Who else has ever gotten "swimmers ear"

Has anyone else had a bad case of swimmers ear? Katie, you are not alone. I've had that a couple times. Auro-Dri or other similar products (95% alcohol, 5% glycerin) help a lot, at least in my experience. I pretty routinely use it after I swim. Haven't had a problem since I started (maybe a year ago). My coach said as an age grouper she used to have problems which went away when she began using these drops. Skip Montanaro

Katie, If you get restless, try some non-pool exercises to keep yourself going... walk around your 'hood (though wear a hat, since you're in Canadia and it is cold), go for a bike-ride do some stretching, yoga, medball, exercise ball, etc. dryland work lift weights once or twice above all, make sure you keep washing your hands so you keep your cold to yourself and don't pick up anyone else's cold - the last thing you want to have happen is to have a different cold virus take advantage of your already weakened immune system and have a second one to piggy-back on your current one.

Oh, and more to the point of this thread, yes, i have. it really stinks. this is one of those times when you really do have to obey the doc's orders and stay out. Think of the week off as a rest week - and a reward for your hard training to this point.

I had several bad cases of swimmer's ear as a teenager, but then I started using drops and I have not had it since. After every swim I put a few drops of a 50/50 mixture of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar in each ear. I pull on my ear lobe to be sure it runs as far in as possible and then I turn my head over to make sure it runs back out. If you buy a bottle of Auro-Dri drops at the drug store (which are just alcohol with glycerin, I think) you can use it up and then just refill it with vinegar & alcohol. I hate ear plugs and never wear them.

I had several bad cases of swimmer's ear as a teenager, but then I started using drops and I have not had it since. After every swim I put a few drops of a 50/50 mixture of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar in each ear. I pull on my ear lobe to be sure it runs as far in as possible and then I turn my head over to make sure it runs back out. If you buy a bottle of Auro-Dri drops at the drug store (which are just alcohol with glycerin, I think) you can use it up and then just refill it with vinegar & alcohol. I hate ear plugs and never wear them. That's basically what I do as well. Scrounged an old medicine dropper from the cats. Filled it with 85% rubbing alcohol from the drug store (~$2.00 for a pint) on the advice from my ear, nose & throat doc (or he said he'd be happy to take my co-pay and $ from my insurance company - for the rest of my swimming career). I had swimmers ear very frequently in HS & college. I have not had a recurrence since going to this method: One drop in each ear after every swim.

I had a couple of bad episodes, with strong ear ache. I self treated for a couple of days, then went to the ear guy who told me that my inner ear was in trouble, not my outer ear and all that stuff I had been pouring into said ear wasn't doing any good. Treated with some oral corticoid. Lately I've been having a buzz in my ears and went to another ear guy and he told me to get a "hearing test", which I will, one of these days. I use earplug sound stuff in my ears while logging long mileage on my motorcycle. I have no idea where my troubles are form: swimming or hearing loud music while cruising at 100 (160kms) per hour. I use ear plugs while swimming and sometimes get tired of them and go without. Here is what I know so far: use ear plugs, and rinse with special alcohol preparation after swimming. It might not be related at all to swimming, just something you got after the cold, or whatever.

Thanks everyone. I will try the drops. In the meantime for the week I have to stay out of the water. Though disapointing my ear is so sore that I guess it is for the better Katie

Thanks Blackbeard. I have done some research on the net about swimmers ear and you are right I have to stay out of the water. I am sooooooo disapointed as this was my 8th week of swimming. Emotionally I am not ready for a break. Also food wise this is not a good week. GRRRRRRRRR. But I guess one week in my long life ( I hope wont lol) Do you all wear earplugs now that you have had swimmers ear? Katie

Katie, Thirty years ago, when I was 15 and lived in Northern California, some friends asked me to go camping with them and they were leaving the weekend of summer league finals (I had the league record for 100 *** back then, so I could NOT miss the meet). Sunday after the meet was finished, my parents drove me up to a National Park near Lake Tahoe so I could spend the week with my friends and one of their parents. We had a blast, hiking around the woods and diving off of high boulders into a clear cold creek near the campsite. On the way home, driving down the mountian back to Sacramento, everyone kept saying 'my ear popped'. Mine usually did too while taking that drive, but this time everyone's ears popped but mine. I woke up that night (at home) around 2:30 in the morning with the most excruciating pain I have ever felt to this day:cane:. After I got on antibiotics later that morning, I slept for three days. It was awful. We thought I had lost all hearing in one of my ears, but they were both infected. I had been able to avoid swimmers ear since then until Nationals at the Woodlands this year. My outer ear felt like it had a pimple in it on Saturday night. I went home after my events on Sunday, and by Monday I went to the Dr and another ear infection. Not near as painful as the one during my teen years, but I did not feel good (went home from work early Monday). Dr. said no swimming, but I used ear plugs and drops when I got out (I probably should not have swam, but I only swim three days a week and needed my 'fix' badly). I hope you heal quickly! Earaches are no fun and neither is no swimming. :fish2:

Katie- I've had it twice. Not a lot of fun. Sorry it's keeping you out of the water. After the second bout, I got the ear drop and ear plugs. The drops I use every time I swim, but I've only used the plugs a few times. You need to figure out which works best for you. Some people seem prone to swimmers ear, while others never (or rarely) get it. Feel better, Dana