“How do I get water out of my ear?”
I went swimming last week and still feel like there is water trapped in my right ear, I feel it when I move around but nothing comes out. What can I do to get it out- will it go away on its own or am I going to get an infection?
8 Answers
If water stays in the ear, it’s possible an infection can brew. The reason we hold water in there is most often because we get water on the other side of the wax in our ear, next to the ear drum. For folks who have this feeling, I often recommend some over-the-counter swimmers ear drops. All of the pharmacies have a shelf brand. Ask your pharmacist. It’s basically an alcohol drop you put in your ear that gets on the other side of the wax to dry out the water. It often works for my patients.
Jelena Berkelhammer
Internist
You need to see an ENT doctor to do a complete check up, also it is important to know if you have a fever and pain or just feeling a fullness inside your ear. Yes you may have an infection, if you start getting greenish color discharge from the affected ear.
You might have wax in your ear that is preventing the water from draining completely. Get some Debrox, an ear wax softener, which is over the counter from the pharmacy. Put a dropper full in your ear and keep it in with a cotton ball for 30 minutes. Take a warm shower and let the water run off the top of your head and into the affected ear. Repeat every day for up to a week. The wax should come out and with it, the feeling of water trapped in your ear canal. If not, have your doctor take a look in your ear. You may have fluid in the middle ear or even an ear infection requiring a decongestant and/or an antibiotic.
A week is a long time - you would be better to get it open. It's a function of your eustachian tube (from your ear to your throat) not opening. A decongestant could help. If it stays that way for much longer, you should have it looked at.
That's a common problem with swimming. Best way to avoid it, is to wet inside of the ears manually before submerging in water. Also to avoid sudden splashes in water and use ear guards.
Most of the time it goes away by itself. If not, one easy way to get rid of it is to put your finger in the affected ear and hop on the leg at the same side for a few minutes.
It's extremely rare for an infection to happen but in case of continued symptoms, visit your doctor.
Most of the time it goes away by itself. If not, one easy way to get rid of it is to put your finger in the affected ear and hop on the leg at the same side for a few minutes.
It's extremely rare for an infection to happen but in case of continued symptoms, visit your doctor.
Water in the ear typically drains on the own, however in times that it does not, it can sometimes cause an infection commonly known as "swimmer's ear". There are some home remedies you could try, but the best way is to use over the counter drops containing alcohol and glycerin such as Swim Ear. The alcohol will bind to the water and should remove it from the ear canal. (My Dad is a chemist and used to have us use his lab-made concoction after we would go swimming). Do not insert anything into the ear canal such as Q tips or bobby pins as this can damage the ear and push the water further into the ear canal increasing the chance of developing an infection. See a doctor if you have signs of infection such as pain, irritation, burning, itching, redness or inflammation of the outer ear or pus like or foul smelling discharge.
Starting up ear infection or ruptured ear drum can give such feeling. Otherwise in healthy individual ear is closed from outside by ear drum and water can not enter through it. Recurrent infections cause small rupture in the drum.
Maybe there is swelling, there is certainly risk for infection. If it does not hurt, you can try putting over-the-counter ear drops for a few days. Do not use Q-tips. If it does not go away in 2-3 days or it hurts, make an appointment with your doctor.
