ear infection?

Question

my BF can barely hear out of one ear. We started swimming a few days ago and thats when this all started. He told me it felt like it was clogged with water... but when he used a QTip, this dark brown sluggy stuff came out. (looks like mud - its not really liquidy at all) and there's tons of that stuff in his ear. we tried peroxide in his ear, flip his head and let it drain out. it help for only a few minutes. i think he needs to go to the dr. to get antibiotics.. but its friday night... and tuesday's a holiday so it may take a few days to get in. Any suggestions? He says its not painful, but its completely blocked up. any good advice would be really appreciated. thanks :)

Answer 1

Sounds like either Swimmer's Ear or major wax buildup that the swimming loosened up. They have earwax removal kits at the drug store, and swimmer's ear drops to help. Talk to a pharmacist they may be able to help.

Answer 2

This is not and infection that can be treated with antibiotics. It is ear wax buildup. Ear wax is normal in the ear canal when he went into the water an dove under the water pressure pushed the ear wax up against the ear drum and cause the discomfort and temporary loss of hearing he maybe experiencing. The peroxide was a good start it will soften the wax so it can liquefy and eventually drain out. Do not use the q tip anymore it will only push more of the wax up against the ear drum. You can pick up a kit at your local pharmacy with a bulb syringe to irrigate the ear and speed up the process. It is usually called a swimmers ear remedy kit.

Answer 3

Most pharmacies carry an ear wax removal kit which may help clean it up some. Also try mixing 1 part peroxide with 1 part alcohol. The alcohol evaporates quickly so it doesn't leave anymore moisture in his ear canal which can be dangerous. Use an eye dropper and only use 3 drops in the affected ear 3 times daily. Use it morning , noon and bedtime. At bedtime after using drops place a cotton ball in the ear to protect overnight. Definately consult your physician asap.

Answer 4

It sounded like swimmers ear up until you mentioned the brown stuff on the q-tip. I suffer from swimmers ear and have to use drops that you can buy in any drug store. The fact that he's got brown stuff coming out on the q-tip though makes it seem like it might be a build-up of wax that was brought to his attention by the swimming. I know they sell wax removal kits at drug stores. You might try calling the doctor and describing his symptoms. Since there's a possibility he might not get him in, he might be able to give you advice over the phone, tell you some things to try before making an appointment.

Answer 5

Looks like he cleaned too much his ear with qtips and dry ear fluid lubrication. that is the reason his drum is not getting movement that is the reason he can not hear anything.Wax already came out. so don't worry about wax removal.

Take two table spoon corn oil and one pearled bud of garlic. Make smallest piece you can then boil it, filter it, when it cool down warm put one or two drop in the ear then plug cotton. Don't push too hard cotton in the ear, plug like you can remove the cotton by yourself.

Reason to plug cotton oil don't come out from the ear. Use that oil two time a day one or two drop until you see the doctor.

warm it when you use it. Don't use boil otherwise you burn your ear.

May be you don't have to see the doctor. But still you have problem after weekend, see the doctor.

Answer 6

Heating pad helps me. I get ear infections a LOT so I know what it is like. The only thing I can think of to do is take some pain relievers and use a heating pad. My ear was clogged up once and the heating pad melted the wax and let it pour out. This fixed my hearing. If he is in too much pain before seeing a doctor, you can try the ER.

Answer 7

Go to any Wal-Mart, Walgreens or the like (any 24-hour store/pharmacy) and get a kit for ear wax removal. They contain a syringe bulb and some removal solution. Also make sure you get cotton balls to protect it and absorb any left over solution. You may also want to go get some homeopathic ear infection tablets as well. Just in case.

Hope that helps :0) Best of luck :0)

Answer 8

Ear infections can be painful. I am surprised that this is not. It could be that he has something caught in his ear. First suggestion is that he goes to the doctor. Another would be to get 'medicated ear flushing stuff' (real technical name I know) from the drugstore or grocery store. I am not sure about this but a brand name might be Murine. For some reason that is what comes to mind.

Answer 9

isn't painful yet i am 20 yrs old and i too am dealing with an ear infection and yes i had to go to the doctor and get antibiotics i have been on them for about 4 days my ear isn't hurting as bad but still is killing me and my face is swollen and everything from the lymph nodes being so infected i also still can't hear. i was really stupid and waited a week in a half before i caved and went to the doctor please don't let your boyfriend make my mistake. but i can say i know why babies are so cranky when they have ear infections.

Answer 10

The ear is probably completely blocked with wax and it will need to be irrigated. You can use a turkey baster. Fill it with warm water and squirt it in the ear. Keep doing it until it loosens the wax. It is very uncomfortable, but it works, it happened to me. Have him keep his head tipped to the side and as it squirts in the ear, it will loosen the wax and pop out. I went through it. Put a bowl under his head to catch the water. Good luck!