Ear tubes and YOU.

[Abnormal Approach]

Cliff notes: I have had ear problems on and off for the last 23 years of my flying career. Sometimes I can go a few years without any problems.
Two nights ago, it came back, baro-trauma to my left one. Flying unpressurized single pilot turboprops, this can be a real problem. I was unfortunatly flying with a pretty good chest cold. (I know- big mistake). My ears have already taken a beating from years of rock and roll and beech18's.
I was at the ENT's office, and she suggested tubes. So I had her put one in. Now, it has only been 8 hours, but the ear feels "full" and is a bit tender, partially from the baro trauma, but also I can feel the damn bobbin in there also.
My question is did I make a mistake? How has this worked for you? It is expected to fall out in 6 to 18 months, hopefully with no hearing loss.

If you have had them, did they work out with no long after effects? Probbably should have asked 24 hours ago, but what is done is done.

I am looking forward to not having any problems with this ear for the next 6-18 months, but then what?

[Loose rivets]

I think this is what the Brits call grommets. Plenty posted on those in the last year or two. Let search be your friend.

[Hufty]

My ENT guy told me that sometimes these ear tubes can cause eustachian tube problems to go away permanently. He admitted that he didn't know why as there is no real reason, but he had seen this happen in people. The thinking is that it allows the tube to "rest" for a while and recover its normal function or something???

Good luck with this....I hope it gives you a permanent cure.

[Abnormal Approach]

Well, that's something positive to hold on to, thanks!

[Hufty]

I have posted a few times on the causes of ear problems - there are LOADS and you need to do a bit of research. Depending on who you speak to it can be anything from allergies to jaw trouble to posture! My GP (family doctor) could only help with the basics in me but there is a lot of information out there what might help you. Google "Eustachian tube dysfunction" for starters - loads of info....

You can get longer term tubes too - they are called "T tubes" so called because they have a large t shaped cross that sits behind the drum. They are designed to stay in a lot longer but the downside is that if they come out they can leave a large hole behind them..

[Abnormal Approach]

I most defiantly have jaw trouble.

When at the dinner table, family members can hear it click sometimes.

Right now, I really think it was my stupidity flying with a deep chest cold that migrated.

I will have to see a DOC again soon though, the jaw thing never came up!

[Hufty]

...it seems like a tentative link, but the muscles that you use to pop your ears when you swallow are controlled by your jaw....any probs with the jaw, these muscles can tighten up and not function properly so I am told. It is called TMD - Tempromandibular joint disorder (google is your friend here) and people reckon it can cause ear problems. A good TMD specialist can give you some better advice than me...caution though - these people aren't necessarily dentists or doctors - they could be physiotherapists or chiropractors etc... so you really need to hunt around to find the right person. I found a physio that specialises in TMD through the maxilliofacial surgen who removed my wisdom teeth. He refers patients to her before carrying out any surgery on the jaw joint and he reckons she takes away a lot of his business!

I didn't get any of this advice from doctors - it didn't come up either.....it was just from my own research on the internet!

Sounds like this time it was just your cold, but if you have a history of it you never know what else might be going on in the background...good luck!