About 2 weeks ago I went swimming and got water lodged in ear and I couldn't get it out but the next day I noticed fullness and ringing of the ear. So I went to Doctor she said that I didn't have swimmers ear that here was some fluid but she gave me ear drops but not medicated ones just ones with acid to get the water out. I haven't used those but should I. And can I potentially have permanent hearing loss due to this.
Hi Elle, no you can't get permanent hearing loss. What I do is use a tissue spear and push it into my ear until I feel it hit my eardrum. It doesn't hurt as the eardrum doesn't have any feeling, but you will hear it when it touches. That soaks up the water. The problem is if you have wax in your ear and the water is trapped behind it, then you will need the doctor to syringe your ear. The drops she would have given you will dry out the ear and help stop anything growing while the canal is warm and moist.
I absolutely disagree with sticking something in your ear and hitting your eardrum. Use the drops and trust your doctor, or you can always find a second opinion. But I wouldn't worry about permanent hearing loss.
It was an experienced ENT that told us to absorb water in this way. Sicking 'something' in your ear is not the same as sticking a tissue in your ear. No one is capable of hurting their eardrum with a tissue.