Yes I know I should talk to a medical professional but I was just curious if anyone out there has this issue.

I keep getting water in my right ear. The problem started a couple of years ago and is progressively getting worse. Whether its windsurfing or just taking a dip in a pool as soon as my head goes underwater my right ear blocks up. No problems in the shower. It normally takes 30mins or so to completely unblock so I can hear again. Ive never had any issues with my ears to damage them that I am aware off.

I will probably end up at the docs but has anyone else had this problem?

Cheers Amigos.

There will be plenty of replys on this site about the dreaded watered ear hole me reckons. I was exactly the same as you, by the time my ears were blocking every surf or swim I needed regular ear syringing at the doctors plus use of Aqua ear or equivalent in ears after getting wet every time religiously or the trapped water would inevitably cause infection which you want to avoid. I eventually had both ears drilled out at the ear drilling factory and now use blu tac in the canals whenever surfing swimming etc first see your doc ask for a syringe clean and opinion on how closed up the canals are

I have bony exostosis in both ears (small boney outgrowth) which tend to cause water to get trapped easily. I found out about it years ago as I ended up with an ear infection - no fun. My ENT specialist suggested religious use of a couple of squirts of mix of half white vinegar/half methylated spirits in each ear after water activities. I have followed his advice and haven't had an issue since. He did say if the canals were to become narrower over time that i might need a bore out, but so far so good.

Same as Hargs I have about 50% blockage due to bony exostosis. Its a pain because it traps water and other muck like sand etc in behind it.

I'v bought a set of surf ears that are ok, bit of a pain but. Have been using my hood more over winter and I think that has helped. Just trying to keep the water around the ears warm so it slows the rate of bone growth is my plan, then try to keep water out over the summer months with the plugs.

Do those fcs caps help keep water out with their strap thing? I'd prob like to find something that fits snugly over top of the earplugs to keep em in. They dont fall out much, but usually when they do it's at a bad time.

I found the Vosol liquid pretty crap, it just adds to the muck in my ear canal, so might try the vinegar/ methylated spirits mix and see if it dries things out a little better.

Blu tac as ear plugs every time can't get better for in the surf

I had 1 ear drilled 4 years ago, was going back the following year to get the other done but i have been using doc's pro plugs, the other ear is still closed up heaps but no water issue (actually think i may not have needed the first op)
I wear a fsc bucket hat and the straps seem to help keep plugs in.

Blu tac is great but you cant hear your mates talking or the shark alarm.

Every time i see younger guys with there finger in their ear trying to get water out i suggest they use ear plugs,

+ 2 for Blue Tack, I use it for surfing and swimming

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kato said..
+ 2 for Blue Tack, I use it for surfing and swimming

i use it for hanging shidt on walls

+1 for Aqua Ear. Brilliant stuff. Basically alcohol, so it dries up any water in your ear after a session down the beach.

It is cheap and works a treat.

Compulsory packing item when travelling through Indo and the like. Stops those ear infections from happening.

+1 for blutac
Works a treat and costs nothing

I don't like anything blocking / covering my ears though, I find my sailing goes to poo (more than normal lol) , and I think we must use sound a lot to sense wind direction and stuff?

I had "surfers ear", the same as Hargs. I had both ears drilled and are now great. From my experience, I would fully recommend the drilling. No more ringing. Water just pours straight back out. All is good.

HOWEVER, I would recommend seeing an ENT no matter what. There are many conditions that could cause similar symptoms, swimmers ear and surfers ear are 2 totally different things and there are other common issues too.

After the operation I was wearing Mighty Ear Plugs from "surfers ear plugs" (like blue tac) and wore a helmet that covered the ears to keep the water out. I then realised I don't need it anymore as water staying in is no longer an issue.

My ENT recommended Aqua Ear drops if I get water in there.

I used to get it really bad when surfing in SA, esp in winter. Was recommended a drop of olive oil in each ear before a surf, and that seemed to do the trick at the time.

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Jono77 said..
I had "surfers ear", the same as Hargs. I had both ears drilled and are now great. From my experience, I would fully recommend the drilling. No more ringing. Water just pours straight back out. All is good.

HOWEVER, I would recommend seeing an ENT no matter what. There are many conditions that could cause similar symptoms, swimmers ear and surfers ear are 2 totally different things and there are other common issues too.

After the operation I was wearing Mighty Ear Plugs from "surfers ear plugs" (like blue tac) and wore a helmet that covered the ears to keep the water out. I then realised I don't need it anymore as water staying in is no longer an issue.

My ENT recommended Aqua Ear drops if I get water in there.

Having your ears drilled out does work very well, but, and it's a big but, having your ears drilled is very similar to pruning a tree or bush, it grows back. To have your ears remain in a healthy condition after the surgery, you HAVE to wear plugs from then on, knowing now you're predisposed to having surfer's ear. You must keep the canals dry and warm for prevention, which also means if you are a skier or snowboarder, wear foam plugs the keep the canals warm, otherwise you'll be back to the doc for a redo.

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Mastbender said..

Jono77 said..
I had "surfers ear", the same as Hargs. I had both ears drilled and are now great. From my experience, I would fully recommend the drilling. No more ringing. Water just pours straight back out. All is good.

HOWEVER, I would recommend seeing an ENT no matter what. There are many conditions that could cause similar symptoms, swimmers ear and surfers ear are 2 totally different things and there are other common issues too.

After the operation I was wearing Mighty Ear Plugs from "surfers ear plugs" (like blue tac) and wore a helmet that covered the ears to keep the water out. I then realised I don't need it anymore as water staying in is no longer an issue.

My ENT recommended Aqua Ear drops if I get water in there.

Having your ears drilled out does work very well, but, and it's a big but, having your ears drilled is very similar to pruning a tree or bush, it grows back. To have your ears remain in a healthy condition after the surgery, you HAVE to wear plugs from then on, knowing now you're predisposed to having surfer's ear. You must keep the canals dry and warm for prevention, which also means if you are a skier or snowboarder, wear foam plugs the keep the canals warm, otherwise you'll be back to the doc for a redo.

Amen pardner after having my ears drilled I blu tac everytime, I don't go surfing to talk or listen to people talk and I don't surf where there are shark alarms anyway

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quikdrawMcgraw said..

Mastbender said..

Jono77 said..
I had "surfers ear", the same as Hargs. I had both ears drilled and are now great. From my experience, I would fully recommend the drilling. No more ringing. Water just pours straight back out. All is good.

HOWEVER, I would recommend seeing an ENT no matter what. There are many conditions that could cause similar symptoms, swimmers ear and surfers ear are 2 totally different things and there are other common issues too.

After the operation I was wearing Mighty Ear Plugs from "surfers ear plugs" (like blue tac) and wore a helmet that covered the ears to keep the water out. I then realised I don't need it anymore as water staying in is no longer an issue.

My ENT recommended Aqua Ear drops if I get water in there.

Having your ears drilled out does work very well, but, and it's a big but, having your ears drilled is very similar to pruning a tree or bush, it grows back. To have your ears remain in a healthy condition after the surgery, you HAVE to wear plugs from then on, knowing now you're predisposed to having surfer's ear. You must keep the canals dry and warm for prevention, which also means if you are a skier or snowboarder, wear foam plugs the keep the canals warm, otherwise you'll be back to the doc for a redo.

Amen pardner after having my ears drilled I blu tac everytime, I don't go surfing to talk or listen to people talk and I don't surf where there are shark alarms anyway

True, they will grow back which is one of the reasons I'm still wearing a helmet BUT it took 35 years to grow these bony growths with extensive surfing, windsurfing, skiing and swimming. Now I'm at 40 years and activities are slowing. From my calculations I recon I'll be good till I'm 80 years old.

i now take a little caution, warm helmet and beanie on cold days covering the ears but I've decided that I'm not bothering with ear plugs anymore. It's a hassle for me.

I had something similar a few years ago. I went and saw a specialist and had my ear drums vacuumed.
I have not had any issue since- check it out

Cheers for all the replies. I will look into ear plugs but yeh I best also get myself to a specialist.

Thanks again

I had the same problem with water in the ear for days at a time after a surf. I would lie awake at night because it was causing a problem that i can best describe as the sound of dropping a bowling ball on a concrete floor in a room of other hard surfaces in my head. CStoipped surfing completely as a result.

Visited ENT surgeon who said that my right ear was >95% closed up. This was at age 23, apparently worst case she had ever seen in someone that age.

Got the ear drilled, spent 8 weeks keeping it dry and getting funny looks from people at the blood soaked gauze stuffed in there (mainly first 2 weeks post op). Yes it was a a pain and unpleasant experience but totally worth it the first time you put your head underwater and feel the water drain right out.

Funnily enough the left ear was only ~50% closed.

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CJ2478 said..
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Funnily enough the left ear was only ~50% closed.

Drive for the early with your window down much?