alcohol/vinegar solution rinse

[Guest guest]

I have asked this question before but didn't get too many replies, so

I'm going to try again. My son (20 years-old) had surgery last

September. He had a check-up yesterday and the doctor said everything

is fine. He told me (again) to try a vinegar/alcohol solution rinse

in his ear about once a week. He said this is to keep it clean and

dry. Has anyone tried this? It seems so old-fashioned medically to

do, but this

is a doctor at Ohio State University Medical Center. Do other doctors

tell patients to do this?

Thanks so much.

Barbara

[Guest guest]

Hi, Barbara,

I have had both CWU & CWD surgeries. The doctor has me put 6 drops

of a mixture of half water and half white vinegar into my ear. He

wanted me to use more, but I couldn't stand when it would go through

the eustachian tube and into my mouth. So, he cut it back to 6

drops. I thought it was weird when I first heard it, too. I wish the

best for your son.

Kathy

>

> I have asked this question before but didn't get too many

replies, so

> I'm going to try again. My son (20 years-old) had surgery last

> September. He had a check-up yesterday and the doctor said

everything

> is fine. He told me (again) to try a vinegar/alcohol solution

rinse

> in his ear about once a week. He said this is to keep it clean and

> dry. Has anyone tried this? It seems so old-fashioned medically

to

> do, but this

> is a doctor at Ohio State University Medical Center. Do other

doctors

> tell patients to do this?

> Thanks so much.

> Barbara

>

[Guest guest]

I definitely had to do it ... or something very similar ... when I had

my reconstruction surgery. It sounds old-fashioned, but remember ...

the goal is a clean dry ear. There's just not much better to accomplish

that. I would squirt it into my ear with an ear syringe ... this is one

of the few things that made me dizzy so I would take breaks and sit down

if need be. This is one of the little things that one needs to pay

attention to. The more closely your son follows his instructions, the

better off he's going to be. If he's puzzled about something, he needs

to ask the doctor or nurse. Those are the kinds of questions they don't

mind.

Matt

comercibob wrote:

>

> I have asked this question before but didn't get too many replies, so

> I'm going to try again. My son (20 years-old) had surgery last

> September. He had a check-up yesterday and the doctor said everything

> is fine. He told me (again) to try a vinegar/alcohol solution rinse

> in his ear about once a week. He said this is to keep it clean and

> dry. Has anyone tried this? It seems so old-fashioned medically to

> do, but this

> is a doctor at Ohio State University Medical Center. Do other doctors

> tell patients to do this?

> Thanks so much.

> Barbara

>

>

--

[Guest guest]

I still use this to keep my ears dry & the cholesteatoma has not come back for

13+ years.

Just make sure you heat the solution to room temp before using it so you do not

get

dizzy. I usually pour it in a bowl and heat it in the microwave for 20 sec or so

& use it

before I shower in the morning. If it is too hot or too cold, it makes me dizzy

& I have to

sit down. It stinks but it works.

--- In cholesteatoma , "

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the replies, everyone. Why would this make someone

dizzy? The smell? How much did you put into the ear? He told us to

use 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 alcohol. Is this what others have done?

Thanks.

Barbara

--- In cholesteatoma , "

[Guest guest]

My doctor instructed me to purchase a " regular-sized " bottle of rubbing alcohol

(not sure

off the top of my head-how many oz?), throw out 2 Tablespoons of the alcohol, &

replace

with 2 Tablespoons vinegar. I mix it & label it " ear wash. " The dizziness is

from it being

too cold or hot, the smell probably doesn't help either.

>

> Thank you for the replies, everyone. Why would this make someone

> dizzy? The smell? How much did you put into the ear? He told us to

> use 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 alcohol. Is this what others have done?

> Thanks.

> Barbara

>

>

>

> --- In cholesteatoma , "

[Guest guest]

Sorry, it's been too long ago since I had to do this. I don't remember

the exact mix. I do know that I actually went to the pharmacy for the

mixing bottle and the ear syringe.

Balance, or one' s sense of equilibrium, is controlled through the

/vestibular/ system that is in the inner ear. Introducing a liquid

mixture via an ear syringe that is at room temperature is still nearly

30 degrees cooler than body temperature. I basically squirted it in and

then let it drain back out into our bathroom sink. The doctor was quite

happy with the results. I'll bet if anybody squirted the mixture into

their ear they'd get a bit dizzy. Keep in mind that this dizziness was

very very temporary - perhaps just five seconds or so (if that long).

Then the ear usually felt a whole bunch better.

Matt

comercibob wrote:

>

> Thank you for the replies, everyone. Why would this make someone

> dizzy? The smell? How much did you put into the ear? He told us to

> use 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 alcohol. Is this what others have done?

> Thanks.

> Barbara

>

> --- In cholesteatoma

> <mailto:cholesteatoma%40>, "

[Guest guest]

The dizzy feeling is very normal for me whenever i put anything liquid

into my ears. However i used a watered down alcohol liquid. Over the

years my mom and i have figured out that if you lay down on your side

and clench your jaw while you add the liquid it helps with the

dizzyness and uncomfortable-ness. Also, another trick i do something

is lay on the couch and try to watch t.v. while it happens to distract

myself, it may sound odd but it does help you not think about it.

[Guest guest]

To all

Ear is very sensitive to produce dizziness if the liquid going put in it is not at body temperature.

There are more chances of this happening if there is hole in the ear drum.

Some time ear drops are kept in refrigerater and are very cold, keep them in open for few minutes before use.

Dr. Arun (ENT Surgeon- India)

On 5/18/08, cverdos <cvp37@...> wrote:

The dizzy feeling is very normal for me whenever i put anything liquidinto my ears. However i used a watered down alcohol liquid. Over theyears my mom and i have figured out that if you lay down on your side

and clench your jaw while you add the liquid it helps with thedizzyness and uncomfortable-ness. Also, another trick i do somethingis lay on the couch and try to watch t.v. while it happens to distractmyself, it may sound odd but it does help you not think about it.