Ears popping!

[J B L]

On the way down to Luton last night, my left ear drum popped! Usually I can settle that by yawning or using the diver's technique but this time it's a big one and I am almost deaf in the left ear.
A slight cold might not have helped.

Any tip from other frequent flyers on here would be most welcome.

Cheers.

I know it's petty and it will probably come back on it's own but i like my world in stereo

[Simpo Two]

Earwax doesn't help.

[dr_gn]

J B L said:

On the way down to Luton last night, my left ear drum popped! Usually I can settle that by yawning or using the diver's technique but this time it's a big one and I am almost deaf in the left ear.
A slight cold might not have helped.

Any tip from other frequent flyers on here would be most welcome.

Cheers.

I know it's petty and it will probably come back on it's own but i like my world in stereo

I got the same thing after two consecutive flights recently. The first time it happened I ended up at A&E because it felt like my eardrum was gong to burst. Turned out it was nothing serious, just a matter of a couple of days more for the pressure to equalize. A cold or sinus infection makes things much worse. If it's no better in a couple of days, or if you think something is seriously wrong, go and see your doctor is my advice: don't take any chances.

[henrycrun]

swallowing for me

[magpie215]

Ask the crew to keep the decent rate sensible :-)

[Simpo Two]

magpie215 said:

Ask the crew to keep the decent rate sensible :-)

A decent descent rate...




Try the first part of a yawn; that opens the tubes perfectly.

[PaulG40]

Yeah yawning helps me, as does doing chewing motion or trying to moving my jaw left and right. Gets funny looks though.

[CanadianScot]

I find chewing gum at take-off and coming into land helps. The movement of the jaw and swallowing seem to help. Failing that I resort to the yawn.

[goldblum]

Slightly blocked eustachian tubes caused by your cold.Possibly mild infection so if it doesn't clear up get some antibiotics.

[Flintstone]

Hot drinks might help unstick any leftover gunk. As goldblum suggests the eustachian tube probably isn't clearing. They have a kink in them (bottom right of the diagram) that operates a little like a one way valve (which is why your ears equalise more readily in a climb) and it doesn't take much to gum them up.

[Hooli]

Isn't there an old divers trick of holding your nose & then trying hard to blow out of it?

[Mr Pointy]

Hooli said:

Isn't there an old divers trick of holding your nose & then trying hard to blow out of it?

That just opens up the Eustachian tube to let the pressure equalise, but if there's gunk in the tube it doesn't work. That's why it's so dangerous to dive with congestion as you can't equalise the pressure & eventually the eardrum ruptures. Cold water rushes in, hits the ear's balance mechanism & suddenly you're in a world of trouble.

Hot steam baths with a dollop of Vicks in it usually clears any blockage for me.

[dr_gn]

Mr Pointy said:

Hooli said:

Isn't there an old divers trick of holding your nose & then trying hard to blow out of it?

That just opens up the Eustachian tube to let the pressure equalise, but if there's gunk in the tube it doesn't work. That's why it's so dangerous to dive with congestion as you can't equalise the pressure & eventually the eardrum ruptures. Cold water rushes in, hits the ear's balance mechanism & suddenly you're in a world of trouble.

Hot steam baths with a dollop of Vicks in it usually clears any blockage for me.

I had this recently after a cold. The doc said he could see stuff bubbling past the eardrum. Gave me some antibiotics, but it still took 3 weeks to fully clear.

[db]

i have the opposite problem, my ears don't pop on the way up
hurts like hell and all sorts of gurgling/swishing noises until they finally pop at a volume i feel my neighbour should be able to hear (usually 20 - 30 mins) no probs on descent.
am i a freak?

[Marf]

J B L said:

I know it's petty and it will probably come back on it's own but i like my world in stereo

Don't be daft, it's your hearing.

Had something similar after a cold in January, woke up and was near deaf in my left ear. Doc said it was a blocked eustachian tube and it'd clear on its own, which it did slowly over about a week.

[Hooli]

Mr Pointy said:

Hooli said:

Isn't there an old divers trick of holding your nose & then trying hard to blow out of it?

That just opens up the Eustachian tube to let the pressure equalise, but if there's gunk in the tube it doesn't work. That's why it's so dangerous to dive with congestion as you can't equalise the pressure & eventually the eardrum ruptures. Cold water rushes in, hits the ear's balance mechanism & suddenly you're in a world of trouble.

Hot steam baths with a dollop of Vicks in it usually clears any blockage for me.

I assumed opening the tube might dislodge enough of the blockage for the pressure to equalise. Was just a guess though, I've no experience in diving or anything.

[J B L]

Thanks guys. As said in first post I have tried the yawning and diver's technique but that didn't help.

What did it eventually was actually popping the eardrum back out by sticking my finger in my ear and twisting it out. Like you would to make a popping noise out of a beer bottle.

Still got a cold and flying monday again but as has been mentionned before the descent rate back to Luton was steep. Very 'uncomfortable' flight overall with lots of turbulences as well... Next one should be better.