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

Bad ears
#1
Posted 22 January 2013 - 07:01 AM
www.mark-fuller.com
#2
Posted 22 January 2013 - 08:11 AM
Good luck with everything. I hope you have this behind you and that these work for you. - DiverPam
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#3
Posted 22 January 2013 - 08:48 AM
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.
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#4
Posted 22 January 2013 - 09:44 AM
Public Safety Diver
#5
Posted 22 January 2013 - 01:03 PM
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.
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#6
Posted 22 January 2013 - 03:43 PM
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.
#7
Posted 23 January 2013 - 12:52 PM
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...
#8
Posted 23 January 2013 - 12:56 PM
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.
#9
Posted 23 January 2013 - 07:45 PM

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.
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#10
Posted 23 January 2013 - 09:34 PM
#11
Posted 23 January 2013 - 11:56 PM
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.
#12
Posted 24 January 2013 - 05:28 AM
www.mark-fuller.com
#13
Posted 02 February 2013 - 04:53 AM
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.