Swimmer's Ear

[Way2Broke]

I have a case of swimmer's ear. My right ear will clear, but sometimes it takes some work to do so. It kindove pops and cracks when I clear it. Can anyone recommend a treatment? Would you fly with this? What about low altitude flying (1000-2000ft) Also, I am due for my medical this month, should I be paranoid about getting it done before this clears up?

 

[Say Again Over]

I once went flying while I was congested, fluid ended up getting into the inner ear via the Eustachian tubes while at altitude, I had a similar problem on one ear, turned into an infection, eardrum was noticeably red. My treatment was some ear drops and antibiotics. If you have to fly I wouldn't think one or two thousand would be a problem.

 

[Way2Broke]

Thanks! Are the ear drops and pills over the counter?

 

[Say Again Over]

Nope, went to the doc when I started feeling a pain, grounded me for two weeks.

 

[Way2Broke]

Something I could go to a walk-in clinic for I assume?

 

[Gorilla]

BE CAREFUL... flying with ear problems can cause damage that will become chronic. You'll be prone to ear issues for a long time.

High-doses of Sudafed, say about 4 to 6 of those little red pills, in a real emergency, will open the block, and also give you a 3X star-bux grande case of the jitters. I've tried Afrin, and while it cleans out the nose it doesn't seem to help much for ears for some reason.

If bacterial, you need antibiotics. Get 'em from your doc, or if in Mexico, OTC. Augmentin or Amoxicillin, 500 mg 2X / day, for 10 days, no less. You didn't hear that from me, that's just a street rumor! Seriously, don't self-medicate, see a non-aviation doc. A walk-in clinic will work.

 

[Kaudbron]

this is only for water thats in the ear, not a block, ex. if you turn your head the wrong way underwater and now everything sounds funny.... then dab some rubbing alcohol in your ear with a Q-tip. I had an ex that did this after swimming practices. It will burn alittle but did the trick for me. Im not a doctor (whoda thunk) so I don't know if any side effects are involved with this.

 

[414Flyer]

Swimmers ear is when you get a bacterial infection by your eardrum, and tends to happen when you are young, because at that point in your growing, the ear canals are not horizontal, but slope inward somewhat, trapping water

As for an ear blockage, thats a different matter. I got one once, both eardrums were doing it, and it was wax, pushed back by qtips. The Doc recommended NOT using q-tips to remove wax, because it pushes some wax back. Just recommended using a washcloth to get what you can, the rest usually takes care of itself naturally.

 

[RockyMnt1]

Swimmer's ear

I use a mixture of 1/3 rubbing alcohol and 2/3 vinegar. I just put a few drops in my ears after I swim. Seems to keep the swimmers ear away for me.

 

[CargoATRdriver]

Swimmers ear is when you get a bacterial infection by your eardrum, and tends to happen when you are young, because at that point in your growing, the ear canals are not horizontal, but slope inward somewhat, trapping water

As for an ear blockage, thats a different matter. I got one once, both eardrums were doing it, and it was wax, pushed back by qtips. The Doc recommended NOT using q-tips to remove wax, because it pushes some wax back. Just recommended using a washcloth to get what you can, the rest usually takes care of itself naturally.

Reason #692 NOT to use hotel washcloths.