mark s
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My ears get waterlogged after diving. When I was a kid a country doctor gave me some drops to drain the water out.Now I need them again but I dont remember what they were called. Any ideas? Thanks
swimmers ear
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Good morning Mark:
Here is a site that will give you several different formulae for making your own ear drops.
http://www.scuba-doc.com/otext.htm
Here is a site that will give you several different formulae for making your own ear drops.
http://www.scuba-doc.com/otext.htm
BillP
Senior Member
Hi mark:
As Dr. Campbell pointed out, a lot of people make their own eardrops- usually with a combination of vinegar (acetic acid), alcohol, and/or water. Several alcohol based eardrop preparations are sold over-the-counter. I believe that most authorities feel that Otic Domeboro® (no alcohol) is the eardrop of choice to prevent inflammation of the external ear canal when diving, but it is only available by prescription. There is an over-the-counter eardrop called Star Otic® that is a close approximation of the Otic Domeboro® and I would think a fine substitute if you don't want to make your own or get a prescription. To really do their job, the eardrops should be left in each ear for 5 minutes.
Now, what eardrops do is help prevent inflammation of the ear canal from the water (and the gunk in the water.) When many divers complain of a feeling of fullness in their ears like there's persistent water in their ear canals after diving, what they're really experiencing are the effects of ear barotrauma. The barotrauma can cause injury to the eardrum, fluid in the middle ear, and/or swelling of the eustachian tube to the throat that can cause a feeling of fullness in the ear and decreased hearing. Eardrops won't help that problem at all. Prevention of barotrauma with frequent and gentle use of equalization techniques is the key to avoiding that particular kind of "waterlogged" feeling.
HTH,
Bill
[Edited by BillP on 12-14-2000 at 05:33 AM]
As Dr. Campbell pointed out, a lot of people make their own eardrops- usually with a combination of vinegar (acetic acid), alcohol, and/or water. Several alcohol based eardrop preparations are sold over-the-counter. I believe that most authorities feel that Otic Domeboro® (no alcohol) is the eardrop of choice to prevent inflammation of the external ear canal when diving, but it is only available by prescription. There is an over-the-counter eardrop called Star Otic® that is a close approximation of the Otic Domeboro® and I would think a fine substitute if you don't want to make your own or get a prescription. To really do their job, the eardrops should be left in each ear for 5 minutes.
Now, what eardrops do is help prevent inflammation of the ear canal from the water (and the gunk in the water.) When many divers complain of a feeling of fullness in their ears like there's persistent water in their ear canals after diving, what they're really experiencing are the effects of ear barotrauma. The barotrauma can cause injury to the eardrum, fluid in the middle ear, and/or swelling of the eustachian tube to the throat that can cause a feeling of fullness in the ear and decreased hearing. Eardrops won't help that problem at all. Prevention of barotrauma with frequent and gentle use of equalization techniques is the key to avoiding that particular kind of "waterlogged" feeling.
HTH,
Bill
[Edited by BillP on 12-14-2000 at 05:33 AM]
jenmichigan
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Mark,
I'm not a doc - just a diver but I use a product called Dry Ear. It's sold in most dive shops in the Michigan Area. I'm sure it's sold in other areas also. I've found that it works quite well.
Good Luck,
Jennifer
http://www.MichiganShipwrecks.com
I'm not a doc - just a diver but I use a product called Dry Ear. It's sold in most dive shops in the Michigan Area. I'm sure it's sold in other areas also. I've found that it works quite well.
Good Luck,
Jennifer
http://www.MichiganShipwrecks.com
My personal homebrew eardrops contain 25% white vinegar, 25% Hydrogen Peroxide and 50% Isopropyl alcohol. It has served me well for 30+ years with no adverse side effects.
Rick
Rick
Dear Mark,
If you want to avoid this problem all together then just don't let any water get into your ears in the first place.
Try the new ProEar 2000 diving mask (www.proear2000.com)
It is the best way to avoid ear problems, infections and even makes it easier to equalize.
Good luck
HMan
If you want to avoid this problem all together then just don't let any water get into your ears in the first place.
Try the new ProEar 2000 diving mask (www.proear2000.com)
It is the best way to avoid ear problems, infections and even makes it easier to equalize.
Good luck
HMan
My "tried and proven home brew" is similar to Rick's. For many years/hundred of dives my family of four has always used: 50% white vinegar and 50% alcohol. I usually add a pinch of boric acid to the finished product. (Been using this now for about 19 years!)
Norm
Norm
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