Please Help Mother Whose Child Has Swimmers Ear

RE: Please Help Mother Whose Child Has Swimmers Ear

Former Member — Wed, 09 May 2007 08:18:33 GMT

As a kid, I surfed a lot in the Pacific Ocean in Northern CA, and had a few seasons of "swimmer's ear". Started using these plugs, and no more problems: http://www.proplugs.com/ Interestingly, I never developed swimmer's ear in the pool, though I swam 2x a day thru college...

RE: Please Help Mother Whose Child Has Swimmers Ear

Former Member — Wed, 09 May 2007 07:49:55 GMT

I've had swimmers ear a couple of times. I don't think earplugs will do any good and will make it uncomfortable for your son to swim. I've used, for more than 25 years, a 50/50 solution of rubbing alcohol and glycerin after swimming, especially where I'm diving deeply. The alcohol dries the water, while the glycerin acts as an emolient. This is for prophylactic purposes (and recommended by my doctor) after running a prescribed course of antibiotics. I have never used ear plugs and think that would make me not enjoy swimming. Avoid making this a bigger deal than it is--let your son enjoy the sport without becoming paranoid.

RE: Please Help Mother Whose Child Has Swimmers Ear

Former Member — Mon, 07 May 2007 06:23:14 GMT

I went to the doctor while I was out of town, I went and saw my doctor and, I'm on ear drops for an ear infection. I don't plan to stop swimming and I told my doctor that and, he also wants me to use my swimear ear drops and the drops he put me on. Sincerely, Swimminggirl p.s. or you can use alchol and put that in your ear not hydrogen proxide but regular alchol but, I don't reccomend it.

RE: Please Help Mother Whose Child Has Swimmers Ear

Michael Heather — Fri, 04 May 2007 12:50:12 GMT

Although the responders to this thread undoubtedly have good intentions, it is always best to consult a physician before embarking upon a regimen of treatment. USMS provides the discussion forums as a service to our members and interested parties worldwide. USMS does not endorse any medical advise given by anyone posting on the forums. Ever.

RE: Please Help Mother Whose Child Has Swimmers Ear

Former Member — Thu, 03 May 2007 13:11:03 GMT

I think I'm coming down with swimmers ear or ear infection. My ears hurt pretty bad but, I'm not letting it get me down. Any advice? I swim 5 days a week now. I'm not going to let anything get me down and stop me from swimming at this point. I need to train for my next swim meet next month but, my ears do hurt. Is this swimmer's ear or an ear infection? Sincerely, Swimminggirl

RE: Please Help Mother Whose Child Has Swimmers Ear

Former Member — Tue, 01 May 2007 15:40:37 GMT

I was told that 50/50 rubbing alcohol and vinegar. The alcohol pulls the water out and the vinegar help kills the bacteria. Use after each swim.

RE: Please Help Mother Whose Child Has Swimmers Ear

Former Member — Tue, 01 May 2007 11:32:08 GMT

To help prevent future episodes, ask your Dr. about getting a prescription for a buffered 2% acetic acid solution (Bausch & Lomb NDC 24208-615-77). The Navy did a lot of research with saturation divers and found that this solution was highly effective at preventing swimmer's ear in these divers if used regularly. Prior to using this product, I would get swimmer's ear about twice per year. In the 5 years I have been using it, I have not had a single episode. Homemade solutions (diluted white vinagar) may work as well. However, I've found that for me the solutions that contain alcohol actually dry the ear out too much, cause the skin to crack, and make the ear more susceptible to infection. Has anyone tried the ear dryer? http://www.dryear.net/

RE: Please Help Mother Whose Child Has Swimmers Ear

osterber — Tue, 01 May 2007 09:53:10 GMT

If you're prone to swimmer's ear, then you need to just tote around some alcohol drops to put in your ear after you swim. The key is to get all of the water out of the ear after you swim. I ended up with swimmer's ear last week for a couple of days. Not a whole lot of fun. Also, make sure you see a doctor to be sure that this is being diagnosed correctly. Only a doctor can really tell you if it's really swimmer's ear (otitis exterus, or outer ear infaction), or a middle ear infection (otitis media). Outer ear infections are treated with antibiotic ear drops, because it's an infection on the outside of the eardrum (timpanic membrane). If there is a middle ear infection (behind the eardrum), then you need to be on oral antibiotics. Also, if you're "at risk" for swimmer's ear, don't do things like use Q-tips in your ears. That can irritate the skin inside the ear canal, and increase the risk of infection. -Rick

RE: Please Help Mother Whose Child Has Swimmers Ear

Former Member — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 15:20:34 GMT

Swimmer's ear is a very serious. Please go to the following websites. As a coach I have swimmers who have been prone to swimmer's ear use three drops of a 50/50 solution of rubbing alcohol and mineral oil before and after practice. Please go the the following websites to learn more about how to avoid this terrible problem. health.howstuffworks.com/home-remedies-for-swimmers-ear.htm www.health911.com/.../rem_swim.htm www.lacetoleather.com/swimmersear.html www.home-remedies-for-you.com/.../Swimmers-Ear.html Good luck, Coach T.

RE: Please Help Mother Whose Child Has Swimmers Ear

Former Member — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 13:36:25 GMT

He can wear his ear plugs, a swim band then his race cap, all that should keep his ears dry. The lambs wool with vasaline may be better yet then the ear plugs unless they are custom fit. One trouble with ear plugs is if water gets in behind the plug, it gets stoppered up in the ear, A tight fitting cap can seal the ears also and if he feels any leakeage stop and drain off the water raising the cap edge, thats of course out of the question for racing. see this page on how to make a swim band. Scroll down the page to the more watertight cap ideas, and check out any tips with his ear doctor fopr their ok. After swimming dry the ears or use a commercial ear drop mix or homemade mix. The silicon caps work really wel as a swim band. www.geocities.com/.../scg.html

RE: Please Help Mother Whose Child Has Swimmers Ear

Former Member — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 07:06:01 GMT

When I swam the marathon races I used waxed lambs wool, the were sold at the pharmacy. They were wads of wool that were impregnated with bees wax, very solid and you had to roll in your hands to warm the wax until they were soft and flexible. Then you put them in the ears, they kept the water out. I don't like the almond oil thing, I think you could use something else. I would suggest not using any oils that are from a live source eg nuts or olives etc. When unable to get the waxed lambs wool I would buy the lambs wool and rub vaseline into it worked well also.

RE: Please Help Mother Whose Child Has Swimmers Ear

Former Member — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 06:46:22 GMT

thank u very much