Swimmers ear

Has anyone ever had it?

Is it safe to let it go away on its own?

Cheers!
I think I have a bit of it. I’ve bought my own Otex syringe kit as GP surgeries don‘t syringe ears anymore 😳 I self syringe once a week and quite enjoy it now 🤣
It definitely clears them out for a few days.
I used to power shower my ears to clean them but that’s the worst thing you can do apparently and might be what brought it on initially. They recommend ear plugs for the bath and shower with swimmers ear.
I’m not a GP though and just muddle through stuff like this so it’s probably best to ask your GP.

Good luck 👍
 
Just
a) don’t go swimming
b) if you do keep to the breast stroke with your head above water
c) if by chance you do get water in there keep your head titled and try to knock the water out…both ears of course.

.well that’s what I was told as a kid😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉


…whatever this is,and no I have never heard of it like so many modern day health issues,all the best with sorting it👍
 
I think a cotton bud or hair grip is safer than doing it once a week. Maybe you need a bit of olive oil down there to to work into the wax.
 
Just
a) don’t go swimming
b) if you do keep to the breast stroke with your head above water
c) if by chance you do get water in there keep your head titled and try to knock the water out…both ears of course.

.well that’s what I was told as a kid😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉


…whatever this is,and no I have never heard of it like so many modern day health issues,all the best with sorting it👍
I think it's the posh way of saying I was swimming and i got a bit of water in my ear and it's gone bad so now it hurts!

Cheers for the info!
 
I think I have a bit of it. I’ve bought my own Otex syringe kit as GP surgeries don‘t syringe ears anymore 😳 I self syringe once a week and quite enjoy it now 🤣
It definitely clears them out for a few days.
I used to power shower my ears to clean them but that’s the worst thing you can do apparently and might be what brought it on initially. They recommend ear plugs for the bath and shower with swimmers ear.
I’m not a GP though and just muddle through stuff like this so it’s probably best to ask your GP.

Good luck 👍
Yeah I got the syringe kit as well along with olive oil ear drops. I've been dropping and syringing but not much seems to come out, as apposed to when they did it at the walk-in centre a few years ago and shit loads came out...

I did go to the doctors and saw someone (not a doctor) who rather nonchalantly said they normally give eardrops for "this kind of thing"... Needless to say her medical advice wasn't the best I've ever had and I can't bring myself to pay £9 for something that might just clear up anyway.
 
Yeah I got the syringe kit as well along with olive oil ear drops. I've been dropping and syringing but not much seems to come out, as apposed to when they did it at the walk-in centre a few years ago and shit loads came out...

I did go to the doctors and saw someone (not a doctor) who rather nonchalantly said they normally give eardrops for "this kind of thing"... Needless to say her medical advice wasn't the best I've ever had and I can't bring myself to pay £9 for something that might just clear up anyway.
I dont use the oil drops. I find they they clog things up more when I think swimmers ear is more a water build up than wax.
If it’s turned into an infection then you would need anti biotic drops but infections tend to come with pain.

The syringe once or twice a week without the drops works for me and maybe try the earplugs in the bath and shower. I hear a pop when I syringe if I give it a really good squeeze with quite hot water and I do that two or three times in each ear each time.

That seems to unmuffle the sound and make my hearing a lot clearer. But definitely not the oil drops they are a no no for me.
 
I dont use the oil drops. I find they they clog things up more when I think swimmers ear is more a water build up than wax.
If it’s turned into an infection then you would need anti biotic drops but infections tend to come with pain.

The syringe once or twice a week without the drops works for me and maybe try the earplugs in the bath and shower. I hear a pop when I syringe if I give it a really good squeeze with quite hot water and I do that two or three times in each ear each time.

That seems to unmuffle the sound and make my hearing a lot clearer. But definitely not the oil drops they are a no no for me.
Btw if it is painful then maybe a bacterial infection has developed. I get otomize ear drops on (repeat) prescription if this happens. They definitely clear the infection out.
 
I also have a clean pillow case EVERY night and don‘t use any kind of ear pods in your ears.
I’m kind of a bit precious about my ears I think. But you only get one pair 😆
 
Btw if it is painful then maybe a bacterial infection has developed. I get otomize ear drops on (repeat) prescription if this happens. They definitely clear the infection out.
It was painful, which is why I went to the doctors, but it's getting better over the last 24hrs or so without intervention... so I might just leave it and see how it goes?
 
I got it in USA a couple of years back. Not sure how. They sold something that was advertised specifically for water in the ear, rather than wax. Sadly can't remember the name of it, sorry.

It definitely helped at the time, but getting them syringed once back was the longer term solution. Not permanent though, and mine seems more linked to heavy wax.

Don't use cotton buds, that just pushed everything further in and compacts it.

The loss of the GP/nurse service is a shame, particularly when the cost of the private ones becomes known. £70 I paid last year, at my opticians, I was in less than 5 minutes and it wasn't even that great afterwards.

Haven't tried it because I don't know how to get hold of it in the UK, but I keep reading that tvidler is good. It's a silicon twist that you turn in the ear and it drags the wax out.
 
I got it in USA a couple of years back. Not sure how. They sold something that was advertised specifically for water in the ear, rather than wax. Sadly can't remember the name of it, sorry.

It definitely helped at the time, but getting them syringed once back was the longer term solution. Not permanent though, and mine seems more linked to heavy wax.

Don't use cotton buds, that just pushed everything further in and compacts it.

The loss of the GP/nurse service is a shame, particularly when the cost of the private ones becomes known. £70 I paid last year, at my opticians, I was in less than 5 minutes and it wasn't even that great afterwards.

Haven't tried it because I don't know how to get hold of it in the UK, but I keep reading that tvidler is good. It's a silicon twist that you turn in the ear and it drags the wax out.
Yeah I've heard of those, like a screw for the ear kind of thing

Think you can get something similar just on amazon
 
Best way to avoid on the future is use a product called Dry Ear. I spend a lot of time abroad and I’m my pool and weird shaped ear canal which traps the water.

The product is alcohol which you put a couple of drops in your ear and evaporates the water straight after. I found vodka works also and you can make your own if you buy some pure alcohol and mix 50/50 with distilled water.
 
Don't poke around in your ear, see a doctor or a specialist. Once sorted, wear ear plugs in the future when swimming or showering.
 
Not sure if what you are describing is what I have had.

When on holiday, you're in and out of the water a lot more than normal.

It's heavily chlorinated and the sea is salty obviously.

My doctor said that as your ear canal dries out, it gets flakey, bacteria get stuck under the flakes, then you get an infection.

He suggested one drop of olive oil per ear, per day to form a protective barrier to stop it drying out and flaking.

Otomize was prescribed as it contains antibiotics and steroids to clear it up quite quickly; which it did.

I try and get some before I go away to have it just in case.
 
Last edited:
Not sure if what you are describing is what I have had.

When on holiday, you're in and out of the water a lot more than normal.

It's heavily chlorinated and the sea is sadly obviously.

My doctor said that as your ear canal dries out, it gets flakey, bacteria get stuck under the flakes, then you get an infection.

He suggested one drop of olive oil per ear, per day to form a protective barrier to stop it drying out and flaking.

Optimize was prescribed as it contains antibiotics and steroids to clear it up quite quickly; which it did.

I try and get some before I go away to have it just in case.
Yep otomize is really good at getting rid of the infection and pain.
You then just have to try and make sure you keep water out of your ears at all times or it keeps coming back, or mine does, but never as painful if you keep syringing if you feel a build up.
It was the gp that told me to buy the otex syringe but poking with anything like buds is a total no no.
 
Don't poke around in your ear, see a doctor or a specialist. Once sorted, wear ear plugs in the future when swimming or showering.
Thanks, yeah learnt that the hard way as a child, feel like that was probably the starting point of all of my troubles...
 
Not sure if what you are describing is what I have had.

When on holiday, you're in and out of the water a lot more than normal.

It's heavily chlorinated and the sea is salty obviously.

My doctor said that as your ear canal dries out, it gets flakey, bacteria get stuck under the flakes, then you get an infection.

He suggested one drop of olive oil per ear, per day to form a protective barrier to stop it drying out and flaking.

Optimize was prescribed as it contains antibiotics and steroids to clear it up quite quickly; which it did.

I try and get some before I go away to have it just in case.
Yeah I've been using olive oil drops daily and syringing occasionally to try and shift it. I imagine the doctors just prescribed me something like that otomise that keeps being mentioned, but i still cant be arsed to go and pick it up...

Pain is still here a bit today but it's going away definitely but still slowly
 
Thanks, yeah learnt that the hard way as a child, feel like that was probably the starting point of all of my troubles...
I can echo this, ended up with a nasty infection. It's so frustrating though and the urge to poke was just too much when I was younger. If you can't find a chemist, a couple of drops olive oil will help soften the wax.
 
Yeah I've been using olive oil drops daily and syringing occasionally to try and shift it. I imagine the doctors just prescribed me something like that otomise that keeps being mentioned, but i still cant be arsed to go and pick it up...

Pain is still here a bit today but it's going away definitely but still slowly
If it does get worse do try the otomize, seriously sorted mine in 2 days after a week of high end pain the first time I had this.
 
Yeah I got the syringe kit as well along with olive oil ear drops. I've been dropping and syringing but not much seems to come out, as apposed to when they did it at the walk-in centre a few years ago and shit loads came out...

I did go to the doctors and saw someone (not a doctor) who rather nonchalantly said they normally give eardrops for "this kind of thing"... Needless to say her medical advice wasn't the best I've ever had and I can't bring myself to pay £9 for something that might just clear up anyway.
Hi… Did she actually look in your ears with an otoscope to determine if there was a build up of wax?
 
Hi… Did she actually look in your ears with an otoscope to determine if there was a build up of wax?
Yeah she looked in my ears, there was a build up of wax in the one that is painful, the other one is fine. She didn't say how much wax. Been oiling and syringing and only a negligible amount seems to get released each time though so I don't know... maybe it's just really crammed in there?
 
I’ve had it in Benidorm back in 2011 when me and my family have gone to Aqualandia, I had decided to lay on my back on one of the slides and what a stupid idea it was. Loads of water went into my ear and I was in terrible pain the rest of the holiday. I has scarred me for life since that incident and I haven’t been swimming ever since 😔
 
Yeah she looked in my ears, there was a build up of wax in the one that is painful, the other one is fine. She didn't say how much wax. Been oiling and syringing and only a negligible amount seems to get released each time though so I don't know... maybe it's just really crammed in there?
It does sound as if a build up of wax could be casing the problem… I know from experience it can be incredibly painful.. I would be tempted to put the olive oil drops in daily to soften it and see if it clears if not then bite the bullet and make an appointment at an ear wax removal clinic.
 
It does sound as if a build up of wax could be casing the problem… I know from experience it can be incredibly painful.. I would be tempted to put the olive oil drops in daily to soften it and see if it clears if not then bite the bullet and make an appointment at an ear wax removal clinic.
Yeah I've been to one of those before. I thought they didn't do them anymore though for whatever reason? At the moment I'm using the oil and I have my own syringing kit at home.

It's annoying me as I normally swim 2 miles a day and I haven't been able to get back into my routine for almost a week!
 
Use a dropper to apply warm olive oil in your ears, three times a day, for at least a week to soften the wax.
Then go down to your local NHS Drop-in Centre where a nurse will use a small pumping device to irrigate your ears with warm water to wash out the softened wax. The pump has a controlled pressure that prevents the risk of any damage to your eardrum. That’s the recommended response these days.

I would not use Otex as it contains urea hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidising agent and has the risk of irritating the sensitive skin inside your ear and inflaming it.
 
Yeah I've been to one of those before. I thought they didn't do them anymore though for whatever reason? At the moment I'm using the oil and I have my own syringing kit at home.

It's annoying me as I normally swim 2 miles a day and I haven't been able to get back into my routine for almost a week!
Must be frustrating! Well I hope the olive oil works for you… it should, if you do it religiously every day.. can take a couple of weeks or so though.. think perhaps you’re going to have to take up a more sedate breaststroke 😀
 
Use a dropper to apply warm olive oil in your ears, three times a day, for at least a week to soften the wax.
Then go down to your local NHS Drop-in Centre where a nurse will use a small pumping device to irrigate your ears with warm water to wash out the softened wax. The pump has a controlled pressure that prevents the risk of any damage to your eardrum. That’s the recommended response these days.

I would not use Otex as it contains urea hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidising agent and has the risk of irritating the sensitive skin inside your ear and inflaming it.
My GP told me nobody syringes anymore as in GP or walk in centre 😳
I know there is an NHS bus thing though that visits the Red Lion Pub and a few other places to carry out health checks if you just turn up, and they syringe. Will try and find out their tour dates and stops 👌
 
My GP told me nobody syringes anymore as in GP or walk in centre 😳
I know there is an NHS bus thing though that visits the Red Lion Pub and a few other places to carry out health checks if you just turn up, and they syringe. Will try and find out their tour dates and stops 👌
Usually have to use wax-softening ear drops for a couple of days before syringing.
 
It's best to not rush into anything at first, especially if you've been on a plane, etc.

I find that the OTEX with the syringe does a better job.
 
Last edited:
My GP told me nobody syringes anymore as in GP or walk in centre 😳
I know there is an NHS bus thing though that visits the Red Lion Pub and a few other places to carry out health checks if you just turn up, and they syringe. Will try and find out their tour dates and stops 👌

Yeah, it's one of many services that have been cut from GPs and walk-in centres.

I am pretty sure that there is a private company on Highfield Road called SINE Ear Care which offers this service.
 
Yeah, it's one of many services that have been cut from GPs and walk-in centres.

I am pretty sure that there is a private company on Highfield Road called SINE Ear Care which offers this service.
I’d do it for a fiver an ear.

Only for the very brave though as I take no prisoners and go straight in there with a very forceful squeeze 😏
 
Yeah, it's one of many services that have been cut from GPs and walk-in centres.

I am pretty sure that there is a private company on Highfield Road called SINE Ear Care which offers this service.
Yes you have to pay now but there are quite a few different different Ear Wax Removal clinics in Blackpool …
 
  • Like
Reactions: ste
I’d do it for a fiver an ear.

Only for the very brave though as I take no prisoners and go straight in there with a very forceful squeeze 😏
It’s such a weird feeling that I couldn’t stop laughing when I had it done..became a bit embarrassing actually 😂
 
Back
Top