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SuzanneG Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006 Location: Idaho
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Posted: July 02 2008 at 1:53pm | IP Logged
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My 5 year old daughter just started swimming lessons for the first time last week. Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Yesterday was the third lesson.
Now, she's complaining that her right ear hurts. She's never had ear problems before. Nor has she been in the water on a consistent basis before.
Conincidence?
Is this swimming/water related?
Is there something to do to help it?
Preventative measures?
__________________ Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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Tami Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 27 2006
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Posted: July 02 2008 at 1:59pm | IP Logged
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Probably 'swimmer's ear'. Very common.
You can treat simply: peroxide and water (equal amounts). Place a few drops in her ear, have her stay on her side for a few minutes.
I think you can do this a few times each day.
Preventative measures? Hmmm, don't know if ear plugs are available. I'd certainly make sure she gets all the water out of her ear after each swim. Sometimes just a couple of days away from the water helped (in conjunction with the peroxide mix).
My kids had this a lot when they swam in pools. Only occasionally did we need an Rx to knock it out.
Hope this helps....! :)
__________________ God bless,
Tami
When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become. (Nouwen)
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Fuzzy Forum Pro
Joined: March 07 2007 Location: Virginia
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Posted: July 02 2008 at 3:28pm | IP Logged
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Poor thing! I know there are ear plugs available, and the last place I saw them was on Leaps and Bounds website.
__________________ Fuzzy
Mom to DS 12, DD 10, DS 7, and DS 4, and DD 1!
Fuzzy Memories
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juststartn Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 17 2007 Location: Oklahoma
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Posted: July 02 2008 at 3:54pm | IP Logged
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SOunds like swimmers ear. A good preventative, is to put a few drops of rubbing alcohol in each ear after swimming. Just have her lay on her side, after you do each side, to make sure that it has a chance to soak in there are work to evaporate the water that is in there.
She will need to stay out of the water, for a few days at least. I'd suggest for a week (I think that's what the dr's have you do, when you are being treated for it).
HTH
Rachel (who had this in 4th grade, and never had a problem since)
__________________ Married DH 4/1/95
Lily 3/11/00
Helena(Layna) 5/23/02
Sophia 4/19/04
John 5/7/07
David 5/7/07
Ava Maria, in the arms of Jesus, 9/5/08
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KT75 Forum Newbie
Joined: March 03 2007
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Posted: July 02 2008 at 4:12pm | IP Logged
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I have a lot of memories of swimmer's ear. I even got some very serious cases as an adult (necessitating ER treatment, strong pain meds, and IV antibiotics--this is rare). My ears are very sensitive to water. As a kid, I used alcohol in my ears, but as an adult alcohol became very painful for my sensitive ears. My ENT had me mix a 50% DISTILLED water/50% White vinegar solution. I use it daily anytime I swim or my ears are irritated; and more often if they really start to bother me. She said it was mild enough for everyday use, and nearly as effective as prescription eardrops. I haven't had any problems in quite a few years. I often wear ear plugs when swimming. I also purchased an ear band to wear when I was regularly exercising at a pool...it seemed to work...you can find them online. HTH
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Bookswithtea Forum All-Star
Joined: July 07 2005
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Posted: July 02 2008 at 4:56pm | IP Logged
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We've used the rubbing alcohol trick before, too, with success in avoiding the doc's most of the time. The best thing is to use this preventatively...every day they swim.
__________________ Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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Jenn Sal Forum All-Star
Joined: June 23 2005 Location: Texas
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Posted: July 08 2008 at 12:01pm | IP Logged
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I agree that using alcohol is wonderful to prevent swimmers ear.
You can get ear plugs at any drug store or even at WalMart. They're just chunks of wax that you roll into a ball and mold to the ear. The site above also comes with the wrap. I know that with my daughter taking goggles on and off, that wouldn't work. May be worth it for you to try though.
I am prone to ear infections and use the wax plugs. Warm garlic or canola oil is something I've used to help soothe my ears if they feel tender. Also, stay out of the water for at least one week. Even be carful of showers or baths.
__________________ Jennifer, Texas
Wife to Mark, Mom to Cora 13,Kade 10, Sarah in Heaven 12/05, Colette 7, Corin 5, & Kieran 2
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teachingmom Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: July 08 2008 at 11:54pm | IP Logged
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We're suffering from swimmers ear here too. I use a homemade mixture of half white vinegar and half rubbing alcohol. If it's caught early, we usually only have to have the patient stay out of the pool for a day or two. But my kids are on the swim team, so there's real incentive to get back in the water quickly.
__________________ ~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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SuzanneG Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006 Location: Idaho
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Posted: July 25 2008 at 10:20am | IP Logged
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Thanks everyone! We've been doing the drops after she swims everytime, and that seems to have done the trick!
__________________ Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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