General Discussion Triathlon Talk » How to prevent Swimmer's Ear Rss Feed  
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2005-04-23 8:28 AM

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Subject: How to prevent Swimmer's Ear

I searched the forum for any past info on this subject.  Found out about Zoomers (Swimmer's ear drop), and isopropyl alcohol.  But I'm not sure when to administer these.  If anyone has any tips, or could recommend drops, or anything... I love to swim, but have been sick for the past couple of weeks due to an ear infection.  Since I am not going to stop swimming, anything you could suggest would be appreciated.  My ears and I thank you.



2005-04-23 8:31 AM
in reply to: #146916

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Champion
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Subject: RE: How to prevent Swimmer's Ear
2005-04-23 9:07 AM
in reply to: #146916

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Subject: RE: How to prevent Swimmer's Ear
Thanks a lot Hollis.  The thread was a great help!
2005-04-23 10:29 AM
in reply to: #146916

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Master
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Subject: RE: How to prevent Swimmer's Ear
I LOVE to swim and have had some serious ear problems so I consider my self a bit ofan expert on swimmers ear... I use swim ear drops after every swim, and as long as I do that I dont have any problems. If It does flair up I take 60 MG of sudafed, and 400 MG of motrin and it clears up in a day or so... Hope that helps.
2005-04-24 6:42 AM
in reply to: #146916

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Coach
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Subject: RE: How to prevent Swimmer's Ear
What KIND of ear infections are you (two) having? Your outer ear is the canal up to the ear drum, on the outside. The MIDDLE ear is right behind the eardrum. The INNER ear is the complex labryth that coordinates your balance.

When people say ear infection, they usually refer to the middle ear...the kind your kids get all the time. Swimmer's ear is just the outer portion that is infected. Decongestants would help a middle ear fluid collection by helping the eustacian tubes to drain, but won't do diddly for an OUTER ear infection, or swimmers ear.

Like wise, alcohol or Zoomers won't have any effect on an INNER ear infection.

So what type are you sick with?
2005-04-24 11:53 AM
in reply to: #146916

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Subject: RE: How to prevent Swimmer's Ear

Mine is outer ear infection.  But this got complicated, and I don't know how, b/c I also had a throat infection, and my sinuses became affected as well.  I had pain on the right side of my face (eyebrow, eyeball, nose bridge, upper cheek), and had some ringing in the right ear, and felt pressure in my ears - like I couldn't decompress.  The ER doc gave me ear drops, an antibiotic, and also some Tylenol 3 for the pain.  I'm starting to feel much better.  But I'm definitely going to try what's been suggested so far to prevent this as much as I can.  Thanks for responding, and for checking which type infection I had.  The doc made it sound like the outer infection could've become the inner ear infection had I let it go.  Wonder if that's true... or if I misunderstood.



2005-04-24 12:33 PM
in reply to: #147237

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Subject: RE: How to prevent Swimmer's Ear
Get some of those earplugs that look like a ball of paraffin wax. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
2005-04-24 1:52 PM
in reply to: #146916

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Master
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Subject: RE: How to prevent Swimmer's Ear
my pain is in the middle ear, and feels like I have fluid in it. the swim ear seems to prevnt it. ifit flairs up a bit a sudafed and motrin seem to relieve the pressure and I feel better in about 12-18 hrs. this was on the advice from my DR. he said that there is a thin coat of clear wax in the ear and pool water washes it out. this can lead to irritation that prevents your ear from draining properly. Swim ear has glycerin in it that relieves the irritation, and if fluid builds up the sudafed helps it drain, and motrin reduces theinflamation. it is not a actual infection just a mild inflamation of the membrains as a result of loosing their protective coating.
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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » How to prevent Swimmer's Ear Rss Feed