Those with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction: Have You Ever Taken a Flight?

[Hariz Nonis]

Those with ETD, have you ever taken a flight when your Eustachian Tube is giving you trouble? The ENT I met yesterday told me that if I can't blow my nose to expand the Eustachian Tube, my eardrum might get ruptured? I'm going overseas for holiday during the Christmas period and I'm afraid. Any advices or experiences are greatly welcome

 

[Ecip]

The valsalva maneuver doesn't work for you?

 

[Nucleo]

Those with ETD, have you ever taken a flight when your Eustachian Tube is giving you trouble? The ENT I met yesterday told me that if I can't blow my nose to expand the Eustachian Tube, my eardrum might get ruptured? I'm going overseas for holiday during the Christmas period and I'm afraid. Any advices or experiences are greatly welcome

This is true. If you cannot equilibrate your middle ear pressure using the Valsalva, you will likely not be able to equilibrate them in the plane as well.

 

[Atlantis]

Those with ETD, have you ever taken a flight when your Eustachian Tube is giving you trouble? The ENT I met yesterday told me that if I can't blow my nose to expand the Eustachian Tube, my eardrum might get ruptured? I'm going overseas for holiday during the Christmas period and I'm afraid. Any advices or experiences are greatly welcome

I've read about too many people getting tinnitus from barotrauma. Please don't fly.

 

[LadyDi]

Hey @Hariz Nonis: My tinnitus came from barotrauma on a long distance airplane flight. ETD was a factor. I do fly now, but only if I follow a specific protocol given to me my doctor. It's outlined in the thread below. My post is long but you should read the whole thing. On this thread, you will see a lot of other people have thoughts on this very common question, re. flying and tinnitus.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/flying-tinnitus.1001/page-4#post-47628

You also need to be really, really careful doing the valsalva maneuver (holding your noise and blowing to inflate your E.tubes.) It needs to be done VERY gently. If your ears still won't clear, STOP. Some people won't do the valsalva at all. You can seriously screw up your ears if you blow too hard.

Do you have chronic ETD? Or is it due to a temporary cold/sinus infection? If the answer is number two, I personally WOULD NOT FLY, even with my doctor's protocol, until the cold/infection is gone. Your physician is right, you can rupture your ear drum, ruin your hearing, etc.

If the answer is number one: you may need to look into having tubes placed in your ears if this is a problem that won't go away.

 

[Hariz Nonis]

I've read about too many people getting tinnitus from barotrauma. Please don't fly

I don't want to fly, my parents want me to follow them. I also don't want to waste their money

 

[Hariz Nonis]

@LadyDi here is how my life went with T:
I had a sinus infection about 2-3 weeks before I went swimming and got water stuck in my ear overnight. This was in June. The day after that was when my affected ear felt a little painful and I hear cracking noises in my ear, which is a supposed sign of ETD. I got used to ETD and had it for 3 months before T started for me. This means that I am not entirely sure if my T is due to ETD, although the ENT said so. My T has gotten much better now, my ETD has been the same all this time. I've not had a bad cold or a sinus infection since then, but I have a runny nose all the time, so I don't know if that means something.
Based on my background, do you think flying is safe for me? The valsalva method works for me, especially in the morning, when I suddenly can hear much more clearly after doing it.
There are times when it doesn't help much.

 

[Hariz Nonis]

@LadyDi can ETD go away on its own?

 

[LadyDi]

Hey @Hariz Nonis: Sorry, I have been distracted and did not answer your questions.

Most important: I am not the person to clear you for flying. That would be the doctor who has been seeing you and treating your ear problems. If he says its OK, I would go. But I would follow that safe flying protocol that I outlined in the link I sent you in the above post, just to be sure.

If you are concerned, you can ask your doctor for a tympanic test befpre your flight, which will measure your eustachian tube function.

Yes, ETD often is temporary. Having trapped water in the ear, like you did, is a classic way to get it. Doctors often treat these infections and/or the resulting dysfunctions with steroids and other drugs. In these cases, the ETD eventually goes away.

However, some people have E.tubes that chronically act up. For those folks, tubes or grommets can be inserted surgically into the ear, to relieve pressure and prevent middle/inner ear damage.

Here is some more on medical interventions for ETD:
http://www.audiologyonline.com/ask-the-experts/eustachian-tube-dysfunction-tests-713

 

[Hariz Nonis]

@LadyDi I would like to ask:
Have you gone for a swim with your ETD problems? When I'm overseas soon my parents are bringing the family to a water park, and I'm not sure if it might affect the ETD. Now I have something else to worry about.

 

[John G]

I never noticed any problems with my Etd while swimming

 

[Hariz Nonis]

@John G thanks for the answer

 

[John G]

@John G thanks for the answer

No problem. Enjoy your time with your family and relax

 

[Becs99]

@LadyDi here is how my life went with T:
I had a sinus infection about 2-3 weeks before I went swimming and got water stuck in my ear overnight. This was in June. The day after that was when my affected ear felt a little painful and I hear cracking noises in my ear, which is a supposed sign of ETD. I got used to ETD and had it for 3 months before T started for me. This means that I am not entirely sure if my T is due to ETD, although the ENT said so. My T has gotten much better now, my ETD has been the same all this time. I've not had a bad cold or a sinus infection since then, but I have a runny nose all the time, so I don't know if that means something.
Based on my background, do you think flying is safe for me? The valsalva method works for me, especially in the morning, when I suddenly can hear much more clearly after doing it.
There are times when it doesn't help much.

Hi hariz. How did the flight go with your etd?