Author Topic: Sea water gets into ears! (Read 1489 times)

DatinSeroja · « **on:** July 28, 2007, 12:25:14 AM »

my biggest problem after my dive is hearing problem due to sea water gets into my ears!
how to avoid it??i feel very-very uncomfortable when this things happen.... :-[

Quero · « **Reply #1 on:** July 28, 2007, 03:52:23 PM »

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my biggest problem after my dive is hearing problem due to sea water gets into my ears!
how to avoid it??i feel very-very uncomfortable when this things happen.... :-[

DS, It's unlikely just seawater.

What is probably happening is that you are slightly injuring your ears by not equalizing often enough. That muffled and full feeling we get in the ears after diving comes from a slight bruising due to barotrauma of the ears. The bruising makes fluid build up behind the membrane separating the outer and middle ear (just like the swelling from a normal bruise, say on your finger or shinbone). It usually takes a while to go away, and ear drops don't help. The only thing that helps, once the injury is there, is to let it heal up on its own, same as any little bruise you get. Of course, it heals faster if you don't continue to irritate it by diving.

The best "cure" is prevention! Equalize every time you breathe in as you descend (you will know if your ears have cleared), and descend slowly if you have any difficulty at all in equalizing. Forcing an equalization also can make the bruise worse, so don't wait until you feel the need to equalize--do it early, before the pressure builds up so much you notice it.

jgshuwei · « **Reply #2 on:** July 28, 2007, 03:59:11 PM »

I normally jump a bit after diving. ;D ;D ;D

DatinSeroja · « **Reply #3 on:** July 28, 2007, 06:58:26 PM »

thanks quero 4 d info!

ery · « **Reply #4 on:** July 29, 2007, 11:50:21 PM »

i usually try to equalize as if i am equalizing under water and it works on me..
you may want to try it in the future

poRnstar · « **Reply #5 on:** July 30, 2007, 12:45:26 AM »

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I normally jump a bit after diving. ;D ;D ;D

me too me too..
usualy the water will come out one.. ;D

superkingkong · « **Reply #6 on:** July 30, 2007, 05:46:18 AM »

if really it's water, try using some cotton butts .. and see if it helps...

reen · « **Reply #7 on:** July 30, 2007, 08:38:00 AM »

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if really it's water, try using some cotton butts .. and see if it helps...

sumone told me that it is not good to cotton butt your ear after the dives.
Prone to infections. I dont know how to true.

anas · « **Reply #8 on:** July 30, 2007, 08:43:27 AM »

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Quote
if really it's water, try using some cotton butts .. and see if it helps...

sumone told me that it is not good to cotton butt your ear after the dives.
Prone to infections. I dont know how to true.

Once an otologist said to me, the only thing you can put in your ears is your elbow.

superkingkong · « **Reply #9 on:** July 30, 2007, 09:28:18 AM »

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if really it's water, try using some cotton butts .. and see if it helps...

sumone told me that it is not good to cotton butt your ear after the dives.
Prone to infections. I dont know how to true.

oh... not sure about that...

but what i mean is not insert it and dig ;D

but gently insert it an tap up down left right so the cotton can absorp the seawater

superkingkong · « **Reply #10 on:** July 30, 2007, 09:29:52 AM »

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Quote
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if really it's water, try using some cotton butts .. and see if it helps...

sumone told me that it is not good to cotton butt your ear after the dives.
Prone to infections. I dont know how to true.

Once an otologist said to me, the only thing you can put in your ears is your elbow.

God gracious!!.. how in an earth can an elbow be inserted into the ear?

dikiz.m.s · « **Reply #11 on:** July 30, 2007, 10:51:50 AM »

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Quote
Quote
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if really it's water, try using some cotton butts .. and see if it helps...

sumone told me that it is not good to cotton butt your ear after the dives.
Prone to infections. I dont know how to true.

Once an otologist said to me, the only thing you can put in your ears is your elbow.

God gracious!!.. how in an earth can an elbow be inserted into the ear?

Hi guys,

good topic. would like to share opinion. "using cotton bud really does help a little bit but it also contributes to ear damage and would lead to infections. Sea/salt water when dry becomes crystalize and when rub (with cotton bud) will hurt the ear etc".

I have a close friend who is now suffering from ear infection (not sure if it is due to using cotton buds) but he had infections due to water contain in the ear that leads to somesort like a fungus growth and had to go for a minor operation to insert titanium rings in the eustachian tube (somethin like that ar). Guess what, Dr. tells him to get out from the water (meaning: NO DIVING) at all.

I was told the best way for us to look after our ears from getting infections is by rinsing (putting) with warm water (fresh). This does work too. BUT make sure you do it a few times. (any salt/sea water trapped will evenually follow its way out from the ear.

Hope the info helps.

jgshuwei · « **Reply #12 on:** July 30, 2007, 12:46:41 PM »

Ppl with lots of ear wax might encounter problem with any water activity. This was happened to my wife, the ear wax expand when it was wet and create pressure to the ear drum. My doctor friend used a 20cc syringe filled with warm water and pumped into her ears. After everything cleared, she became a "bionic woman" where she can hear any tiny sound around her.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

IkanBilis · « **Reply #13 on:** July 30, 2007, 05:33:01 PM »

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Ppl with lots of ear wax might encounter problem with any water activity. This was happened to my wife, the ear wax expand when it was wet and create pressure to the ear drum. My doctor friend used a 20cc syringe filled with warm water and pumped into her ears. After everything cleared, she became a "bionic woman" where she can hear any tiny sound around her.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Sounds like compacted ear-wax, John. That usually happens when a person's ear does not expunge ear-wax like a normal person's ear would. It could be compounded by vigorous use of cotton buds in the ear. The compacted ear-wax will become hard. When immersed in water, the wax will expand, causing extreme discomfort in the ear. The method of extraction u described is the best way to extract this compacted ear-wax.

That was my comment as an experienced father.. lets hear it frm the doctors of MUW..

zzz · « **Reply #14 on:** July 30, 2007, 06:46:22 PM »

I am only goin to answer about cotton buds and impacted ear wax.

1. It's not good to use cotton buds or any other things to clear your ears
It may damage your eardrums, introduce infection, may push wax further in
2. One good solution is to use wax softener eg Waxol but if you have a perforated eardrum this is contraindicated. another alternative is to use baby oil (few drops).
3. If all fails your dr can do a washout or larvage as described above by jgshuwei

wmwoo · « **Reply #15 on:** July 31, 2007, 10:47:36 AM »

Hey! I got something from my instructor to put into my ears when I went for the first time....
I'm sure you guys here know what is that call!! Sorry...don't know the proper term.
It's work! at least 80% ;D

dikiz.m.s · « **Reply #16 on:** July 31, 2007, 11:04:27 AM »

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Ppl with lots of ear wax might encounter problem with any water activity. This was happened to my wife, the ear wax expand when it was wet and create pressure to the ear drum. My doctor friend used a 20cc syringe filled with warm water and pumped into her ears. After everything cleared, she became a "bionic woman" where she can hear any tiny sound around her.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Told you guys, warm water is the best remedy.

anas · « **Reply #17 on:** July 31, 2007, 01:32:05 PM »

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Quote
Quote
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if really it's water, try using some cotton butts .. and see if it helps...

sumone told me that it is not good to cotton butt your ear after the dives.
Prone to infections. I dont know how to true.

Once an otologist said to me, the only thing you can put in your ears is your elbow.

God gracious!!.. how in an earth can an elbow be inserted into the ear?

It means that you shouldn't put anything in your ears lah. I bet u tried to pull your elbow into your ear ah.. ahahah :-)

Dr. Bone has already mentioned earlier. Cotton bud - NO. Wax softener - YES.

deepblu · « **Reply #18 on:** July 31, 2007, 01:44:00 PM »

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Quote
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Quote
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if really it's water, try using some cotton butts .. and see if it helps...

sumone told me that it is not good to cotton butt your ear after the dives.
Prone to infections. I dont know how to true.

Once an otologist said to me, the only thing you can put in your ears is your elbow.

God gracious!!.. how in an earth can an elbow be inserted into the ear?

It means that you shouldn't put anything in your ears lah. I bet u tried to pull your elbow into your ear ah.. ahahah :-)

Dr. Bone has already mentioned earlier. Cotton bud - NO. Wax softener - YES.

Dang. Just when i was about to insert my knee into my ears...

DaKuLaa · « **Reply #19 on:** July 31, 2007, 01:45:59 PM »

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

mephisto · « **Reply #20 on:** July 31, 2007, 06:27:33 PM »

as for jgshuwei and babyfins jumping......and alternative way is bend forward 45 degrees and roll your head side to side...you will feel the water flow out of your ear.

as for cotton buds....i agree that cotton buds may push the ear wax futher etc.....but the main issue that applies to divers is fungal or infection because of damp ears. thus i see cotton buds as a neccesary evil. it really suck the water from the ear.

but get quality ear buds. cheap ones sometimes the cotton can detach and get stuck in the ear.

my take on it....try to dry the ears naturally...jumping/bending/etc...then cotton buds...then all the methods mention in the above posting...or use a ear plug that can be equalize like Pro Plugs.

joe · « **Reply #21 on:** August 19, 2007, 10:20:20 AM »

err..it often occur to me,i just fill water back into your ears,until it spills.the turn that ear side downward.the water will flow by it self.the viscous property of water tend to draw out the residuals in ur ears.think better use fresh water.it dissolve salt.

John F SeaDemon · « **Reply #22 on:** August 24, 2007, 12:34:42 AM »

A good method, Joe. Especially if you have perforated TM

blueocean · « **Reply #23 on:** August 24, 2007, 04:11:26 PM »

last time my buddy ear was half deaf . just couldnt hear properly , maybe cos by quick descent or not very often equalise. The divemaster from kapalai put a drop af vodka into the ears and then after a while my buddy feel

. its true cos i was there

Scorpenesub · « **Reply #24 on:** August 24, 2007, 10:05:39 PM »

Quote from: blueocean on August 24, 2007, 04:11:26 PM

last time my buddy ear was half deaf . just couldnt hear properly , maybe cos by quick descent or not very often equalise. The divemaster from kapalai put a drop af vodka into the ears and then after a while my buddy feel . its true cos i was there

Hmmmm....vodka through the ear.....a new way to a wonderful drink....

bikinibottom · « **Reply #25 on:** October 31, 2007, 03:00:34 AM »

there is a rational to the vodka method, i agree by dropping few drops of alcohol can help release the water trapped in the ear canal. ive tried using this antiseptic eardrops which im not sure where to find it (havent tried asking the pharmacist tho) once when diving with my instructor, he got it from a matsalleh diver. it worked well, the eardrops which contain alcohol absorbs the water and leaving your ears dry immediately, i can feel the instant water flow gush out from my canal. so whoever find it difficult of getting the water released from your ears, try find the eardrops n im sure you won't complain, it worked good on me!

aquaholic · « **Reply #26 on:** November 01, 2007, 12:37:06 PM »

The vodka and alcohol works because it disrupts the surface tension of water. Just make sure it is sterile.

There is something in the market called "swim-ear" which you can try.
http://www.simplyscuba.com/ProductDetails.aspx?StockID=867

Note: This is not a product endorsement and no, I don't know where to buy them locally.

Author Topic: Sea water gets into ears! (Read 1489 times)

DatinSeroja

Quero

jgshuwei

DatinSeroja

ery

poRnstar

superkingkong

reen

anas

superkingkong

superkingkong

dikiz.m.s

jgshuwei

IkanBilis

zzz

wmwoo

dikiz.m.s

anas

deepblu

DaKuLaa

mephisto