Swimmers ear

richiemack

could anyone give me advice on this. I had an ear ache last week, went away, went swimming came back worse, went to the doctor, and got meds for Swimmers ear, swollen and probably infected outer ear. I have a race on Saturday and really hoping it passes. I really don't want it to happen again so can anyone recommend prevention? Im not keen on ear plugs but I did hear something about drops which would prevent any infection starting in your ears. Any advice would be great, bloody awful pain!!

griffin100

I know you dont want to use earplugs but I find these ones great and really comfortable
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/swim/9/Speedo_Biofuse_Aquatic_Earplug/5360043097/

I had a problem with water getting stuck in my ears and these completely fixed that. They are available in most Elverys as far as I know.

sock puppet

A couple of people in my club wear earplugs and since then they haven't had any problems with their ears. I have heard that putting some alcohol in your ear can help too.

richiemack

thanks for the tips a few shots of rum in my ears sounds way nicer than ear plugs

Ice_Box

Roll up a piece of tissue paper and dry out your ear after a swim or shower. It worked for me. One of my ears used to close up completly,very painful. Now its fine.

Draupnir

I'm not a swimmer but last September I got a very sudden ear infection in my right ear which was eventually diagnosed as "Swimmers Ear". Ended up in the Eye and Ear hospital with a suction thing in my ear having it drained. Following week it had travelled to my second ear and I ended up back in the Eye and Ear having both ears suction cleaned and filled with antibiotic cream!!

So, suffice to say, I asked about the cause and solution to said problem.

Cause was deemed to be water from bathing in my ear and some eczema type thing in the skin of my ear canal. Recommendations to avoid were ear plugs, alcohol drops into the ear if water had to get in there and tea tree oil drops if it got itchy.

As with the poster above, I use them same ear plugs and they are very comfortable once you've worn them two or three times. I do this every time I shower!

Believe me when I say you do not want to try and get away with alcohol drops alone, I was out of work for two weeks from the infections I got and now have serious scarring inside my ears. I was told I was lucky it wasn't a lot worse (loss of hearing etc.)

My advice, go to a sportshop and get the Speedo ear plugs for 5 euro.

Mainah

I swim regularly and have a tendancy to get ear infections from pools since I had a really bad one about 12 years ago.

After every session I put a few drops of a solution of 1/3 hydrogen peroxide and 2/3 isopropyl alcohol in my ears and it does the trick. It's also not as harsh on the ears as alcohol alone.