Ear Infections and North Florida Caves???

[scubagrunt]

Hi Guys,
I need a little assistance. I am stumped, for my last three trips in a row to mainly ginnie springs, i come home with a incredible ear infection. this last time is the worst as it traveled into my jaw and i could not talk or eat.
does anyone out there have any idea what is going on. i never get ear infections. i dive in lakes and oceans for as long as i do when i cave dive (so in water time about 6hrs a day) without issues.

help and thanks
mel

[sea2summit]

Mel, one word Motrin. Hit me last night too, every time I rolled on my right side the pain in my ear woke me up.

P.S. Where's your intro Noob?

[MORGAN]

Do you use "ear beer"?

Make up a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and .90% isopropyl alcohol. Some people put a little glycerin in it. After a dive, put a couple of drops in each ear. At the end of the day (we do it at bedtime) lie on your side and put a few drops in each ear, letting it sit in there for 5 minutes per ear.

Used to get ear infections from diving - haven't had one in years since doing this.

Mike

[FW]

You need to rinse your ears out after every dive, FL or anywhere else. Clean water helps, but "ear beer" is better. It is half vinegar, and half alcohol.

When you do get an infection, go immediately to a doctor, and get real ear medicine, not pain killer. Cortisporin Otic is what is generally prescribed. The longer you wait, the worse the infection gets. I have had several friends that ended up with holes in their eardrum from waiting too long to see a doctor. Some can't dive anymore

[scott&sara]

Yep. Ear Beer is the solution. I had a couple bad ear infections about 6-7 years ago and ever since then have been doing the 50/50 alcohol/vinegar and no problem since. I even use it after a swim in the pool.

I also had my Dr. give me some antibiotic/steroid ear drops just in case but don't recall needing them in a long time. Not a bad idea for the save-a-dive kit.

Scott

[chimie007]

Ear Beer..... If I don't use it one weekend, I'll get an ear infection.... I normally use it once at the end of each day. Sometimes after nasty dives (you know hot summer brown basin).

[willgr1]

i got a bad outer ear infection from my last FL trip....funny thing was it was only 3 days of diving so I didn't think ear drops were necessary (my first mistake).....took almost a month and two doctor visits to finally heal completely.

[ScubaAl]

Just would like to add, that the "ear beer" must be left in for 5 minutes. The below is from the DAN site.

"The head is tilted to one side and the external ear canal gently filled with the solution, which must remain in the canal for five minutes. The head is then tilted to the other side, the solution allowed to run out, and the procedure repeated for the other ear. The five-minute duration must be timed with a watch. If the solution does not remain in the ear a full five minutes, the effectiveness of the procedure is greatly reduced.
- From the U.S. Navy Diving Manual"

[icestac]

One thing to note about ear beer -- don't leave it on the dash board of your car. I once left my ear solution in my car and it got quite hot. I did not notice until I put it into my ear... OUCH!

Cheers,
Jeff

[Neptuno]

the time I failed to put the drops in I got an infection..... I always use it rigt after every dive, I don't wait till the end of the day, is better to kill those bugs right away