Anyone else have any ear problems related to the water? If I don't wear earplugs the water goes right into my ears and gets stuck in there for days. It's like whatever is supposed to seal up my ears doesn't work anymore. Even when I'm out of the water my ears are really sensitive to cold air and feel stuffy. When its warmer out they feel ok, but I still need to wear the plugs in the water. I haven't had any pain, it's just been a nuisance.
Me too. Nettie pot, doc pro plugs, and the Auro dry. Otherwise I get vertigo. Was thinking of that Mack's ear dryer...
Rite coast If youve been surfing in cold water for a long time, and maybe didnt bother with hoods, you may well be getting surfers ear. This is a long term condition that results in a narrowing of the ear canal as prolonged exposure to cold harsh conditions stimulate bone growth. Ive had it for years and the first symptoms were water getting stuck in my ears, next came infections, and super annoying loss of hearing due to the water/wax buildup. It is actually the opposite of what you said...your ears get MORE sealed up and the water never drains out. Drying ears out with aids may just be treating the symptom, not the root problem.
2 things it could be... 1. wax buildup. get yer ears cleaned out 2. surfers ear. bone growth trying to close ear canal making the area small enough to trap water/ sand etc. I've had both ears drilled out myself. hope you don't have to go through that-
I have been having this same problem for two years. It doesn't matter if im in a pool or surfing water always got stuck in my ears. It usually isn't too painful. Anyway I went to the doctor a few weeks ago for a ridiculous sore throat that wouldn't go away. It was to the point that I couldn't eat anything it hurt so bad. He looked in my ears and told me that the infection in my inner ear was so bad that it swelled up and ruptured through my eardrum (which lead the infection into my throat). He said it definitely could have been caused by old sea water getting stuck in there. There was a lot of sand that came out when he cleaned it with saline. He basically said it could heal or I might need a graft to patch it up. Anyway, it's a giant pain in the butt! I have to wear ear plugs and a head band because there is now no barrier between my external ear and my internal canal which connects to all of your sinuses and brain. I have to be extra careful to keep it dry. Not to mention 500 mg of amoxicillin 3X a day for 10 days and antibiotic ear drops 2x a day for 12 days to clear up the infection. I wish I had just worn them in the first place!!! See a Doc! And good luck!
I too had surfer's ear (exotosis sp?) bone growth in the canal where water gets stuck between the growth and the eardrum. A nice place, warm dark, moist, and dark place for bacteria to take up shop and do its stuff as well as normal wax can now very easily close off the compromised much smaller ear canal due to the bone growth. I hate to say it usually gets worse. I had 1 drilled out and still suffer with the other. The ear I had fixed is much much better and would recommend the procedure by someone who has done many if you need it. Good luck.
