Hey, lately after a surf/kite I have been getting blocked ears (right ear usually) which can take 1 hour to go back to normal or like tonight (after 4 days in a row in the water) is still blocked (12 hours after).

I have been given swimmers ear drops but so far no good. Anyone else get this problem and what do they do about it?

Cheers

Wow Chard, thats quite intense, but I know why you vacuum your own ear canal. I must say I have been giving some thought to try some thing like you do. Id love to see a photo of your little device
I had operation on my right ear to have bone drilled out last winter, one week off work, 8 weeks out off the water, total success, left ear to be done later (ill spare you all the details and photos).

Jonopark
Best way is not let water into your ears, with out dough Blue Tac is great, down side is its hard to hear with blobs in your ears. I use “Doc's pro plugs” now in both ears.

Wow, I sure feel your pain. Issues for 20 years myself, never had to do the op though. I had more issues with surfing than kite surfing, same with my sinuses. Duck diving always filled my head full of saltwater.
All the suggestions above are great. Doc Prop plugs are the best as you can still hear and not feel like your ear is all clogged up which does affect your balance a little. Plus, (the plugs with the small hole in them) with the Docs when you get driven down to the bottom after a wipeout on big waves your ears will clear the pressure change, where as if you just plug them up they won't, and that hurts.
I used to have to go at least twice a year to the doc to have my ears plunged to get the wax out, disgusting how much crap can get trapped in there. I have a dip in my ear canal where water gets trapped easily. Now after a session I use Aqua Ear, or something like that to dry them. It works well. Since I started this regime I have not had any infections, and I haven't had to have them syringed in two years.
The vacuum cleaner sounds good in principle, but freaks me out a little bit because it can go wrong easily. Perforated ear drums are REALLY painful having gone through that with my board slamming the side of my head in the 70's. While Chard has had success with this, I would be very careful on this approach. The idea is great though.
It all comes down to keeping your ears clean and dry, but for starters I would go the DOcs.

Hey Jonno,
Might be swimmers ear - no need to bust out the black and decker and start drilling just yet hah. That calcification tends to be more of a problem after exposure to freezing waters over a few years.....

Swimmers ear is common over the summer months and is more or less an inflammation of the ear canal, so wax/ sand/ bacteria tend to build up in your ear canal because it cant escape due to the inflammation within the canal.

Mine has improved after using Vosol brand ear drops and also (a hint from an ear doctor) is to use a hair dryer to dry out the canal after contact with water. I have not used ear plugs (even though advised) and it has still cleared up.

It will take a few days/ a week for your hearing to return to normal, but be patient and dont go jamming too many cotton buds up there, it can make the inflammation worse!

Perhaps go see your doc too if its really bad!

Hi Jono,

Having just gone through a blocked ear for a short time (fixed last Friday), go see your Doctor. Probably an infection and there may be some discharge that needs clearing and the Doctor can do it on the spot. Be careful not to wait too long as the discharge can become hard and difficult to remove.

I thought I was going deaf.

Cheers.

Interesting that some of you say your sinus' are screwed up.

I too get bad sinus after a cold. It gets that to the point where I blow my nose and get dizzy from my sinus becoming compressed.

Is this swimmers ear related. Any advice?

Cheers for the advice guys! I love the idea of vacuums and hair dryers but may go see the doc as its still blocked and now I have an annoying ringing! I bought aqua ear but that doesnt seem to be working (though it maybe a little late!).
Ill ask about blue tak as this seems to be an on going problem (at least 2 years!).
The syringe with water was used a while back and worked great but had the same problem in the near future. Anyway ill fire some questions at the doc (your methods) and come and let you know what he says about them!

ouch!

Wow sebol, that looks a hell of a lot more painful than my post op pic that was taken about 6 hours after surgery, about 24/48 hours the bruising was not attractive.

Hi Jonopark

Lots of advice - I feel your pain, I went to the chemist and got an ear cleaning bottle, essentially like the syringe method. I put warm water and a few drops of vinegar, no fancy vinegars just the cheap and cheerful BBQ cleaner white vinegar, in there and it works a treat

Also I threw the cotton wool buds in the bin as apparently they cause a buildup of wax that water gets trapped behind causing the infuriating clogginess.

There is a solution!

^^^^ Ear candles are an established hoax

1 post Horace is an ear candle pimp

Hunter S said...
^^^^ Ear candles are an established hoax

1 post Horace is an ear candle pimp

Dont know about them being a hoax I use them all the time. They work for me.

Geeeeezzzz sebol, that is one hell of a story,
I checked into hospital about 1pm.
I was wheeled into surgery just before 6pm, given first needle, was woken up post op a few hours later about 10pm.
I was hungry so the nurses got some sandwiches and cups of coffee for me, I watched TV till about 2am (as I slept about 4 hours during op)
Doc and anaesthetist called in to see me about 7am, I had brekkie, waited for my daughter to pick me up about 10am. In and out under 24 hours.
Strongest pain killer I took was panadol for a few days,

Maybe you could come to Newcastle if you need the other ear done, might be a better experience for you

Great attitude you have, "Got over it and went kiting"

Jeez, some grizzly pictures here.

Having been unfortunate to suffer three bouts of cholesteatoma (pre kiting and totally unrelated to water), I'm keen to preserve what hearing I have left after having 50% of my hearing bones removed thru modified radical mastoidectomy procedures.

Every ENT surgeon I've seen has recommended the following:

NOT to force liquid down ones ear canal i.e syringeing
Blue-Tac has been proven in medical papers to be just as effective as expensive, custom made plugs
Try keep the cold water and air out of the canal by use of Blue Tac or plugs, and wear either a helmet with ear protection eg Gath type, or a windstopper type hat or headband that covers the ears.

Best to have ears checked out if the problem is reoccurring too, as stuff such as the Aqua Clear type stuff should not be used if there's already perforation of the drum.

Docs Pro plugs are good, though they can pop out from time to time.

Hi Sebol
Just wondering what hospital you went to so i can steer clear.

i ve had both ears done 3 times and my lft is up for another go.
If you get blocked ears.
1 get them checked
2 go to a good specialist not just a doctor
3 ask your mates or any one whos had it done about doctors
4 you should have very little pain and a very small scar after the op
5 once you get it done it comes back even quicker every time u get done
6 wear ear plugs and all this **** is avoided

Wish id listened now im on a four year turnaround.