Ear problems from vaping :-/

[Jynn]

So, since I've started vaping about a month ago Ive had 2 minor ear infections. Before I started I'd had maybe 3 in my 26 years of life...

I suspect this might be caused by the pressure from blowing out my attys... Is there something else I can do to clear out old flavors without harming my attys or my poor little ears?

 

[msroulette]

I do have an idea! I use cartos, and when I clean them, I use a big 3ml syringe fitted with a condom cap (I've seen a rubber pencil grip used too) to hold my carto as I blow air through them to get the water out. I am pretty sure you could do the same with your atty, one or two full air shots will blow that thing right out

 

[Jynn]

I'll give that a shot thanks

 

[DizzyFizz]

You know that canned air stuff you use to clean the dust from your keyboard?
Try that.

 

[msroulette]

Dizzy I wouldn't think canned air would be good to blow out an atty. There are chemicals in that canned air that, when inhaled, can cause your heart to stop. I wouldn't want that on a heated atty and inhaled.

 

[DizzyFizz]

Well, the chemicals involved are simply for aerosol, and they tend to dissipate almost instantly. However, under your logic, perhaps it would be a good idea to allow the atomizer a moment of run time to burn any remaining chem-whip off. Alternatively, I myself use an air chuck, but that pretty much requires you to actually have one. ~.~

 

[VPDownunder]

TW actually recommend a can of compressed air for blowing attys out over any other method

 

[JaYBoNeS]

TW actually recommend a can of compressed air for blowing attys out over any other method

TW also recommends you add 25% to what any other suppliers charge to buy from them and they also have an owner that has pretty much been run right off these forums for berating his customer base, lol. I'd take anything TW says with 5 grains of salt.

 

[Xanax]

TW also recommends you add 25% to what any other suppliers charge to buy from them and they also have an owner that has pretty much been run right off these forums for berating his customer base, lol. I'd take anything TW says with 5 grains of salt.

Lol so true.

Jynn- I've had ear problems since I was born. Tubes in my ears 4 separate times in my life and one minor surgery. That said, I can relate to getting the ear infections from vaping but they seem to only last about a day or two at most. And I'm so used to having ear infections they aren't as severe as the ones I get normally, vaping aside. But I seem to have a lot of water in my ears since I've started vaping and I'm wondering what about vaping would cause water buildup in the ears. Just thought I'd add my experience here. Hope the ear infections go away because I know how much they SUCK. Also -- the way I've been blowing out my attys since the ear problems is... I fill my cheeks with air and force that air in my cheeks into the battery end of the atty, just like blowing it out normally but not using lung force to do so. You'll have to repeat it a few times but it's good for when you don't want to use a can of air duster lol

 

[JaYBoNeS]

Lol so true.

Jynn- I've had ear problems since I was born. Tubes in my ears 4 separate times in my life and one minor surgery. That said, I can relate to getting the ear infections from vaping but they seem to only last about a day or two at most. And I'm so used to having ear infections they aren't as severe as the ones I get normally, vaping aside. But I seem to have a lot of water in my ears since I've started vaping and I'm wondering what about vaping would cause water buildup in the ears. Just thought I'd add my experience here. Hope the ear infections go away because I know how much they SUCK. Also -- the way I've been blowing out my attys since the ear problems is... I fill my cheeks with air and force that air in my cheeks into the battery end of the atty, just like blowing it out normally but not using lung force to do so. You'll have to repeat it a few times but it's good for when you don't want to use a can of air duster lol

I, too know the feeling. Twice with tubes myself (once called "grommets" as that's what they're called in Australia, where I lived at the time). My ears were so bad as a child and I got so used to it, that it took a cavalcade of Harley Davidsons roaring 5 feet from my head without me flinching for my parents to suspect I had an issue with my ears.

Anyways, to add constructively to the thread here, whilst I no longer experience ear infections, I do still have to clear mine more than most people, especially when flying or changing altitude, or simply when having my sinuses clogged to any extent. And I have noticed with higher percentage VG liquids in particular that I am also having to clear my ears more often. So, perhaps it's more than just the blowing part. VG seems to clog people more than PG. Maybe that's part of it, combined with blowing out atty's? Just my 2 cents that coincidentally were not made by any form of me practising medicine, lol.

 

[Stegle]

This would be a little hassle to use for this because it has to be plugged into a cigarette lighter but here is a little compressor from HF that would eliminate you having to blow your attys out with your lung power.
Plus if you needed to air up a tire or tube it would be handy! I can't post links but it's easy to find.

harborfreight.com/12-volt-250-psi-compact-air-compressor it's only 9.99

Just a thought

Steve

 

[kelleypk73]

Very interesting. I started vaping last week and have had ear problems ever since. I feel like they need to 'pop'. Last night, I treated them with peroxide hoping they would clear but had no luck. I haven't cleaned my atty's by blowing either. It hasn't discouraged me from vaping, but I feel there is a connection between the two. It feels like a have cotton in my ears after I vape.

 

[Elendil]

Moving to Health forum

 

[Kimmy]

Funny you mention this. I think I have a pretty serious inner ear infection that needs to be looked at. I had an ear infection a few weeks ago they gave me antibiotics for, but I don't think it worked. I've been having a very hard time hearing lately

I'm interested to know how many other people are getting ear infections

 

[DaveP]

One lady told us she blew up a balloon and used the balloon to blow out her atomizers. Of course, blowing up balloons might also cause ear issues, but it's cheaper than buying canned air at $5 a pop. (no pun intended).

 

[Distorted.Clarity]

You know that canned air stuff you use to clean the dust from your keyboard?
Try that.

most cans now have a very disgusting taste to them due to people trying to get high off inhaling them.
i wouldn't advise using that for fear that chemical would be present in the vapor taste.

the simple solution, soak them in hot water. when it gets cold, new hot water soak, when cold, run under hot water.. set out to dry.

 

[Seabrook]

Funny you mention this. I think I have a pretty serious inner ear infection that needs to be looked at. I had an ear infection a few weeks ago they gave me antibiotics for, but I don't think it worked. I've been having a very hard time hearing lately

I'm interested to know how many other people are getting ear infections

I've had this ear infection issue also ever since I started vaping. 3% hydrogen peroxide does help mine immensely. I dilute it half&half w/pure water and drip a few drops in ear for 10 min. each side. Then I thinly coat inner and outer ear w/extra virgin coconut oil which is antifungal, antibacterial and antimicrobial.

When my son was about 4 years old, he started getting ear infections frequently. I took him to an ENT specialist, and he actually prescribed auto inflation which is pinching the nostrils shut and blowing the ears out. The dr. said it helps the ears to naturally drain. My son successfully followed through and never had any more ear infections.

Also, sometimes when I have an ear infection, they start itching way down deep. When I auto inflate, the itching temporarily subsides.

Didn't know other vapers had a problem with this until I saw your post today. I assumed my probs were from the extra pollen in the air this year.

 

[john doe]

I would think the problem has less to do with cleaning attys and more to do with the pg or vg being exhaled through the nose. Some will, inevitably, get in the sinuses.

 

[JaYBoNeS]

I've had this ear infection issue also ever since I started vaping. 3% hydrogen peroxide does help mine immensely. I dilute it half&half w/pure water and drip a few drops in ear for 10 min. each side. Then I thinly coat inner and outer ear w/extra virgin coconut oil which is antifungal, antibacterial and antimicrobial.

When my son was about 4 years old, he started getting ear infections frequently. I took him to an ENT specialist, and he actually prescribed auto inflation which is pinching the nostrils shut and blowing the ears out. The dr. said it helps the ears to naturally drain. My son successfully followed through and never had any more ear infections.

Also, sometimes when I have an ear infection, they start itching way down deep. When I auto inflate, the itching temporarily subsides.

Didn't know other vapers had a problem with this until I saw your post today. I assumed my probs were from the extra pollen in the air this year.

Me too, my doctor said the same thing, and it works. That's what tubes do anyways, help clear the fluid from the ear. And blowing on an atty would probably help more than hinder in this respect. Not to say that it is not the problem as simply blowing out your ears will not solve everything if there's a bigger issue at hand. Clogged sinuses will ensure eventually that any clearing will simply be replaced by more fluid.

 

[Neekyme]

I'm not a doctor, but I've used this for both my own and my children's ear infections. Take a peeled clove of garlic and, using the wide side of a knife, flatten the clove a bit to split it open. Throw it in some olive oil (3 or 4 TBS or so) and allow to steep most of the day or overnight. Fish out the clove, and place a couple drops of the garlic oil in your infected ear and use a cotton ball to keep it in. Usually clears up the infection within a couple days of doing this.

NEVER put raw garlic directly on your skin, or garlic essential oil on your skin. It can burn you!

I had horrible problems with my ears when I was younger. Now I seem to only get them when fall allergy season rolls around. I havent noticed any ear issues these past 2 months since switching to vaping thankfully. I wonder if the sucking in differently (longer draws than a cig) could be the cause, more than the blowing out attys?