Ear infections a constant problem

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That sad news, Juha. Is your doctor very experienced with scuba divers, or can you possibly consult one more experienced in our sport?

I hope a physician here might give you some suggestions about treatment, but as stated in the Proplug link: "Once the diver enters greater depths (deeper than 20 ft with Proplugs), water will be allowed into the ear for equalization." They are really designed to help with equalizing, not ear canal infections.

My doctor is specialized to divers ears and he has been working with divers for about two decades now. He should be one of the best ear doctors around. Right now I'm really worried about everyday life with chronic ear canal infection because it's really painful and sleeping is impossible due to the pain.

It's a pity that Proplugs wont help me to get back to the water. On the other hand I hope that solid non-vented Proplugs prevent water from entering the ear canal and relieve the symptoms of chronic ear canal infection.
 
My doctor is specialized to divers ears and he has been working with divers for about two decades now. He should be one of the best ear doctors around. Right now I'm really worried about everyday life with chronic ear canal infection because it's really painful and sleeping is impossible due to the pain.

It's a pity that Proplugs wont help me to get back to the water. On the other hand I hope that solid non-vented Proplugs prevent water from entering the ear canal and relieve the symptoms of chronic ear canal infection.
Well, if he knows diving, then maybe he doesn't know how Proplugs work, but solid ear plugs certainly will not work. You can't equalize with those.

Why don't you start a new thread for your case here on this Medical forum so the physicians who post here can focus on your challenges and maybe help you.
 
No comments about my solution. Im 72 now and havent had ear problems as far back as I can remember I have over 10000 logged dives. Just returned from key west. 2 - 1 hour dives for 10 days in a row. No ear problems. I also have a Doctor and Pharmacists that use my recipe. No its not FDA approved.
 
No comments about my solution. Im 72 now and havent had ear problems as far back as I can remember I have over 10000 logged dives. Just returned from key west. 2 - 1 hour dives for 10 days in a row. No ear problems. I also have a Doctor and Pharmacists that use my recipe. No its not FDA approved.
It sounds like it would work fine, altho more trouble than 50-50 alcohol & vinegar. The acid may break down in storage after mixing, but the alcohol would still work.
 
Dont forget about the boric acid it acts like an antibiotic. I have a bottle thats in my 03 pickup I use been in there since I bought the truck still works fine.
 
Amazing how these old threads just spring back to life after almost 4 years!
 
Amazing how these old threads just spring back to life after almost 4 years!
Thats 4 years of new divers to help with ear problems. Plus I'm sure no Doctors will recommend it. Just recommend cortisporn for the infection that in time if used a lot will not get the job done.
 
Whilst this is not necessarily related to the original posting, I think it might add something to the discussion. When I woke up Tuesday morning after having traveled to and dived the Blue Heron Bridge the previous Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, my right ear felt totally "full", I could barely hear out of it, it hurt to "tug" on it, and was somewhat painful all the time. While I was quickly convinced that I was suffering from Swimmer's Ear or Otitis Externa, further scrambling around the interwebs suggested that I was likely suffering from primarily a fungal, rather than bacterial, infection. The key clue was that fungal infections can sit there for weeks or months. I had felt "something" in there for months since my last trip to the bridge - mostly the occasional, vague "itch". As I read more and more about "Mycotic Otitis Externa", I learnt a few more things that I hadn't known. One was that many of the various fungal ailments (athlete's foot, ringworm, jock itch, etc.), no matter which particular fungus is involved, are susceptible to many different anti-fungal agents. That got me thinking about how pleased I've been with the latest over-the-counter medicament for Athlete's Foot that we brought home from the supermarket. I've long suffered, off and on, from that ailment, but have found, amazingly, that for the last couple of years, that if I get that itch, that as little as one application from that tube from Kroger's makes it quickly go away. The active ingredient in that tube is tolnaftate. I put some of it in my ear that morning, and by the next morning, the symptoms had definitely improved. I've continued to apply the stuff from the tube daily - once or sometimes twice per day - and now, Saturday, I barely feel anything there at all. Another interesting fact that I learnt was that the stuff in Head and Shoulders-type shampoo (I use the Kroger brand of that stuff, too) has some anti-fungal effects. Whilst this is total speculation on my part, I suspect that my regular use of anti-dandruff shampoo had possibly kept my mycotic ear infection mostly subclinical. However, with the ten or more hours under water last weekend, coupled with the fact that I don't bother to carry anti-dandruff shampoo with me when I travel. . . Hmmmm. Now, had I utilized some of the "drying" techniques recommended in this thread, I may well have prevented this flare up. But, then I wouldn't have learned all this cool new (to me) info. :D Kevin Savannah
Some additional personal anecdotal info. I continue to control the right ear issues with my diving via the Athletes Foot medication. Recently, though, the left ear came up with some somewhat different symptoms - some pain and constant, viscous discharge. The anti-fungal cream did nothing for it. A few drops of vinegar in there - via soda straw - and it was dry and crusty the next day, and completely gone within a week with a few more doses of vinegar.
 
When you get the problem completly gone why not mix up my simple solution. Then do what I have done for the last 30 years. After EVERY dive put a few drops in each ear. You can mix a couple quarts of it for around 10$. Good luck. I hope your ears dont start growing little toes. 😛😡
 
yes you should try swimmers ear or a similar product before the dive and after the dive. It may sound like a funny concoction but olive oil nine parts and one part hydrogen peroxide will also work and is an old divers home remedy.
 

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