4 years ago, I replied in this thread. In 2008 I had the left ear drilled by Dr Shohet in Newport beach, no pain, quick recovery.
SInce my last post in this thread 4 years ago, I have had 2 episodes where my right ear got infected, and both times were when I forgot to get the 50/50 distilled white vinegar/rubbing alcohol drops into my ears ASAP, after a surf. One of them started a week after my last surf when washing my face in a sink allowed water deep into my right ear Canal.
I have very waxy/oily ears/scalp and have no issues with the drops drying out my ear canals. Obviously everyone is different in this regard, so no blanket statements from me. I will say that I absolutely have to use the 50/50 DWV and RA drops ASAP, each time, and will bring a bottle with me everywhere I go whenever my head will get dunked. I need to get them deep and suck them deeper while holding my nose and pulling slightly and utilizing gravity. The right ear drains OK, and I can hear within 30 seconds, but an hour or two later I will get another clearing and hearing in that ear improves by another 20%.
For fear of another infection, i have been using the 50/50 drops on a clean napkin or even just the 91% RA, on pinky finger to clean outer ear canal pre surf, only as deep as a pinky finger can go, before inserting ear plugs pre surf, and also cleaning/sterilizing the ear plugs themselves, each and every time before inserting into my ear. These are on a lanyard on a necklace and I make sure they do not bounce around on my wetsuit walking to ocean’s edge, and I also have a dedicated container for them which I keep sterile. I also need to make sure my music earbuds are kept sterile.
This summer when warmish and windless I found myself still wishing for the plugs when I went without, as I have gotten so used to them, and having warmer ear canals, that without them, my ear canals ache.
Getting used to wearing plugs sucks, but after a while it is no issue. With the diminished hearing when plugs are pushed deep, the other senses do seem to improve, and one can more appreciate the visual or feel the lip clipping the back of one’s neck or wind through one’s hair.
I am still using the standard 3 layered mushroom type of plugs whose depth and sound attenuation I can control, and have also tried the Mac’s plugs which are similar to the orange/blue AOE safety versions sold at home despot. I will try the new AQua ear plugs soon as I hear a local surf shop carries them.
Wearing ear plugs might suck, but not as much as not surfing sucks. I will religiously use the 50/50 DWV and RA drops, as for me, this is the only way to ensure I do not get another infection and the ensuing 2 to 3 weeks of misery. I will not be getting drilled anytime soon. That is not an option.
If I could go back in time to my late teen self, I would make that guy wear the hood sooner in the fall and later into the late spring. And stretch more, and get more pussy too.