Swimmer's Ear

Steve Freides said:

I've gradually been confirming something I suspected for a long time,
that if I get into the pool about once a week, I maintain a sort of
low-level degree of swimmer's ear (for lack of a better term - a general
feeling of having some fluid in one ear, and dizziness which comes and
goes but never leaves completely nor does it usually ever get
dehabilitatingly bad very often, either). If I don't swim for 2-3
weeks, the swimmers ear disappears, and if I swim more than once a week,
the problem gets worse. For the last few years I've been only swimming
once a week (not trying to get better as I get my exercise other ways
now, just a few laps before I teach at the Y every Wednesday afternoon).

I was talking this over with someone at the Y who said that poorly fit
ear plugs are worse than none at all, and he said he uses something
called 'aurodry' (sp?), which you pour into each ear after swimming, it
mixes with the water, and then you tilt your head the other way and
everything runs out, and you're good to go.

I'm sure this subject comes up periodically on this newsgroup - just
looking for what the latest wisdom and treatment/products on the subject
might be.

Swimmer's Ear is an actual infection.

<http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/ear/swimmer_ear.html>

"MW Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Steve Freides said:

I've gradually been confirming something I suspected for a long time,
that if I get into the pool about once a week, I maintain a sort of
low-level degree of swimmer's ear (for lack of a better term - a
general
feeling of having some fluid in one ear, and dizziness which comes
and
goes but never leaves completely nor does it usually ever get
dehabilitatingly bad very often, either). If I don't swim for 2-3
weeks, the swimmers ear disappears, and if I swim more than once a
week,
the problem gets worse. For the last few years I've been only
swimming
once a week (not trying to get better as I get my exercise other ways
now, just a few laps before I teach at the Y every Wednesday
afternoon).

I was talking this over with someone at the Y who said that poorly
fit
ear plugs are worse than none at all, and he said he uses something
called 'aurodry' (sp?), which you pour into each ear after swimming,
it
mixes with the water, and then you tilt your head the other way and
everything runs out, and you're good to go.

I'm sure this subject comes up periodically on this newsgroup - just
looking for what the latest wisdom and treatment/products on the
subject
might be.

Swimmer's Ear is an actual infection.

<http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/ear/swimmer_ear.html>

Then please consider my posting to be about whatever it was I described.

-S-

"Steve Freides" --just get a little squirt top bottle and fill it halfway
with alcohol and halfway with vinegar. The proportions are not important.
That's all "Aurodry" is, except for a dollop of glycerin. The alcohol dries
out the ear and the vinegar makes an unsavory surface for germs to grow on.
If I ever get the "why won't the water run out of my ear" feeling, I just
grab the nearest bottle of rubbing alcohol and pour a bit it. Problem solved
in a jiff!

Pat in TX

"Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Steve Freides" --just get a little squirt top bottle and fill it
halfway with alcohol and halfway with vinegar. The proportions are not
important. That's all "Aurodry" is, except for a dollop of glycerin.
The alcohol dries out the ear and the vinegar makes an unsavory
surface for germs to grow on. If I ever get the "why won't the water
run out of my ear" feeling, I just grab the nearest bottle of rubbing
alcohol and pour a bit it. Problem solved in a jiff!

Pat in TX

Thanks to all who responded. I picked up a small bottle of Aurodri
today, will give it a try and, if it helps, will then investigate making
my own. I'm also going to do a little less swabbing of ear wax and see
if that helps, too.

-S-

Quoted message said:

Swimmer's Ear is an actual infection.

<http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/ear/swimmer_ear.html>

Its also a product

http://www.drugstore.com/qxp12443_333181_sespider/swim_ear/ear_drying_aid.htm

I have used that for years and when using it have never had an ear infection
(had a few infections when not using it).

If you are 'swabbing' for ear wax, I suspect this is the cause of your
problem, if you are using cotton buds or what ever, they don't clean your
ear out, they compact what ever wax is in there and it is VERY BAD for your
ears.

The old adage 'never put anything bigger than your elboe in your ear' is a
good one. Unless you are a doctor I supposed.

JJ