Middle ear pressure, failed eusachian tube

[Confuzed 0]

Hi,

I've searched and read many threads about the issue of pressure on the sinuses and the middle ear, with lots of good advice mainly centered around sudafed and the typical equalising techniques... but I haven't found any reference to my particular issue and I'm really hoping to get some opinions on this...

Background... I recently did my AFF course at Ocana, Spain. I graduated my course and was ready to get working on my consol's, but I've only got one solo jump done. I was grounded at this stage because I started getting issues with my left ear and didn't seem to be able to equalise it. Assuming I had a bloackage the staff there, quite rightly, advised I stay grounded until it cleared. Unfortunately it didn't clear before the end of my holiday and so now I'm at home and still don't have my 'A' license.

I went to the Dr. and he's told me I've now suffered a failed eusachian tube. That's the tube between the back of your throat and the middle ear which we use to equalise the pressure in our middle ear. The failure is basically the the valve is no longer opening and closing in the normal controlled way... in fact now it seems to pop open pretty often!

The everyday effects of this is that I get popping and cracking sounds in my ear whenever I move my jaw in a certain way, or yawn, or swallow, and even when I talk sometimes. My hearing in that ear sometimes goes muffled, and at other times it sounds like I'm shouting in my own ear!

Now all of that is irritating, but I can live with it, and with the steroid treatment I've been given it may improve over the next few months.

However... I am desperate to get in the air again!!! I need to sky dive. I've spent my whole life wanting this, and now that I've gradutated from AFF, I'm not going to give it up because of a stupid tube in my face!!!

So I'd really appreciate some thoughts, and especially if anybody out there has had a similar experience.

As it stands, if I block my nose and close my mouth and blow my ear does pop. Do you think this is enough to make it safe to jump? Assuming I take all the precautions I can such as sudafed, and nasal spray, and then equalising frequently on the climb, and as soon as I'm under canopy?

Please don't feel I'm looking for someone elses justification, the choice is my own responsibility and I understand that the risks of a blockage is a burst eardrum...

All I'm asking for are opinions and thoughts on this.

Many thanks for your time.

Blue Skies :-)
Rob.

[AFFI 0]

You should really get a doctors opinion on this.

Mykel AFF-I10
Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

[za_skydiver 0]

Dude, i know how you feel, ive had "issues" with my ears since i started freefall. I equalize by chewing gum when i jump or (believe this or not) i wiggle my ears while in freefall or stretching my jaw almost like a yawn (if you know what i mean), although still now most of the time i forget to do any of it in freefall, and just equalize under canopy, and then when i land. My best advice is to speak to your doctor and find out if jumping can harm your hearing.

Some dream of flying, i live the dream...

[Confuzed 0]

I have, that's how I know its a "failed eusachian tube". He was only really able to tell me what I already know... if I can't equalise I risk a burst eardrum. His advice was that it may be okay to jump, and that it might help to get opinions from people that know about skydiving.

Where better to go than dropzone.com for that kinda people?

I think I can equalise.

Like I said, I'm only looking for thoughts/opinions. I have the Doc's opinion already.

[AFFI 0]

Many of us have ear issues - but yours is the first time I have heard that there was a diagnosis with a fancy name, makes it seem scary.

Perhaps a good approach would be to start out with hop and pops gradually increasing in altitude to find your comfort zone and safely find your limitations.

[ScottMcC 0]

A better approach is to see an otologist (an ENT who subspecializes in the treatment of ear disorders).

He will definitely have some suggestions, provided you can describe what environments you'll be in (rapid pressurization after a relatively quick depressurization). One might be to think about putting in ear tubes.

Oh and the real term is not failed eustacian tube, it's "Eustacian Tube Dysfunction."

Blue Skies,
Scott, MD

(again, to reiterate--I am not diagnosing, treating, or anything else, just telling him to see a doctor in person for a full evaluation and treatment)

[Confuzed 0]

If/when I do jump again I may go with your idea of doing hop 'n' pop first.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Confuzed 0]

Thanks, that's a good idea... I'll try to see my doc again next week to see if I can arrange to see a specialist for some advice.

[FallingOsh 0]

I've always had sinus issues. My ears crackle when I swallow when I'm a little sick or even dehydrated. They're actually doing it right now.

The only time I've had an issue when jumping was on my 5th jump of the day several months ago. I felt pressure in my cheecks on the way up but it cleared on its own. After I got under canopy there was an intense pain in my teeth on the right side. It was so bad I had to reach in there to make sure I hadn't knocked them out.

I landed and fortunately found some novacaine in my bag. My mom is a dental hygentist and said your sinuses connect to the roots of your teeth and the problem equalizing resulted in some sort of minor blow out kind of thing. I don't know what exactly happened but that was my last jump of the weekend and my teeth hurt for two days.

You would probably be ok, but if you have any doubts then don't go. Having your head explode on the way down wouldn't be any fun. And the FAA would never figure out what happened.

--------------------------------------------------
Stay positive and love your life.

[Confuzed 0]

Hi, Thanks for your input

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Having your head explode on the way down wouldn't be any fun. And the FAA would never figure out what happened.

Maybe I'd better make sure my next few jumps are video'd just in case

[Beerlight 0]

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One might be to think about putting in ear tubes.

This definitely may be the best option. PE tubes would eliminate any clearing problem........See your doctor.....

[Mr17Hz 1]

Ground yourself for three months to get your ears straightened out. See if the steriods your doctor gives you helps out any - get over the allergy season that may be causing extra fluids... find something else to do: Skydiving isn't the only thing you can spend your weekends doing. It's not worth how your hearing might effect your skydive (pain could cause you to not act correctly). It's also not worth how your skydiving could effect your hearing (damage the tube further, cheating it of any chance it had to get better).

Seriously, find something else to do for a few months, and get back into the sport when you're healthy. If you give your ears 3 months and things arn't any better, then you might think about giving it a try anyhow.. but give yourself that three months.

You're not an instructor - so you don't depend on jumping to keep your bills paid, you're doing it for fun... keep it fun.

Matt Christenson

[email protected]
http://www.RealDropzone.com - A new breed of dropzone manifest software.

[mangledspoon 0]

I usually have a lot of problems with my eustacian tubes too, I have found when I take allergy medicine (meant for hay fever) it completely gets rid of the need to equalize at all. I don't know why, but it's fantastic, because I find it very difficult to 'equalize'.
Not sure if this would help you but that is what my doctor suggested and it works like a charm, unless you have the flu. It's called Clarantyne or Xertec I think, but I'm not sure if those are worldwide medicines or just where I live.
Anyway, hope you find a solution that works for you.
I have found Sudafed works too, but not as well.

[karenmeal 0]

I think that speaking with a specialist is good advice. You really don't want to risk doing permanent damage to your ears.


Moving from lesser to greater air pressure is more traumatic for your ears. So you are more likely to cause the damage on the skydive, not on the ride to altitude.

Some things that help people who have trouble equalizing are to take an OTC nasal decongestant about 1 hour before the jump, take a nasal spray about 30 minutes before and to chew gum on the ride to altitude and on the way down. I know that some people are against chewing gum while skydiving (choking hazard) but well, your instructor would be the one to make the choice about whether to allow that or not. Personally, I don't think it is a big deal.


Also, there are some special earplugs that help to release pressure more gradually, I think they are called air-plugs or something. These might help too.


-Karen

"Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

[jonstark 8]

I have scarring of a Eustacian tube and it has caused me to pretty much quit jumping. I can get away with a few from time to time but it is too painful to make many in a day.

A tube would be a fix but cronic infections would not be fun. The tubes let water, dust and dirt enter the middle ear. You'd have to get used to plugging your ears just for day to day routine.

Heal before you damage it by pushing too fast.

[Confuzed 0]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Man, this is hard. I've spent my whole life building up to doing this and now I've got to take a break and probably give it up.

I feel like I just lost a relative or something

Gutted.

Thank you to everyone that has expressed an opinion, I appreciate your thoughts.

Rob.

[Revillusion 0]

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A better approach is to see an otologist

Agreed

Alan, RN

VIRTUS JUNXIT MORS NON SEPARABIT

[Confuzed 0]

Thanks again to those that commented on my situation before. For what its worth, I've stayed grounded and the doc put me on a stronger steroid based spray for two months. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to have made any real difference, the left side still clicks and feels blocked. Even breathing through my left nostril seems to be restricted. The doc seems to be pretty sure there's nothing else I can do.

At this stage I'm unsure whether I should ever try to sky dive again. I have to admit all this time grounded and this added complication makes me feel very nervous about it, much more than I did before I did my AFF.

Anyways, I just thought I'd update anyone that's interested and it kinda helps to write it down somewhere.

[chrismgtis 0]

As someone said the tubes are an option. From what I understand from my research, any problems you have such as ETD wouldn't matter anymore, because there would be hole between your eustachian tube and the ear canal and you wouldn't have to equalize pressure. But talk to your doctor about it and see what he recommends. I would say that is the last resort too.

Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033
Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

[kleggo 138]

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I have scarring of a Eustacian tube and it has caused me to pretty much quit jumping. I can get away with a few from time to time but it is too painful to make many in a day.


Jon
2 viable options that have worked for me for 20+ years.

CReW
BASE

be safe

kleggo

• Quote

[Chards 0]

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At this stage I'm unsure whether I should ever try to sky dive again.

Difficult as it is, try and take it as it comes. You maybe ok to jump in a few months/years. Yes, that's gutting, but if jumping before you're ready will do you more damage, then it's worth it. Time is a remarkably good healer, for lots of things. And the sky will always be there.

Although nowhere near as bad as yours, I had ear problems earlier this year and had to take a while out. A couple of times, I went to the DZ, but couldn't be 100% confident that my ears would be ok, so I didn't jump.
Eventually (looong time), I realised that I was ready and it felt right. It was like an intuitive gut feeling that my ears were ok. I still get the occasional fussiness of hearing, the crackling and popping (especially on the ride up), I still have to equalise and I have days when I think 'no way'. Take it as it comes, listen to your doctor, trust your intuition and I hope that you'll be back eventually.
Good luck for the future, honey.

*********************************
"I have done that," says my memory. "I cannot have done that," says my pride, and remains adamant. At last, memory yields. - Nietzsche

[Confuzed 0]

Thanks for your story and advise, Chards.

My Doc did suggest I'd be safe to go along and try jumping, but advised I stop again immediately if I felt adverse pressure or discomfort.

Since then its really been that "feeling" that's stopped me. The whole thing has knocked my confidence. I'm just not comfortable enough to go do a jump while my ear/nose feels like this, I'd be worried the whole time.

I'm hoping by next spring I'll be confident enough to try again. Until then, I'll stick to watching lots of videos and lurking around here ;-)

Cheers

[chrismgtis 0]

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I'm hoping by next spring I'll be confident enough to try again. Until then, I'll stick to watching lots of videos and lurking around here ;-)

If you're worried about it I wouldn't jump either. If you think you'll be ok then you might be fine. Just pay attention to what your body is telling you.

I'd hate to see anyone jump and have a whole pushed in their eardrum. That would suck and could be fatal.

But seriously I'd see an ENT and ask his opinon. Have him look at your ear. If he thinks it looks ok and you feel ok then go for it as long as you know things are healed fine.

Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033
Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan