Just some info for you goodly people, from Kayak Surfer Dave in Barbados, West Indies. Re SWIMMER'S EAR as its called.... an infection of the ear canal caused by moisture..... make a mixture of 50% white vinegar and 50% alcohol. Keep in a dropper bottle. Put a few drops in each ear after coming out of the sea, river, pool, whatever. And you'll say goodbye to that very common infection that plagues not only kayakers, but everyone who swims or finds themselves in a situation where water enters the ear canal. Dave Barbados ---------- From: Bob Denton[SMTP:bdenton_at_aquagulf.com] Sent: Monday, February 01, 1999 8:00 AM To: Frank Lucian; PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Surfer's ear?/Who we are I used to paddle (wave skis) and dive in Cape Town, South Africa, where the water is typically in the high 40s in winter and 50s in summer. The condition is quite common in Cape Town as I'm sure it is in California. I have noticed one of my ears has closed down to the point that a Q-Tip will just fit. I have to be very careful, after diving, to remove ALL moisture, or the ear will get infected. My solution is to avoid cold water! I don't dive or roll if the water is <80F. cu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I had my right ear drilled a few months ago for surfer's ear and let me tell you what I've learned. The bone growth that occurs in the ear canal is a natural growth...God's way of protecting the ear drum from exposure to cold temperature. In my case, I've been surfing since 1969 primarily in Santa Barbara where I currently live. Our winter water drops to ~55 degrees. Ear plugs are a great way of protecting the ear drum from the cold water, thus preventing the bone growth. The doctors in Santa Barbara are drilling lots of ears these days. In my case the bone growth completely closed the ear canal. I was 100% deaf in my right ear, with 85% closure in my left ear. The procedure is rather simple these days. Whereas they used to make a long incision behind the ear, flap the ear forward, then drill...nowadays they go directly into the ear canal. You're under anesthesia so you miss the whole show when the Black and Decker shows up, and you wear the stupid looking turban over your head for a few days, but other than that it's relatively painless. The bottom line is this...if you're exposing your ears to cold water and/or cold wind for extended periods of time, you've probably got some degree of surfer's ear. My hearing wasn't impacted until after the canal was over 95% closed. Then I had a hard time hearing my wife ask me to wash the dishes, paint the house, etc etc. ;-) So wear your ear plugs. The cold water is my excuse for not practicing my Eskimo rolls, although I know I should be. David Powdrell *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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