Can I Use Ear Plugs to Prevent Ear Infections While Diving?
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2023
- @gavinsmith28
#askmark Hi, I’ve been diving for ages and have always struggled with ear infections, how do you rate Docs Proplugs? Are there alternatives? Thanks,Gavin
#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver
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I use the proair mask and it really helps me prevent OUTTER ear infections (in the ear canal). However, I was still getting INNER ear infections (behind the eardrum) every single time I dove.......after several appointments with an ENT doctor we discovered that it was due to the way I equalized my ears. I held my nose and blew as I decended. What I was doing was blowing the "stuff" in my sinuses into my inner ears where it didn't drain back out. It just sat there and gave me the feeling that I had water in my ear.....which i did, kind of. But it wasn't water in my ear canal, it was snot behind my eardrum. It sat there and caused an infection........I changed the way I equalized over to swallowing as I decend. It's a slower process so I now take longer to decend, but i have gone from getting an ear infection every single time I went diving, to having been on 12 dives since making the change and not getting a single infection since.........so my advice is just because you are getting ear infections, it might not be from water getting into you ear canal. It might be an INNER ear infection from "stuff" getting into your inner ear, behind your eardrum. Earplugs and proair masks aren't going to fix that......best talk with your doctor to see what type of ear infection you have.
I’ve found the best way to equalize if I’m having problems is to do a closed mouth yawn. If that doesn’t work, swimming up a few metres usually does the trick. Very seldom do I do the pinch nose solution.
I’ve had infections from time to time, and occasionally had to get my ears flushed. I chalk up the infections to the body of water I was in. eg quarry. Usually wearing a hood or beanie keeps a lot of the crap out of my ears.
I had a very bead ear infection a couple of weeks before heading out to Maldives. I bought an IST Tecnomar Pro Ear mask and used it Maldives. Super happy with it.
I have used the pro plugs in a red sea liveaboard. They were a godsend. I dove without them for the first two days and started to get problems equalizing. I switched to proplugs and the problems disappeared and I was super comfy for the rest of the trip. As Mark sayed, at the end of each day I used an ear dryer solution (but not between each dive since it can dry them too much and make them less flexible). Using a hood could also be a good alternative to proplugs.
It even helps to rinse the ears with (clean) fresh water after the dive, just a squeze from a gym bottle type.
Such a nice timing! I was wondering about this matter lately haha. Love the videos! Learned SO MUCH thanks to the community and, of course, you Mark! Much appreciated truly!!
As some have said just change the PH balance in the ear. Use an eye dropper bottle with vinegar and water. If you want to use alcohol instead of water that's fine. If you HAVE swimmers ear already, then go to 100% vinegar in the ear. Fill the ear canal with the drops and keep the head held to the side and wait a few minutes. Treat as often as you like. A day or so you should be good. Maybe use less % or more as a preventative measure before and after diving. But as always talk with your dctor.
Very informative as usual thank you
I have had a terrible summer with ear problems; all the more frustrating since I live in Malta. I have since purchased a pro-ear mask and have so far dived twice (admittedly shallow; max 15 meters' dives) and all has worked out well. I enjoy the sensation of equalising the mask through to the ears; the mask has a film on the glass to avoid it fogging up and I find equalising my ears a lot easier. I am also aware (due to the ear covers) how noisy my breathing can be! All in I am very happy with the outcome and intend to continue diving this way.
I've been curious about those masks, thank you for explaining how they work! How do they work with hooded masks?
#askmark, this was going to be another question. I was wondering about ear plugs as I thoght they would block the ear, thus how on earth would you equalise if you wore plugs. But I see they are vented so that kind of answers that. What are the other ways of equalizing without pinching the nose? Great video thanks for sharing
There are a few techniques to equalise your ears, and pinch your nose and blow (Valsalva Technique) while the easiest to teach is one of the worst ways to equalise.
Voluntary Tubal Opening: I describe as a yawn. You push your bottom jaw forwards and tense your throat.
Toynbee: pinch your nose and swallow.
Frenzel: pinch your nose and make a K sound to lift the back of your tongue.
Lowry: a Valsalva/Toynbee combo.
Edmonds: A Valsalva/VTO combo.
In full face masks I tend to VTO and wiggle my jaw side to side.
I’ve been diving for decades and have done dozens of trips lasting a week or more. In my early years of diving, I would inevitably get an ear infection after 4 days of multi-dives per day. After starting to use vented doc pro plugs, I’ve never gotten another ear infection again. This is over 500+ dives and 15 years. I consider these ear plugs the most essential part of my kit for dive trips.
Same here! Doc pro plugs are way to go
Try the PADI "Ear Beer" recipe: Mixture of half white vinegar and half rubbing alcohol. "This simple solution changes the pH balance to prevent swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) and other bacterial infections."
What % rubbing alcohol?
White wine vinegar and water works as well. 50/50 mix in a spray bottle
I‘ve always been prone to ear infections. For a few years now, I wear a buff when diving to cover my ears and protect them against wind on the surface and against everything in the water that might get into my ear canals. Works reasonably well. (As its a red one, I also hope for a Jacques Cousteau vibe, but I guess the best look I can realistically expect is that of an old pirate. 😉)
#ASK MARK…I can totally relate to ear problems as I also suffered with a right ear infection until I was diagnosed and treated by an ENT Specialist. The following treatment was prescribed and it works: Prescription of ‘Triamcinolone + Neomycin + Gramicidin + Nystatin 7.5ml Ear Drops x 3 drops per infected ear x 3 times per day for 2 weeks. Then 3 drops per ear x 3 times per day for 3 days prior to planned dive day. PRE-DIVE: Tilt your head/ear upwards. Insert 1 drop of prescribed meds per infected ear, prior to each dive. POST-DIVE: Tilt your head fully and use a suitable ear dropper to squeeze a small quantity of ‘Hydrogen Peroxide Solution - 3% BP’ from a bottle containing Hydrogen Peroxide 30mg/g into your ear-- First use will sound like Coke a Cola fizzing in your ear. Don't freak out as this is normal and indicates the solution is cleaning the ear canal. Wait 2-minutes and insert a small twisted tissue gently into your ear canal before tilting your ear downwards to drain the excess fluid. Use the same process for both ears -DO NOT USE COTTON BUDS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES- My ENT Specialist recommends the Hydro-Peroxide treatment process, in addition to (individual) prescription drops - to most scuba patients. His wife has been using the Hydro-Peroxide treatment successfully for 25 years. The Hydro-Peroxide solution can be purchased at most supermarkets and must be stored out of direct sunlight in a suitably cool cabinet, etc. The ENT prescribed drops must be refrigerated but not frozen….BTW…I always wear a dry suit with a tight-fitting hood. I found the aforementioned ear treatment and my choice of exposure suit with a hood; makes equalizing easier when descending 👎to our agreed depth, and likewise when ascending👍 to our 3min/5m safety stop. I shall investigate the practical aspects of using a mask with attached ear pockets, but I tend to look at things from a “Why try to fix or change something if it ain't broken?” I can assure you that this repetitive, simple and inexpensive pre & post-dive process works for me. I hope that this process, or something similar, works👌for all divers suffering from 👉👂ear infections or similar equalizing issues, and they can enjoy more ‘bottom time’🤿 “🤙,,
#ASKMARK
Hi when are you going to finish of you time line story on your channel safe diving.
Safe Diving was something to keep me busy during lockdown. I won't be adding anything there for a long time.
It’s a shame was one of the better channels.
I have the pro ear mask - ugly looking and not very comfy BUT they do what they say.
I will be removing the ear pods and the tubes and refitting them to an alternative mask, perhaps my hunter because I don’t want to be putting holes in the skirt of my Vx1 😂
Otoscope: special doctor eyeglass.
Yes! Doc’s ProPlugs (vented) have really helped me Mark - I managed a Red Sea trip. Thanks for responding!