Could I have Swimmer's Ear? Please Help Me. I'm truly in a lot of pain right now.?

I spent my 4th July at a friend's lakeside camp. The entire time all we did was tube, knee board, water ski, and swim. Now, my ears are completely killing me. One is much worse than the other. I looked up the symptoms of swimmer's ear on line, but the only symptoms I have are the pain and extreme discomfort. It hurts worse when I swallow, chew, and yawn. I lack the other symptoms though (discharge from the ear, fever).
1.) How long can it be between being in the water and the showing signs of Swimmer's Ear. I've been out of the water for about 3 hours, now.
2.) Can I have swimmer's ear with only two of symptoms?
3.) If it's not swimmer's ear, what could it be?


I know it's best to ask my doctor, but all the offices are closed and I don't want to sit in a waiting room for hours tonight just to find out it's something completely harmless.

Thanks so much. :)

Thanks, I appreciate the tips. :)

I had ear infections commonly as a child, but never experienced pain as intense as this. I tried laying on my side and tilting my head for about an hour. In that hour the pain only worsened.
Ear plugs would be fairly useless next time I go to the lake. The first time I fly off a tube or get thrown off a jet ski I'll lose those ear plugs as soon as my body crashes into the water. It's entirely too rough, especially on busy days like this when the water is really choppy. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

My kids used to get swimmer's ear and the Doc told me to mix 1 tsp of alcohol and 1 tsp of water together. Then, if you have a dropper at home, put 2 drops in each ear and a cotton wad. Here are some other home remedies that may help till you can see the Doc. Good luck.

Here is a compilation of trusted home remedies that can ease the pain in the ear:

- Mild swimmer?s ear can also be treated with a few drops of white vinegar placed in both ears. Put a few drops of vinegar in one ear and leave it in the ear canal for about five minutes before turning the ear down in order to drain the solution. It is advisable to repeat this twice a day for three days. It is most effective against any fungal or bacterial infection as the acetic acid inhibits the growth of bacteria.

- When water clogs the ears, put three or four drops apple cider vinegar, diluted in equal parts with water or alcohol, after showering or swimming. This helps prevent future infection.

- Take some baby oil, heat it and as it warms pour into the ears with the help of a ear dropper and place a cotton ball to avoid draining the oil.

- Use the hair dryer to evaporate the water molecules in the ear. Set it to warm and sway it across the ear as it blow dries your ear. The warm air will enable evaporation of any trapped water.

- Mix equal parts water, peroxide, and white vinegar. Use an eye dropper to put a few drops in ear. Let it stay in the ear for a minute. Tip head to let the solution drain. Put a piece of cotton in ear. It is advisable to do this before bedtime.

Swimmer's ear can last for several. You need to take over the counter pain medication. It usually can go away on it's own . Wear earplugs from now on.

Definitely sounds like it can be swimmers ear. I got them when I was younger from swimming a lot and always had just the pain nothing else. I don't know how common it is to get them after one day of swimming but anything is possible. Try laying on your side to see if that will help the water drain out. If you are still in pain tomorrow, go to the doctor and he can give you drops to use. If the pains goes away or you are very desperate, you might try the ear drying drops. You aren't really supposed to use them when you are in pain but they might help your ear that isn't hurting terribly.

I'm about 99% sure that in fact, you do have Swimmer's Ear. I have had it a numerous amount of times and, I know, it hurts unbelievably. My symptoms were always only the pain and extreme discomfort, too. I never had discharge or anything else, either. Symptoms (extreme pain) showed up the next morning for me and then gradually got a little worse. My advice would be to go to the doctor as soon as you can and they will prescribe drops for you. That is about the only way to get rid of it without suffering for weeks. Next time you swim, or submerge your ears in water at all, I would buy these drops called "Swim Ear" from any store and just follow the directions. If you put the drops in after you swim every time, I can pretty much guaruntee you will not get Swimmer's Ear. The "Swim Ear" does not work after you already have an infection, it just stings, so don't try that right now. Good luck and I hope it gets better soon!

It sounds like what my grandson has -- swimmer's ear. he only experienced pain -- no fever or discharge from the ear. The doctor gave him a prescription for drops, but also said that warm compresses would help ( just wring out a washcloth in warm -not hot- water and fold it and put it on your ear. You may have to change it a few times if it gets cool again. Do this for 10-15 minutes.)

Sounds like that's what ya got. until you get to a doctor, Asap, OK? You can try drying out the trapped water by holding your ear up and away from your head and letting the warm air from a blow dryer blow down into your ear. That should help you some, but get to the doctor's and stop fooling around with your hearing

you can deffidently have swimmer's ear without discharge from the ear or a fever in fact i was looking up some home remidies to ease the pain because i have swimmer's ear right now and i didn't have either of those symptoms.....they say it helps if you apply something warm on it.....but i would see your doctor as soon as possible....they can give you ear drops to help the infection go away. Another thing would be to take ibprofen and such it helps a little bit....if you can pull on the end of your ear lobe and it about sends you through the roof then you probuably have swimmer's ear.