Crackling and Ringing in Ears — Can I Fly?

[ChrisPerry]

Hey everyone,

Long story but I had a total thyroidectomy in January. After I had inflammation in my inner ears so severe I went to the ER. Ears looked fine. After a bunch of medications that only made me feel worse, it finally went away (the burning pain). I have a very bad click in my jaw from multiple dental procedures, and was told if I wore a night guard it would help with my ear pain. Well that seemed to make my jaw even worse. It clicks more and now I have facial pain. And now crackling every time I swallowing and high pitched ringing in quiet.

I've felt devastated over this for weeks. My question is, I was planning to go visit my parents for a while as I am recovering from a lot of trauma from being in pain for 4 months straight, only to follow with tinnitus.

Would flying possibly make this worse and damage the ear?

Also I notice if I pull the front little knob part of my ear forward when I swallow, I don't hear the crackle ...

 

[Mister Muso]

Hi,

I was worried about flying 2 months after getting severe tinnitus and TTTS. Turned out to be fine except for a spike in volume lasting a few days after the return trip. Probably due to the fact that the trip was split into 3 flights in one day.

I used Earplane plugs throughout,with ear defenders at takeoff and landing, and noise cancelling headphones during the flight as required.

 

[vttbx]

Hey everyone,

Long story but I had a total thyroidectomy in January. After I had inflammation in my inner ears so severe I went to the ER. Ears looked fine. After a bunch of medications that only made me feel worse, it finally went away (the burning pain). I have a very bad click in my jaw from multiple dental procedures, and was told if I wore a night guard it would help with my ear pain. Well that seemed to make my jaw even worse. It clicks more and now I have facial pain. And now crackling every time I swallowing and high pitched ringing in quiet.

I've felt devastated over this for weeks. My question is, I was planning to go visit my parents for a while as I am recovering from a lot of trauma from being in pain for 4 months straight, only to follow with tinnitus.

Would flying possibly make this worse and damage the ear?

Also I notice if I pull the front little knob part of my ear forward when I swallow, I don't hear the crackle ...

I also have a crackling sound every time I swallow. But mine was caused by Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy treatment for my T with prior acoustic trauma. I've seen three ENTs and none of their treatments have helped. I don't want to live the rest of my life with this on top of T, hyperacusis, and hearing loss.

I usually wear earplugs on plane rides just to be safe. But in general, the volume of an airplane cabin isn't loud enough to cause damage. I wear them more so when people slam the overhead bins closed.

 

[ChrisPerry]

Hey everyone,

I had ignored my TMJ, then followed a dentists instructions to wear a night guard since I'm a teeth grinder. Come to find out that made my situation worse. I woke up with ringing in my ear and every time i swallow i hear crackle and my bite is off now. I went to a TMJ specialist and I'm having a splint made. There is a good chance it will improve these symptoms.

Does anyone experience crackle only when they swallow saliva, as apposed to water, food etc?