Okay, so I’ve had water in my right ear since yesterday and I’m beginning to get pissed because it makes NO sense why it won’t come out. The ear canal is a (relatively) straight tube, is it not? So then why, oh WHY will the water not just roll right back out if I hold my head sideways (affected ear towards the floor) for long enough? There’s enough water in there that I can hear it sloshing for a good three or so seconds straight when I move my head from a downward position into an upward position.
I’ve read that an air bubble can be blocking the canal and keeping the water in there and that a way to remedy it can be to actually inject more water into the ear, but I’m not too keen on putting MORE water into my ear and risking the possibility that it could likely become trapped in there too.
My guess is that the adhesive and/or cohesive tension in the water are what trump gravity and keep the water there. Have you tried hopping on one foot with that ear pointing down?
Another option is to pour some rubbing alcohol in there. It can displace the water and will evaporate a lot quicker.
Actually, no, the ear canal is not a straight tube. Try turning your head and tugging gently on the upper part of your ear to straighten it out and see if that helps. Alternatively, you could use an ear bulb syringe to either blow or suction out the water.
Also, try lying on the affected side over a heating pad for a few minutes. Don’t ask me why or how this works - but it did for me. A few years ago I used to swim laps for exercise 3-4 times per week. I did this a couple of times when I got water in there that wouldn’t come out. Both of breezman’s suggestions should help too.
I get water in my ear almost every time I swim, they do make bottles to put rubbing alcohol in them. That almost always works for me, dries up the water and comes out much easier.
I got water in an ear many years ago, and I couldn’t get it out. I finally went to a doctor, and he irrigated my ear with his EarIgator 2000™ device. He got a bolus of wax out, and my hearing was fine.
The first trick to try (which I learned as a long-time swimmer) is to tilt your head to the side (ear with water side down) and hop up and down. 85% of the time that will sort the problem.
Blowdry your ear. Take a blow dryer, hold it some distance away from your ear (NOT right next to it) set it to low and blow air into it. May take a few minutes but usually works as it help evaporate the water in your ear.
Pour rubbing alcohol in the ear (a few drops or a small cap full).
Ear bulb syringe (as mentioned earlier…gotten from ear cleaning kits).
Once all done consider cleaning your ear with an ear cleaning kit. Usually this retention of water in the ear is an indication of wax build up. You can get the kits at most any drug store (OTC). You need to squirt kinda hard though which can seem alarming (it sounds like a hurricane in your ear) so if you’d rather not then most doctors will do it for you during a general check-up if you ask them.
Be warned though…the blob of wax that can drop out is kinda gross.
IANAD, but I don’t think using it to suction out the water is a good idea - it seems like you could damage the eardrum.
All these have worked for me, alone or in combination: alcohol in the ear, pulling on the earlobe, shaking or hopping with the affected ear tilted down, ear cleaning kits like Debrox (no affiliation)