Ear Tubes

[overhaulin]

I’m in my early 30’s and I’ve been having difficulty equalizing for 2 or 3 years now (even though I fly pressurized). I never had any problems with my ears and sinus’s before that. Because of this, I’m starting to have some frequent problems with my ears: Blown ear drums, ear infection, earring lost.

I’d like to continue flying for another 25+ years if my medical allows me. I am considering getting some ear tubes to help me equalize. I am wondering if any buddy as some and what they think of it.

Thanks

[niss]

It worked for Nichelle Nichols!

[overhaulin]

LOL!

Not exactly what I had in mind though...

[Flybabe]

I'm gathering you meant "HEARING lost" as opposed to "earring lost"?

Just checking.

[ywgflyboy]

I do not personally have them but a friend (a FA with WJ) had to transfer to a ground job because of this issue. He got the tubes and has no problem flying now.

[bubba070]

Years ago I had it done to my left ear. It worked great. You cant get water in them, so you have to be careful swimming or in the shower. I ended up getting it taken out and had the problem fixed permanently by getting surgery on my nose. As far as flying, there was no problem, I was able to maintain my medical.

[Castorero]

Overhaulin,
the fact that you have developed this problem in the last two or three years may point to a New problem affecting your upper airway and may be correctable.
Any recent trauma to the nose or sinuses, regrowth and enlargement of tonsils, new allergy, new medications (especially nasally inhaled types) and a host of other reasons can lead to this problem.

Best to see your GP first and if need be, get a referral to an ENT Specialist to get to the bottom of the problem and then get the correct treatment.

[200Above]

I was 4 years old when I had Tubes put in both ears. Suffered from many infections, and not to mention keeping my parents up all night from the pain before I had them put in. (I don't recall the pain but I have many pictures prior to haveing the tubes in and looking like shit with bags under my eyes from all the sleepless nights)

I have had no worries/pains/discomfort over the years, flying or not!

200above

[nortont]

I was 4 years old when I had Tubes put in both ears. Suffered from many infections, and not to mention keeping my parents up all night from the pain before I had them put in. (I don't recall the pain but I have many pictures prior to haveing the tubes in and looking like shit with bags under my eyes from all the sleepless nights)

I have had no worries/pains/discomfort over the years, flying or not!

200above

Same here.... except I had 7 pairs of tubes put in as I grew older... When I had grown out of them, my ear drums never healed over completely. Had surgery to correct the drums but it was not successful.

I still have perforated ear drums and have no issues with obtaining a class 1 med. I would have to say that my perforated drums is an advantage for me flying jumpers descending at 4000+ft/min...

[overhaulin]

Thanks a lot guys for all this good info. I've all ready seen an ENT, he's the one that brought up the ear tube idea. These reply's definitely raised my level of comfort.