chrismgtis 0 #1 September 13, 2006 Saturday was my tandem jump and I am enrolled in the AFF class for this Saturday. Class starts at 8:30am Eastern and I should be in the air around 12-1pm. During my tandem jump, all was fine during the ascent. I swallowed to keep the pressure off my ears. My ears would both pop fine. During the descent after exiting the aircraft I begin to feel a lot of pressure on my left ear. The right ear was popping fine, but the left ear would not seem to pop as it should. When swallowing instead of hearing a pop in my left ear I would hear a sort of weird squish sound. It's hard to explain, though the pressure on my ear itself was painful. Not so much that I could not enjoy my dive though. As I got lower the pain subsided to a point that it wasn't bad at all anymore. The question is, has anyone else experienced this in their first skydive and if so did it continue on their next jump. If you did anything to correct the issue or found any problems that caused it, please tell me so I can take it into consideration. I spoke with the nurse here at work and had her look at my ear. She could not see my eardrum well enough and suggested that I clean out my ear canal with hydrogen poroxide and water and take sudafed 24 hours before my jump Saturday. I will also speak with the doctor at the DZ to see if he thinks that it is safe for me to jump Saturday, but I want to get input from others here in case someone else has experienced this. Thanks.Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eule 0 #2 September 13, 2006 QuoteI will also speak with the doctor at the DZ to see if he thinks that it is safe for me to jump Saturday, but I want to get input from others here in case someone else has experienced this. Before you went on the jump, were you at all congested? Do you have any allergies that might have been acting up? These can make it harder to clear your ears. You might find Skydive Radio show #54 useful; the hosts talked to an ear, nose, and throat doctor about things like this. EulePLF does not stand for Please Land on Face. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrismgtis 0 #3 September 13, 2006 QuoteBefore you went on the jump, were you at all congested? Do you have any allergies that might have been acting up? These can make it harder to clear your ears. Not at all. I took that into consideration after hearing about that causing a possible problem from some others, but I didn't have the slightest cold or congestion of any kind that a normal person is able to detect. I hardly ever get a cold for the entire season so I can usually tell when something is coming on. That is one reason I'm a little bit confused about what happened. I wonder if it's possible that due to the fact that I've only been on an airplane twice (three times counting my tandem jump - the first two were on airliners from Tampa Bay to Charlotte and back) maybe my body just wasn't used to it?Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stayhigh 2 #4 September 13, 2006 After canopy opening I sometimes hear air escaping from my ear. Does anyone get this?? PM me please.Bernie Sanders for President 2016 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 14 #5 September 14, 2006 Quote take sudafed 24 hours before my jump Saturday. Take sudafed the morning of the jump. It is approved by the FAA for use by airman. It does not cause drowsiness. If anything, it might hype you up a tad. I use it all the time jumping after coming off a head cold. It's a big help. I think you'll also find that the more you skydive, the easier your ears will clear. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pkasdorf 0 #6 September 14, 2006 There was a similar thread very recently. ear problems may be due to congestion and, in that case, Sudafed may be adequate (depending on how congested) but THE most important thing is.... as you do not know what is happening go and see a specialist before you go on jumping because you may have a problem that can cause permanent damage to your hearing in a pressure changes environment! THIS SHOULD NOT BE A FORUM FOR MEDICAL ADVICE. HISPA # 18 POPS # 8757 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrismgtis 0 #7 September 14, 2006 I wasn't asking for medical advice I was asking for personal experiences that may shed some light on what happened. I listened to that podcast and got some nasal spray, and I also got some hydrogren poroxide to clean out my left ear. I took some sudafed yesterday and will probably take some 6 or so hours before my dive Saturday.Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pkasdorf 0 #8 September 14, 2006 QuoteI wasn't asking for medical advice I was asking for personal experiences that may shed some light on what happened. Sorry but I have to repeat that.... ...as you do not know what is happening go and see a specialist before you go on jumping because you may have a problem that can cause permanent damage to your hearing in a pressure changes environment! I am a physician and that is why I posted what I did. No bad vibes, I just want you to be on the safe side! HISPA # 18 POPS # 8757 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrismgtis 0 #9 September 15, 2006 QuoteI am a physician and that is why I posted what I did. No bad vibes, I just want you to be on the safe side! Yea me too. I tried cleaning out my ear with a take home kit today, but it apparently does not create a strong enough stream to remove any wax in the ear. None that I saw anyhow. At work we have a nurse and I had her look at my ear and she said she could not see my eardrum well enough due to some earwax in the way. All I know to do is consult the doctor at the DZ Saturday.Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stevetaylor 0 #10 September 20, 2006 Hi All, Jumped yesterday with a wee bit of a headcold. No major symptoms, but it's hard to be a pediatric ER nurse and not have a case of the sniffles. So I took some sudafed and a bit of Afrin before I went...cleared things up nicely. Anyway, after my second jump, I felt some pressure in my right ear, and tried to equalize with a nose pinch and blow. Felt a rush of air equqlizing the ear, and then "WOW", I got really dizzy. I assume that I kicked the semicircular canals in the ear around a bit. Needless to say, that was my last jump that day. I didn't need a bout of vertigo as I was staring to flare on the next jump. Lesson learned.... Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrismgtis 0 #11 September 20, 2006 QuoteAnyway, after my second jump, I felt some pressure in my right ear, and tried to equalize with a nose pinch and blow. Were you attempting a valsalva while descending? Don't do this on an ascent as this is just adding to the already existing pressure and will make it worse. On the descent you can do this, but it is dangerous and you should not blow too hard. Another maneuver I have learned that is better to attempt and safer is the pinch and swallow technique compared to the pinch and blow (valsalva). If you were already on the ground and had just come down I guess it's still ok to do a valsalva, but don't quoet me on that. Either way from what I've heard in lots of places valsalva isn't safe.Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beerlight 0 #12 September 22, 2006 The Valsalva manuever is safe. In a lot of instances, preferred. Short, sharp puffs and don't overextend the valsalva. ie., not to much pressure. Doesn't take a lot. The FAA and the U.S. military teach this to pilots. If you have one ear affected only, point that ear toward the ceiling and valsalva. Why? Stretches the eustachian tube out, helps...... A good dry swallow, or swallowing some water works for a lot of people. Yawning, wiggling the jaw, works for some people. Some people don't have to do anything to clear their ears. Some have lots of trouble. Go figure..... Personally, I've descended at a rate of 60,000 feet per minute for 30 seconds......with no problemos.... Now your asking where the hell did he do that? Ask me, I might tell....... that is all............... Buck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrismgtis 0 #13 September 24, 2006 I completed my first AFF jump Saturday. I didn't have any issues whatsoever with pressure this time. Was pretty happy about that, even though I landed way off target because of the wind. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airgord 1 #14 September 25, 2006 Pituitary micro adenoma.....or not. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
