problem with water in ears???

Although I have been diving for close to seven years now, I've noticed only recently, I am having trouble with water in my ears... I suddenly have a little bit of trouble equalizing also... Although I can usually get the equalizing under control fairly quick... The worst of it is the water in my ears... Heck, I can't even take a shower these days without having the same problem (although much worse while diving of course)... It feels as though my ears are blocked up for hours (if not days) after diving... Quite frustrating!
Any suggestions?

Although I have been diving for close to seven years now, I've noticed only recently, I am having trouble with water in my ears... I suddenly have a little bit of trouble equalizing also... Although I can usually get the equalizing under control fairly quick... The worst of it is the water in my ears... Heck, I can't even take a shower these days without having the same problem (although much worse while diving of course)... It feels as though my ears are blocked up for hours (if not days) after diving... Quite frustrating!
Any suggestions?

Call DAN's non-Emergency medical question phone number.

DAN Contact Numbers

Non-Emergency Medical Questions
1-800-446-2671 or 1-919-684-2948, Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm (ET)

Even if you don't belong to DAN you can still ask dive related questions. I would encourage you to join DAN though. It is a great service to the dive community...

What DAN Does For YOU...

Edited by shadragon, 06 July 2007 - 10:04 AM.

Put drops of a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and alcohol in your ears before and after you dive or shower.

Although I have been diving for close to seven years now, I've noticed only recently, I am having trouble with water in my ears... I suddenly have a little bit of trouble equalizing also... Although I can usually get the equalizing under control fairly quick... The worst of it is the water in my ears... Heck, I can't even take a shower these days without having the same problem (although much worse while diving of course)... It feels as though my ears are blocked up for hours (if not days) after diving... Quite frustrating!
Any suggestions?

I've always had this problem. In fact I got an ear infection halfway through the OW class. The only thing I can recommend is using swim ear (or something similar) after every dive.. the ENT recommend I do this.

Although I have been diving for close to seven years now, I've noticed only recently, I am having trouble with water in my ears... I suddenly have a little bit of trouble equalizing also... Although I can usually get the equalizing under control fairly quick... The worst of it is the water in my ears... Heck, I can't even take a shower these days without having the same problem (although much worse while diving of course)... It feels as though my ears are blocked up for hours (if not days) after diving... Quite frustrating!
Any suggestions?

Call DAN's non-Emergency medical question phone number.

DAN Contact Numbers

Non-Emergency Medical Questions
1-800-446-2671 or 1-919-684-2948, Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm (ET)

Even if you don't belong to DAN you can still ask dive related questions. I would encourage you to join DAN though. It is a great service to the dive community...

What DAN Does For YOU...

Thanks! I'll try that... And YES, you bet, I am already a member of DAN...

after talking to the medics at DAN i would also suggest you look at getting a set of docs proplugs as I have problems with my ears and since getting them they really help cut down on the problems i have with my ears (infections and normal/reverse blocks).

Tooth

Put drops of a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and alcohol in your ears before and after you dive or shower.

Hi Walter... GREAT to hear from you my friend... Long time... hope all is well...
My bad for neglecting to mention the advice I had already tried... You guessed it, both the vinegar/alcohol solution as well as "swimmers ear drops" (as suggested by Blackhawk) have been tried... I've put them in my ears both prior to and after each dive... Still no help...

after talking to the medics at DAN i would also suggest you look at getting a set of docs proplugs as I have problems with my ears and since getting them they really help cut down on the problems i have with my ears (infections and normal/reverse blocks).

Tooth

Thanks Tooth!
Someone at one of the many local dive clubs that I belong to metioned that I try those... Although he had never tried them himself...
Question? Do they also give you the feeling of having "blocked up" ears? It seems to me they would, and for that reason alone I've been hesitant to try them... That is the feeling I am trying to get rid of... It would be nice to hear from someone that actually uses them...

I use the proplugs on a regular basis for my dives and i have the vented ones, and i dont get that blocked feeling from them. It does take a couple of dives to get used to them as they feel weird in your ear on a dive, but after you get used to it you forget that there even there. This is why i have the leash and its attached to my marsoups strap so i dont loose them for that very reason.

Tooth

I use the proplugs on a regular basis for my dives and i have the vented ones, and i dont get that blocked feeling from them. It does take a couple of dives to get used to them as they feel weird in your ear on a dive, but after you get used to it you forget that there even there. This is why i have the leash and its attached to my marsoups strap so i dont loose them for that very reason.

Tooth

Thanks again Tooth... I'm thinking I might have to look into those... Hope my LDS carries them...

Although I have been diving for close to seven years now, I've noticed only recently, I am having trouble with water in my ears... I suddenly have a little bit of trouble equalizing also... Although I can usually get the equalizing under control fairly quick... The worst of it is the water in my ears... Heck, I can't even take a shower these days without having the same problem (although much worse while diving of course)... It feels as though my ears are blocked up for hours (if not days) after diving... Quite frustrating!
Any suggestions?

You might want to ask your Doctor to check to see if there is any ear wax build up in there that you can't see or feel. Sometimes over the counter stuff can take care of it, or you may need a perscription strength. Since you are having trouble even when you are not diving, such as showering and not being able to get the water out of your ears...sounds like something is blocking it. Check with your doctor, might be a simple solution.

Although I have been diving for close to seven years now, I've noticed only recently, I am having trouble with water in my ears... I suddenly have a little bit of trouble equalizing also... Although I can usually get the equalizing under control fairly quick... The worst of it is the water in my ears... Heck, I can't even take a shower these days without having the same problem (although much worse while diving of course)... It feels as though my ears are blocked up for hours (if not days) after diving... Quite frustrating!
Any suggestions?

Call DAN's non-Emergency medical question phone number.

DAN Contact Numbers

Non-Emergency Medical Questions
1-800-446-2671 or 1-919-684-2948, Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm (ET)

Even if you don't belong to DAN you can still ask dive related questions. I would encourage you to join DAN though. It is a great service to the dive community...

What DAN Does For YOU...

OK... Already gave DAN a call... Here's what they suggested I do:
He says it sounds as tough I may have water in my middle ear that needs "dried up" before I can resolve any of this... He told me to try using Afrin nasal spray, but as drops... 2-3 drops in each nare for 3-4 days... Said to tilt my head back, insert as drops (not spray) then pinch the nose and gently blow so that the drops go up into the tubes (in my ears)... He told me to avoid blowing my nose or trying to clear my ears during this... That and... To take the Robitussin "green gel caps", 1 (with meals) 3 times a day... Told me to try this for a few days to see if I can dry out the middle ear... Even said to carry this stuff with me and take it about 2 hours prior to diving...
Hoping this does the trick... I'll let you know once I give it a try...

Although I have been diving for close to seven years now, I've noticed only recently, I am having trouble with water in my ears... I suddenly have a little bit of trouble equalizing also... Although I can usually get the equalizing under control fairly quick... The worst of it is the water in my ears... Heck, I can't even take a shower these days without having the same problem (although much worse while diving of course)... It feels as though my ears are blocked up for hours (if not days) after diving... Quite frustrating!
Any suggestions?

You might want to ask your Doctor to check to see if there is any ear wax build up in there that you can't see or feel. Sometimes over the counter stuff can take care of it, or you may need a perscription strength. Since you are having trouble even when you are not diving, such as showering and not being able to get the water out of your ears...sounds like something is blocking it. Check with your doctor, might be a simple solution.

Walter's suggestion on the ear drops is better than Swimmers Ear. The 50-50 of 5% vinegar and 70% alcohol is the most popular suggestion from ENTs and diving docs, it seems. Good that you're already on that. Some suggest adding Hydrogen Peroxide to the mix, but that can be damaging when fresh - and then become simple diluting water in a little time

Based on the bold words in your post, I like Punky's suggestion. What changed recently? Ok, so try DAN's approach, but keep the ENT in mind. See him next...!

My ENT told me to never put peroxide in my ears. I'm told if there's a tiny hole in the ear drum (not likely, but possible) peroxide can make you go deaf.

After experiencing vertigo on my last dive and chronic ear infections, my ENT suggested Doc's Proplugs. Glad to hear such positive comments on them. I will be buying some before my next dive!!