsa Shagra dive camp (Egypt). On the North end of their house reef is one cleaning station where cleaner wrasse will actually poke their nose into your ear, fret around for a while and then swim right across your mask to the other ear for another snack. The first time it is disconcerting, it felt and sounded like a stream of air bubbles bumping along your ear. After a while it becomes part amusing part annoying, especially if they decide to provide lip service, which is a bit more sensitive. My only regret is that I didn't get anyone to take a picture of it, or capture a shot myself. This is two years ago and it was only the cleaner wrasse in one particular spot. I'd be interested to hear if they are still running their clinic or if this happens in other locations.

Bart

Edited by Glasseye Snapper, 23 January 2013 - 07:47 PM.

[Kenr]

I dive with Doc's and they work just fine. if you can't go to a shop to have them fitted, they sell a fitting kit with all of the sizes for you to try. They don't keep 100% of the water out of your ear but they stop the water from sloshing in and out of your ear. i dont' have any problems equalizing with them, i hardly know they are there. They are cheap give them a try.

[MortenHansen]

Some great medical advice in this thread!
What I would like to add are two things:

1: Preventive ear-drops with alcohol/vinegar are great for most, but not for everyone, it can dry out your ears pretty bad (it does with mine) I rinse with freshwater and that's all.

2: Have a look at the EarPro 2000 mask, my girlfriend (full time instructor) all of the sudden got inner ear-infection after ear-infection, just like you. We tried several treatments but every time she went back in the water it happened again. It continued to the point that we considered giving up the life as professional divers. Doc's earplugs didn't work for her. Then we found this mask and when she started using it she had no more problems. We now started selling them in our diving center to guests who have recurring problems. Check it out here: http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/B000KCWCPY

Hope you find a solution that will get you back in the water!
-Morten

Edited by MortenHansen, 23 January 2013 - 11:57 PM.

[Motek]

Many thanks for all the advise!

[DamonA]

Since my trip to Png In june I have had 5 ear infections, Each time my infection cleared went for a dive and walla infection was back 2 days after diving. I have never suffered from ear problems even when working as a diver. I have been to 2 ENT since and have not dived for the last two months since my last case - ear is good so far, I have ordered somw Doc's pro plugs. Any one got any experience with these?

Try some combatrim worming pills, get the 3 types of worm one, lots of chronic infection are caused by worm infestations, often the symtoms are to subtle to pick up.