Ear plugged

slipped_disc

Billy Hamilton status
Jun 27, 2019
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IMO few things are as effective (and oddly satisfying) as a professional cleaning from an ENT doctor. They'll pull out a wild amount of ear wax, dead skin, sand, etc. After that appointment everything will sound high fidelity.

Regular use of Swimmers Ear's drops also helps prevent build up and infection.
 

Swallow Tail

Billy Hamilton status
Oct 6, 2017
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Your Mom’s House
in my case, they definitely start noticing it and talking about the surgery when you get into the 80's, but yeah I was advised to wait for the 90's before getting the surgery. My left ear was actually "105%" closed by the time I got the drill- the surgeon said when she went in there, part of the exostoses was actually already pressing up against the other side of my ear canal, and would likely have punctured it at any moment
#elephantitis,l
the Mandingo of exostoses.

had both done in last couple years - 1 was 100% occluded/blocked - could hear anything out of it. Doc told me not to fck around w the other one which he could just barely see a peep of my ear drum. he explained that if he can’t see the ear drum he has to chisel much slower n chance of hitting the ear drum goes up exponentially.

1st surf after 1st ear healed was right after schools closed from the Rona - could not believe the crowds on the beach n in the water - where’s Waldo situation. nutz.
 
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steamroller

Michael Peterson status
Dec 23, 2007
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48U - Green River, WY
tilt your head toward the plugged ear side...pull you earlobe down and back
....then down a foreward ...and .back again and again...all th while open your jaw wide... and move it left-right...left -right...that usually works gor me to draun yhe water out
 
I have been a surfer in cold water for fifty years… Had my right ear drilled some years ago… Last week, at the local water slide park, my drilled ear closed up again… Flashbacks to the recovery part of the ear surgery, do not want to ever go through that again…

I went online to see what the current consensus recommendation to clear the ears is… I found a clinic in Bellingham WA, twenty minutes from my home, that does two things, and one of them is clinical ear wax removal with the state of the art micro suction... I got an appointment for the next day… Previously I had to schedule an appointment weeks in advance with my ear-nose-throat doc… Weeks of hearing with only one ear, and to those of us who suffer know, that really sucks…

The ear cleaning at the clinic, was painless and thorough… It took about a half hour and the cost was $78… A couple days later I was thinking it was the best money spent on health care for me, in years…

Find a similar clinic is my advice…
 
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grg

Phil Edwards status
Mar 11, 2006
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Tuna Town/Baja
Suction and Lavage both work. Warm Lavage feels way better especially if you have some gunk close to your eardrum. That suction is no fun next to the drum or if something is harbored up to it.
 
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Chocki

Phil Edwards status
Feb 18, 2007
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Planet Earth
Recent studies have yielded promising results concerning the use of Jenkem as an effective preventative/cure for surfers ear.
 

One-Off

Tom Curren status
Jul 28, 2005
14,126
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36 hours later and it's still plugged. Yesterday I tried everything. Alcohol and vinegar, pure alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, letting the solutions sit in for five minutes, using a syringe, using q-tips with solutions. Finally, my last attempt was stinging. So I gave up. I think someone said to just let it rest. So, I'm waiting a bit. I was going to surf but the surf is crap- inconsistent, closed out and crowded. I think I'll try the alcohol/vinegar and let it sit for...ten minutes. If that fails I'll call my Doc on Monday.

So hoping I don't have to get drilled or chiseled again...
 
36 hours later and it's still plugged. Yesterday I tried everything. Alcohol and vinegar, pure alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, letting the solutions sit in for five minutes, using a syringe, using q-tips with solutions. Finally, my last attempt was stinging. So I gave up. I think someone said to just let it rest. So, I'm waiting a bit. I was going to surf but the surf is crap- inconsistent, closed out and crowded. I think I'll try the alcohol/vinegar and let it sit for...ten minutes. If that fails I'll call my Doc on Monday.

So hoping I don't have to get drilled or chiseled again...
So frustrating… It’s hard to not try things to clear the problem, but as others have said, give them a rest… I felt it took a couple of days after my suction process for the minor swelling and soreness to go away…

Get well…
 

One-Off

Tom Curren status
Jul 28, 2005
14,126
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33.8N - 118.4W
So frustrating… It’s hard to not try things to clear the problem, but as others have said, give them a rest… I felt it took a couple of days after my suction process for the minor swelling and soreness to go away…

Get well…
Thanks. Maybe I'll wait until tomorrow afternoon to try the solution again.
 

grg

Phil Edwards status
Mar 11, 2006
5,882
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Tuna Town/Baja
36 hours later and it's still plugged. Yesterday I tried everything. Alcohol and vinegar, pure alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, letting the solutions sit in for five minutes, using a syringe, using q-tips with solutions. Finally, my last attempt was stinging. So I gave up. I think someone said to just let it rest. So, I'm waiting a bit. I was going to surf but the surf is crap- inconsistent, closed out and crowded. I think I'll try the alcohol/vinegar and let it sit for...ten minutes. If that fails I'll call my Doc on Monday.

So hoping I don't have to get drilled or chiseled again...
Are you sucking or pushing solution as a lavage? And yes, dont over do it as your ear will just be pissed off.

I have had so much crap in there and Lavage always works. 2 types were posted, one by me and another by another poster that work.
 

_____

Phil Edwards status
Sep 17, 2012
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I bought this about a month ago (first IG ad purchase ever). I'll use it soon and figure out if it's worth it or no good. I have a feeling it works well for "good" ears so probably the latter and I'll get a refund. Wish I could find a good cleaner.

 

ElOgro

Duke status
Dec 3, 2010
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I bought this about a month ago (first IG ad purchase ever). I'll use it soon and figure out if it's worth it or no good. I have a feeling it works well for "good" ears so probably the latter and I'll get a refund. Wish I could find a good cleaner.

Rinsekit ftw!
 
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mundus

Duke status
Feb 26, 2018
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Have had an ear infection for at least a month, went to Dr finally, got ear drops and antibiotics. The drops cost $168 :cursing: and I thought I had good insurance?
 
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Subway

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Dec 31, 2008
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Cipro drops even WITH insurance cost a fortune. My copay is around there too

Whenever I would get a prescription I would use it as directed for the 7 days. Sparingly though, it works really well. A typical bottle of drops can be stretched for 2 or even 3 infections. I brought just the tail end of a bottle to Tavarua and holy smokes did THAT move pay off. Ear swelled up on like day 2, I thought aw man screw that. Hit the ears every night with cipro and held off a full blown infection for 8 more days
 
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Chocki

Phil Edwards status
Feb 18, 2007
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they came out with more fancy hipster type ones after I converted to always earplugs all the time but I stuck with my JBLs because they were designed to be used at depth.
As in JBL spearguns
 
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Kento

Duke status
Jan 11, 2002
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The Bar
If you guys just would use Q-Tips on a twice-daily basis to clean out the gunk before it accumulates, you wouldn't have to go through all this trouble.

Going to a specialist to have your ears cleaned out on even the semi-regular isn't normal. :crazy2:
 

Icu812

Nep status
Jun 23, 2013
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I went for a flight physical a couple weeks ago and my doc (a good friend) mentioned that I had some wax buildup in my right ear. Never had a problem before so sorta forgot about it. A couple days later, holy chit, my right ear was plugged! Tried everything, Debrox, hydrogen peroxide, etc. to no avail. Went to urgent care and they used one of these which is like a power washer for the ear. They put the cup under my ear to catch what came out, looked like I just changed the oil in my car...Doc tells me I should do preventative maintenance instead...get some mineral oil, put some in your ear while in the shower, then use the little suction thingie that came in the Debrox kit to clean it out with warm water.
 
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sh3

Michael Peterson status
Dec 1, 2008
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I know this belongs in the surf doc section, but unless you deadlift that place is like a mortuary...at midnight.

Yesterday my ear filled with water and I couldn't get it out. I kind of got used to it and last night I didn't even notice it. This morning I woke up and it's like I have a cotton ball in my ear. I've tried my alcohol/vineager ear drops, q-tips. I tried pure rubbing alcohol and lying on my side for 5 minutes and trying to drain it. Nothing works.

Any tips? How long before I need to go to urgent care or something?
Haven't read the whole thread, so unsure if this is mentioned.
If not, people will think I'm nuts.
But here goes...


Get a Waterpik. Fill the basin 3/4 to the top with hot water. Hot as you can reasonably stand, so around 100 degrees. Then fill the final 1/4 with room temp hydrogen peroxide. This way it's still hot but not burning you.

Here's the important part; Set the Waterpik for the LOWEST POSSIBLE SETTING it has. Do not up the pressure at all. Pulse it into your ear. The combo of hot water with hydrogen peroxide being pulsed in will wash out all the crap and clean your ear. It also disinfects if you have the starting of an infection. It's an instant solution to a plugged and painful ear.

Now let me stress this one more time: LOWEST POSSIBLE SETTING. Do not puncture your ear drum. You'll love this solution though. First time I was told it, by someone here on the erBB actually, I thought he was nuts but tried it carefully. I could not have been happier with the results. All sorts of sh!t dropped out as I did the wash.

LOWEST POSSIBLE SETTING.
 
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