About 30 years ago was the first time my ear drum ruptured. I remember it very well- where I was sitting and what I was wearing, since the pain was so intense. I would say it's definitely more painful than childbirth or running a marathon. Think of a bad ear infection and multiply it a few times. It draws you to tears!
It was fixed a couple of times, but I have the hole still, Each time it ruptured it was just about as painful as the first. The doctor used to say I couldn't get water in it ever or I would lose all hearing in that ear. I've lost some hearing. I have gotten water in it here and there, but I'm usually pretty careful. Since we have moved here to Michigan, some doctors have said that a drop of water is bigger than the hole, so it wouldn't make a difference. Some doctors have said that the hole "wants" to be there because it keeps coming back. Maybe it's helping with drainage (think of a tube in some one's ear). I've gotten lazy while here and not seen the specialist to get it cleaned out every time. Sometimes the regular doctor has done it, which was always a mistake. The specialist uses a vacuum, which hurts and always made me cry when I was a kid, I dreaded it. However, when it's done at the regular doctor's office, they shoot water in it, which makes it pop and fizzle. It's like acid being shot into my ear. I think it hurts even more than the vacuum. Plus, it's water, so every time I go there (I've only done it twice and I forgot about how bad it was when I returned the second time) it takes my ear a few days to recover, or more, from getting cleaned out. I basically get an ear infection just from getting my ear cleaned out.
Before Erik was born, so over 5 years ago, I looked into another ear plug. (The putty plugs do nothing!) I have always wanted to do a triathlon, but I need a better plug. I did a duathlon years ago and it was great (run, bike, run), but I want to try something different, just to challenge myself. When I looked into the ear plug years ago, I found out that they make them for your ear specifically. It's made of silicone. they cost $100. I had decided when I would have to time to get to a pool, not an easy thing around here at the most convenient times for me, and when my kids were old enough for me to get away for that training, then I would get the ear plug and do it.
Last Tuesday I got my plug fitted so I can do my first sprint triathlon this summer! It should be here in another week. I just hope it's worth it. The fitting was awful! My ear is still recovering, 6 days later, though it's almost back to normal (normal for me). She pushed a bunch of foam in my ear and then filled it with putty. It went in farther than the plug will so it could get the full measurement of my ear canal. She left it in there for 3 minutes. It hurt the whole time. I think it surprised her that it hurt me so much. She said it was probably because of the pressure. My ear killed that night, was draining all sorts of stuff onto my pillow (I know, gross!), and clogged right up, like it always does when I have an infection. It is still ringing slightly and slightly clogged, but luckily the ringing has abated a ton.
I'm excited for my ear plug and can't wait to start swimming! I hope the ear plug works well enough for me to just swim some laps without getting water in it.
I can't complain too much about my ear since this has been my only big health issue I've had to struggle with. My doctor says I'm the "healthiest person he's ever met", so I should be grateful for that, and I am!