lb90274
Legend (inyourownmind)
Reged: 04/23/05
Posts: 313
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I had one ear already drilled out (no flap) about 10 years ago. They are both about 90% blocked again and I was getting recurring ear infections after surf sessions. On someones recommendation I started to fill each ear w/ 50% Alcohol and 50% Vinegar after each time out. The whole procedure takes about 3 mins total.
No more ear infections since then. I guess the alcohol helps the ear dry out while killing germs and the acidity in the vinegar prevents more from growing????
Just an FYI to others this may help and a shout to the doc if he thinks this procedure is bad.
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SombreroBandit
Michael Peterson status
Reged: 01/19/02
Posts: 3154
Loc: the beach
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when the waters perticularly bad or i have a severe ear infection thats exactly waht i do and it burns bad if i have a ***** up ear but its always seemed to help, and ive never gotten an ear infection from a session i did that after.
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what fun is it being cool if you can't wear a sombrero -calvin and hobbes.
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surfflexx
Nep status
Reged: 01/28/04
Posts: 622
Loc: usa
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surfers ear
http://www.surfshot.com/items/magazine_item.html?context_id=224&item_id=196
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GWS
Duke status
Reged: 01/11/02
Posts: 32155
Loc: Dustopia
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I’ve got a doc that’s a surfer. He gave me a recipe. Equal parts isopropyl alcohol, white vinegar and glycerin. Rubbing alcohol contains some water. Since your trying to get rid of water, you want as little water as possible. Someone explained the mix to me, but I don’t remember the details. Obviously the alcohol mixes with the water in you ear and then evaporates out drying the ear. The vinegar maintains the PH balance in your ear and the glycerin protects the ear from the drying effects of the alcohol. I believe that was the explanation. Anyway, it works.
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Only a fool trips over what’s behind them
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LeeD
Kelly Slater status
Reged: 06/26/03
Posts: 8203
Loc: Berkeley,CA
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Don't forget to wear ear plugs or a hood if there's any breeze blowing, when you're sitting outside.
I pull the beanie up when I'm pushing thru, then reach up and flip it off if it's glassy out.
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LeeD
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blakestah
Phil Edwards status
Reged: 09/10/02
Posts: 6139
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Quote:
I’ve got a doc that’s a surfer. He gave me a recipe. Equal parts isopropyl alcohol, white vinegar and glycerin. Rubbing alcohol contains some water. Since your trying to get rid of water, you want as little water as possible. Someone explained the mix to me, but I don’t remember the details. Obviously the alcohol mixes with the water in you ear and then evaporates out drying the ear. The vinegar maintains the PH balance in your ear and the glycerin protects the ear from the drying effects of the alcohol. I believe that was the explanation. Anyway, it works.
Mix 50% rubbing alcohol, 50% white vinegar.
Then, to this mix, add 5% glycerin.
The alcohol is a drying agent. The white vinegar is for altering the pH. The glycerin prevents skin drying/cracking.
This is a swimmer's ear formula, for bacterial infections in the ear canal.
The surfer's ear formula is 95% rubbing alcohol and 5% glycerin, and is basically a drying formula with glycerin to prevent skin damage. This works because the rubbing alcohol dissolves the water, and flushes out of the ear. The residual is then mostly alcohol which evaporates. Flushing twice gives even more drying. Just put a few drops in, tilt head to the side until it reaches the ear drum (listen), and then tilt head the other way.
Glycerin is available inexpensively at hardware stores, the others at the supermarket. Some surf shops sell the pre-mixed drops.
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SurfDoc
Billy Hamilton status
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 1722
Loc: Huntington Beach
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Seriously guys. Wear your ear plugs. Rarely will you get residual water trapped in the ear canal. And why bother with some homemade concoction. Just go to the drug store and buy some Aura Dry.
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Peace,
Surf Doc
Be safe, surf smart, know your limits! Check this: www.happyshark.com
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GWS
Duke status
Reged: 01/11/02
Posts: 32155
Loc: Dustopia
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Once you get down to 90-95 % closure, (I’ve been holding there for more than a decade now) getting water out of your ears most definitely is a problem. If the water doesn’t come out, then you get infection problems. (especially when surfing in water of questionable purity) With so little clearance in the ear canal, any infection/inflammation results in the ear closing off entirely. This, in turn, can make it really hard to get antibiotic containing ear drops where they need to go.
And yes, you can buy the stuff ready made in the drugstore. It’s pretty much pure alcohol sold at about a thousand percent (Or more) markup to the bottle of isopropyl rubbing alcohol right next to it. Not that big a deal, but it makes me feel like a sucker to spend five bucks on something I can get for about 5 cents.
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Only a fool trips over what’s behind them
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blakestah
Phil Edwards status
Reged: 09/10/02
Posts: 6139
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I work in an ENT department...
Ear drops cost a few cents per 100 applications, and are quite easy to mix yourself. You can buy them for 10 to 100-fold more money....all you need to know is the formula and where to get them. Of course if you don't want to bother you can buy the drops pre-mixed.
A simple ear flush is easy. Even using plugs I somehow get sand and water in the outer portions of the canal, and the flush takes care of it. I ALWAYS wear plugs, usually a hood too.
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