Ear Infection

I just go diving when I have an ear infection (and do some serious irrigation with 50/50 alcohol and vinegar). more than half the time it gets better. 25% of the time it stays the same, some of the time it gets worse (would do anyway right?), and a three times the eardrum has ruptured so I had to dive using doc's proplugs, one of those masks with "ear cups," and limit my diving to every other weekend, shallow. One time it looked like surgery would be needed to fix things, but then another month of diving fixed it right up so that surgery was not needed after all!

But then I've always been a bit of a contarian...

but seriously, sometimes i think a cautious dive, the cool water, the wetness, something actually "breaks up" the gunk and helps it clear....?

we can't be held legally responsible for advice given on an internet forum, right?

-skip

Hi Mike - see my PM


Skip - I dive with 'em, too - with an otitis externa my ear feels better in the water than out!

Mike

Mike,
You should of got a cis! Aside from making your wallet smaller they are also supposed to cure all your ills!!!!
Seriously, hope you heal up and keep us posted on the rb!

Get well soon, Mike! Which RB are you gonna be diving with?

-Carl

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CGriffing

Get well soon, Mike! Which RB are you gonna be diving with?

-Carl

---

He is picking up a Meg.

Thanks everybody, drops all day yesterday and seems about the same this morning. I could probably clear it up with what I have & if I didn't have a class coming up in under a week I would probably live with it a couple more days and see how it plays out but...

Looking at the Pompano Yellow Pages, there are dozens of walk-in clinics. I'm going to be waiting at their door when they open.

Mike

PS: I'm usually so good about the ear beer but have been slipping up lately. Lesson learned I guess <G>

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mmcauliffe

Thanks everybody, drops all day yesterday and seems about the same this morning. I could probably clear it up with what I have & if I didn't have a class coming up in under a week I would probably live with it a couple more days and see how it plays out but...

Looking at the Pompano Yellow Pages, there are dozens of walk-in clinics. I'm going to be waiting at their door when they open.

Mike

PS: I'm usually so good about the ear beer but have been slipping up lately. Lesson learned I guess <G>

---

You can't slip up Mike, I learned that the hard way too. Remember that trip we did with Connie where I finished out the week with a double ear infection? Couldn't do the last day at Temple of Doom.

Warning about walk-in clinics.

They don't always know about outer ear infections. I went to one in Key West, and they mis-diagnosed, and I couldn't dive the rest of the trip. It meant I had to suffer several extra days, and go to my doctor at home to get the right medicine.

Go back and look at my post on the bottom of page #1, and be sure which part of your ear is infected, then check the prescription to see if it is the right thing. Clue: Middle ear infections involve drops, *and* pills, outer ear infections get only drops. The drops for middle ear infections are only pain killers, and won't help outer ear issues.

I just had a double ear infection 4 days before a trip. My DAN ENT doc gave me Cipro ear drops after a sleepless night, and told me I'd be good to dive in 2 days---he was right (and I could sleep that night). The Cipro worked MUCH faster than the other antibiotic drops I've had before. Also, you can get a set of docs proplugs which are ear plugs you can use for diving, and they really help when you have an ear infection because they sort of slow the pressure change you feel in your ears and allow you to equalize gradually instead of a big dramatic change all at once.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mmcauliffe

Cool - that's pretty much word for word what I have in my hand...or ear as it were <G> Of course it expired 4/2007

---

If it's any comfort to know, in my RB class with Jill we spent the first day doing classroom
and equipment stuff so you have at least one extra day before you get in the water :).

Then we spent day two in the run at devils.

Les