My hearing is affected allthough I couldnt tell because it had been a gradual change, till I went for a job medical and nearly failed the hearing test.

I need to use aqua ear even after showering otherwise within a few days ears will be blocked, than if I don't have my blocked ears syringed and stay on top of the issue again they stay blocked with infection for months.

once you get to the stage where they don't let the water out when it gets in you have 2 choices in my opinion
first and best is just to jam blue tack in and keep the water out ,it also keeps the wind from aggravating the ear and causing the bone to grow more
the other option is surgery,i'm not going there ,plenty of blokes i know have been doing the blue tack thing for over 10 years ,myself over 5 and its still fine
my right ear is particularly grown over ,the camera showed just a tiny gap,say 1mm in diameter another side of the bony growth,the hearing was fine still
diving with the window down also funnels wind down the ear as well,i try to avoid that for too long

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djt91184 said..
My hearing is affected allthough I couldnt tell because it had been a gradual change, till I went for a job medical and nearly failed the hearing test.

I need to use aqua ear even after showering otherwise within a few days ears will be blocked, than if I don't have my blocked ears syringed and stay on top of the issue again they stay blocked with infection for months.

Okay thanks. I have been having issues with water getting trapped in my ear. More so one side but i find if i keep on top of my sinuses its not as bad. My wife say's I'm going deaf and the kids love that i like my music really loud..

I have no pain though so was curious, i will just have to see. I guess a hearing test will be on the cards one day.

Iam 31yrs so want them bored, have a shot at normal ears again and than use blu tac every time. Also had my pterygiums removed allready and now use strap sunnies in the water most times

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djt91184 said..
My hearing is affected allthough I couldnt tell because it had been a gradual change, till I went for a job medical and nearly failed the hearing test.

I need to use aqua ear even after showering otherwise within a few days ears will be blocked, than if I don't have my blocked ears syringed and stay on top of the issue again they stay blocked with infection for months.

DJT are you getting your ears syringed at your GP if so dont do it, when you have an exostosis as bad as yours you need to visit an ear nose and throat clinic and have your ears vacuumed once or twice a year I have been managing an exostosis in my right ear for 10 years that a surgeon told me needed operating on immediately there was a reason he was sitting in a huge mahogany desk overlooking the Gold Coast put the operation off for as long as you can as the exostosis usually returns

Yes it does return... but mine were 20yrs apart!

Yeah I have them syringed at the gp, if I get onto quick smart it clears them up good enough to just use aqua ear and keep on going. Had them vacuumed as well and thats quite the experience. Im sick of managing them everytime they get wet. I dont surf **** all day long like I used to now, and kiting have no trouble wearing earplugs and sunnies, so my oxotosis may return but not at the rate prior.

Does any one use peroxide to dry ears or when that blocked feeling comes around chemist recommended when I couldn't get prescription drops Seems to fix me up just got to put up with a volcano in your ear for a couple of minutes then all good

Had the op today and if you can get away with plugs and aqua ear its good.option

Ahh mate, it only gets more and more annoying while the packing is jammed in. Best feeling ever when they pull it out though.
Edit: The codeine also clogged me up for about 1.5 weeks. It was like giving birth to a large sized child....

Yeah the packing in the ear canal sucks.
you never seem to get used to it. I'm back in in a fortnight to get the news as to whether I put up with mine or go under again.

Packing? I had that 20+yrs ago - second time around they were packed with disovable packing that broke down over time and the remains got sucked out when I went back to the Surgeon for a check-up. It's far better on the wound - less traumatic.

Yeah ive had blood leaking from the ear quite alot, when think its stopped blood dripping on my neck again

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Dawn Patrol said...
Ahh mate, it only gets more and more annoying while the packing is jammed in. Best feeling ever when they pull it out though.
Edit: The codeine also clogged me up for about 1.5 weeks. It was like giving birth to a large sized child....

Have the packing removed tomorrow, just under a month so yeah prety keen for it to be gonski

After reading this thread a few months ago, and a conversation with my GP I was referred to the ENT clinic in Subi. I had my appointment last week and ended up getting both ears vacuumed and also sent for a catscan just to check out my bony abnormal right eardrum. The specialist was very knowledgeable on surfers ear and actually recommended me specifically buying surf ears to simply slow down the bone growth and prevent ongoing ear infections.

surfears.com/?gclid=CLH-jZCEvswCFUgsvQodLwMDNQ

On the bright side now I have an excuse for my poor hearing when it comes to the Mrs

Going in on the 24th to get my right done for the second time, I've had a 100% occlusion since the 4th March. Should be wet again by mid July, brace yourselves for 6 weeks of pumping waves.

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smicko said..
Going in on the 24th to get my right done for the second time, I've had a 100% occlusion since the 4th March. Should be wet again by mid July, brace yourselves for 6 weeks of pumping waves.

Cheers Smiko. We'll be owing you some waves for sure!
Good luck.

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smicko said..
Going in on the 24th to get my right done for the second time, I've had a 100% occlusion since the 4th March. Should be wet again by mid July, brace yourselves for 6 weeks of pumping waves.

G'day Smicko - that sounds like me 12 months ago. 20+ yrs apart, right ear only x2. My theory is that is the 'driver's side ear' from all those years of driving home with the window down after a surf.

Good luck for a speedy recovery.

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jbshack said..
Pardon my ignorance but what is surfers ear exactly

As in whats the problem, is it hearing loss or water getting trapped in your ears after and during surfs.

Explained simply it's natural bone growth in ear canal due to cold water and/or wind eventually leading to complete blockage of ear, every surfer would have it to some degree, problem is both hearing loss and more regular painful infections

I got diagnosed with it 25 years ago and was in complete denial that it could happen to me as I thought it was a bit of a myth. I always wore a hoodie on cold days and even tried using docs pro-plugs but they were expensive and not that good (yes they have been around a fair while). Since then haven't surfed as much but now kiting heaps and surfing again too so got to be a bit vigilant.

Sorry lads, bad news. I've canned the op on the 24th to change surgeons. Will now not be going in until July, apologies in advance for the worst start to Winter in living memory.
Wasn't happy spending $2200 out of pocket expense when I've got top level Medibank so went elsewhere. Shame as Friedland is a bloody good quack, but the coin I'm saving is two new boards.
Best you all book a flight.....

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Radman said..
Does any one use peroxide to dry ears or when that blocked feeling comes around chemist recommended when I couldn't get prescription drops Seems to fix me up just got to put up with a volcano in your ear for a couple of minutes then all good

Peroxide is awsome I love hearing it bubble away at the damp skin in your ear. I usually just use metho after getting them wet but if I have been in the water a lot or over summer when it's hot and humid the little volcano in your ear can save me from months of infection.

Well this is something I know a lot about just had my 8th op . The fist few were from the back of the ear and they were shockers. The last 5 were all thru the canall much better recovery and far less pain.
In my experience
They come back twice as quick
The right ear is always the worst (Cold air from driving with the window down.)
Once you have it no real option but to get the drill
Plugs work
Helmets work
Warm weather and water.
I am 57 been in the water all my life surfing swimming ect ect
The best guy in Melb is Brian Costello