Ways to prevent "swimmer's ear" from coming back?

I went to the doctor when the pain got really bad, and he told me to keep using the ear drops that I have, which were prescription, not over-the-counter drops, but I also have an over-the-counter type. The over-the-counter ones say they are homeopathic, soothes and calms, are safe for use with antibiotics, and the active ingredients are: Chamomile, Mercurius solubilis, and Sulphur. I read somewhere that I can prevent swimmer's ear later by using over-the-counter ear drops before and after I swim, is this true? If I use these ones I have right now, will it help me not to get another infection?
I can swim less, which I won't enjoy but I can handle since it'll help keep the infection away, but I'm going whitewater rafting the first week in July, and there is no way I'm going to miss it. I'm gonna get some swimmer's ear plugs (not the kind designed to keep sound out, but the kind used to keep water out ..... any suggestions?)and I need to know if using the homeopathic ear drops will help?

I have suffered with swimmer's ear all of my life, I can help you. If you don't have abnormally shaped ears, this will work for you. Have your ears cleaned regularly to remove excess wax. Then before and after you swim place a few drops of a 50%-50% mix of alcohol, and white vinegar in each ear. It is a home made version of swimear you can buy that works just as well. Ear plugs will help a bit, but they are a pain more than a help, I found out. If you have abnormally shaped ears(on the inside, the canal, and such) like I do, you will need to be more dilligent on keeping yours ears clean. I have been told not to use Q-tips, it just pushes the wax and build up further into my ears making it more difficult to clean, and more suseptible to infection, and swimmer's ear.

Good luck.

Stevo.

Dont go swimming

earplugs

Ear plugs

Buy ear plugs for swimming.I get them for my son cause he gets the very same thing if he doesn't have them on.You'll find them around all the swimming stuff at the store.

put isopropyl alcohol in your ears after you get out of the pool/shower. do one ear at a time, and keep the alcohol in each ear for about 1 minute then tilt your head up and let it empty out. it will burn a little bit but it will absorb moisture/excess water and will kill off any infection that may possibly start without using it. it's cheap, easy, and effective.

Right after you swim dry your ears with q-tips. Also, you could wear earplugs when you are in the water.

where ear plugs in the pool and when u get out of the shower tilt your head and lightly shak your head up and down also clean your ears out when u get done swimming or taking a shower.

Silicone ear plugs. They form to fit your ear and they are totally comfortable. You just roll the material into a ball and press it gently into your ear. I use them every time I swim.

First, you could probably use ear plugs but if that is not an option I would do what a doctor told me years ago when I had the same thing. He said get some rubbing alcohol and put it in ear a few times a day, especially after swimming or taking a shower. I got mine from just plain showering. It cleared up the itching that is caused by this disorder , it took a couple of weeks because it had gone on so long but now if I get even a tiny symptom i go back to the alcohol drops. I have also heard of mixing alcohol and white vinegar together, that sounds very sensible too. My mother had problems with her ears all of her life and she had a lot of prescriptions and none worked. I told her about the alcohol and that worked, since she has been told by her doc to do the alcohol and vinegar. If you get in the habit of putting this into your ear after showering or swimming you should be able to keep those infections at bay. good luck

I would just get some ear plugs, because the reason you have swimmer's ear is because water keeps getting in them. If you continue to use your ear drops as the doctor prescribed, I'm sure it will go away soon.

Ear plugs, I have to cover my ear when I am washing my hair.

swimear drops and earplugs but you don't always get swimmers ear from swimming its just more common during the summer when people are in the water more than usual. so remember to sdry your ears after showers or any time they get wet have fun rafting!

swimmer's ear is caused by metacercaria, a larval form of liver flukes...get into water thru duck poop....just make sure your ears inside are dry after swimming...or put a couple drops of vinegar in a half cup of water and put into ear to kill the metacercaria...or even isopropol alcohol in dilute form will help..but just dry your ear canals after swimming..good luck