Looking for really good earplugs

If you don't mind, how did you injure your eardrum? I've been having ongoing ear trouble lately. Had an infection too. Found that certain plugs would irritate. Had recent success with the ones with the built in check valves. I rinse them prior to use with isopropyl alcohol.

The injury cannot be pin-pointed...though I have a suspicion as to when/how it happened. There was no trauma, no known ear infection. And while I have been skydiving within the last couple of years - I don't believe that caused it either. Iperforated the other eardrum when I was in high school as a result of an unknown ear infection (poor ear drainage). That eardrum repaired itself. Having experienced that pain, I had some recollection when nearly four years ago, I experienced a similar pain - though much less severe and very short lived. While recovering from a kidney donation, about a month after surgery, ended up with a head cold. Coughing and sneezing was still not tolerated so I may have done it during that time when trying to minimize the intensity of a cough or sneeze. I remember having a specific conversation with my mom (mom's remember EVERYTHING) about the symptoms. Since this one was so dramatically different, (no lasting pain) I didn't think anything of it. It wasn't until February of this year that I started feeling pain (rather than general annoyance - I suspected for a while something wasn't right when I could breathe through my ear) so I went to a clinic. Several doctor visits later, the perforation was discovered. Turns out the ear pain wasn't from the perforation (that was a bonus to have finally been discovered) and the ear pain was really a neck issue (C3 - C7).

You might want to try Barracuda earplugs. For what it's worth I have used them for many years without any problems.

Thanks for the reply guppy. Given the excruciating pain felt when water gets in my ear, I won't be able to tolerate too much experimentation. That's why I put the question out there for the masses. I was incredibly disappointed by the Mack's product. I thought for certain a moldable silicone product would create a perfect seal knowing ear canals can be different. I'll try a conventional plug. Cross your fingers and wish me luck (or better yet, a dry ear)! Thanks

You are most welcome. If you haven't checked out the Barracudas they are form fitting with a hollow core that does not completely block out sound. And they seem to last forever.

Hi Dulfin, You may be interested in our SWIMMER magazine product review of earplugs, which can be found here: www.usmsswimmer.com/.../swimbagsnorkels2013.pdf However, given your perforated ear drum, your best bet is probably the ones custom-molded for your ears, usually available from an ENT doc or an audiologist. Also apparently on the web: www.earplugstore.com/custom-molded-swimming-ear-plugs.html (just a quick Google search—you may want to check with your doc before purchasing). They can be a bit pricey, but are the most effective according to folks with chronic ear problems. Hope this helps, Laura

Thank you for the feedback. Clearly, I've more homework to do and quite possibly a trip to my ENT in the near future. However, I'd still welcome additional insight from forum users.

I have exactly the same problem as you. My injury happened when I was 16 years old. I was playing a game of rugby football when I got an unintentional flat hand to the right ear. The pressure created by the blow was enough to perforate my eardrum. At the time the doc told me there was no need for surgery and that the perforation would heal itself. He was right: it did, but my ear has never been the same since, is easily re-perforated, and has had one infection after another. It seems that the perforation does heal but it is not as good as new. It seems that it is very susceptible to being re-perforated. Anything, from a severe cold, sneezing, equalizing when on an airplane or scuba diving/snorkeling could open up the hole again and then you have to deal with inevitable ear infection that follows. I had to stop scuba diving but I still snorkel and am very careful when equalizing and have to be 100% cold free when I do it. I have always lived with a bottle of ear drops next to my bed and have used just about every plug on the market. To be honest, I haven't found one that I am really satisfied with. They all let some water in and if you have a perforated eardrum that is almost a certain infection. The best ones I have found are those silicone, ribbed ones ( I did a post on it once and will try to go back and find it). You need to insert them with a good coating of Vaseline. Use a gentle twisting motion when inserting and then pull back ever so slightly until you feel a vacuum being created in the ear canal. Now you know you have a good fit. No vacuum, not water proofed. I have used an earplug even when my eardrum hasn't been perforated and often clean my ear canals with ear buds. I have also used ear drops on an almost daily basis. That was until about two years ago. About two years ago, I decided to stop putting anything into my ears: ear buds, ear plugs, ear drops, anything. The result: two years infection free. Not one tiny little one. Not even a hint of one. I have been told that even ear buds can cause tiny lesions in the ear canal which can result in infection. I am guessing the same goes for ear plugs, too. So I have stayed away from them and with great result. My advice to you is to stay away from the water until the perforation has healed over. It has always healed over with me and I have perforated it on numerous occasions. Then, when it is healed don't use any ear plugs and avoid putting anything into your ear. The ear self cleans and wax doesn't need to be helped out unless there is a blockage. Some swimmers do get a narrowing of the ear canal as a bone spur grows outwards to protect the ear from cold water. This can cause a wax blockage, but I am guessing this is relatively rare and in most cases needs no interference.

Back to the doc I went and discussed my recent return to swimming. Even though I was given antibiotic/steroid eardrops and the doc said there's been no harm in swimming, I opted not to get back into the water. And while there's still no guarantee a repair will work, I've got a better chance than not and surgery is scheduled for next week. I also discussed custom earplugs, and the doc thought that would be a good idea to help protect the ear after surgery upon my return to the water. The plan is set. So my return to the pool after a long hiatus has been temporarily halted, I'm looking forward to possibilities after recovery and hope to be back in the water sometime in November! Thanks for the feedback.

Dulfin, Please keep us posted on your progress. Search for this thread and post here when you have news to report. Your experience might help someone else down the road. Good luck and I hope the repair is successful! Anna Lea