Perforated Ear

[batriple7]

Anyone else suffered with this. I perforated my ear middle of November and I still have a small perforation so need to see an ENT specialist. Am really worried as dont want to end my flying career just yet.

How long is the healing period normally. there is no infection at all. So many people say Oh the pain must have been dreadful. Well No it wasnt just a crackle and enough for me to put my hand to my ear and say Ouch. Slight trickle of blood and pus and slight earache.

Anyone else had a fairly painless perforated ear

[Atlantis]

From my own experience, don't worry too much. I had a fairly big perforation 25 years ago. No pain and no significant loss in hearing. I've still got the condition all this time and have been flying commercially. There's been the odd comment if the examiner hasn't seen me before, but the bottom line is you can fly with this condition. Look after the ear and keep it dry. You must not swim unless the condition heals or you have an operation to fix it (not me, thanks).

[corsaman]

I have had 3 perforations of my left eardrum - one on board a Monarch b720B inbound from Milan to Luton in 1981, which was excruciating (but what an aircraft!), a second flying as cabin crew in 1992 which dulled my hearing but wasn't as sore, and a third in 2000, following a heavy summer cold, whilst working as a dispatcher. My eardrum ended up retracted, and did not heal properly, attracting infection after infection, each one leaving me slightly deafer. I eventually had a tympanoplasty, a skin graft to 'grow' a new eardrum, and a year later became cabin crew again. 8 years later, no problems at all, and my hearing actually improved!

[batriple7]

Thank You

Thanks for your comments and reassurance - not particularly keen on an operation of any sorts.

Havent been able to access this forum in the last few days so only just seen this.

Thanks again and good to know it not necessarily the end of my flying career

Happy New Year

[JAR]

I had a perforated eardrum due an inner ear infection. Had a grommet (sp?) inserted which was wierd when flying as the air rushed in and out as the pressure changed. Only off flying for about 8 weeks and the drum healed well. Hearing is as good as it ever was.

[Flying Serpent]

My eardrum perforated 3 weeks ago due to inner ear infection. Absolutely excruciating when it went pop/screech!
Have just been to the docs this morning who tells me it's healed but that there is still a fair amount of grunge behind the drum. He suggested breathing steam to try to clear this. Stupidly I forgot to ask him about flying in the meantime.

I'm inclined to avoid the skies until it's fully cleared.

[C172 Hawk XP]

stay on 't ground . . . . . . .

I'm inclined to avoid the skies until it's fully cleared

Very sensible.

If you're a pilot then it would also be advisable to see (or at least inform) your AME, as well as the advice from your GP. Not all GP's fully appreciate the pressure change implications of flight. Some perceive air travel as just the same as train travel !