Plugged Ears

[Fred Choate]

Hey Folks...

Had an experience yesterday that I have never had. Took off in a 172 for a
local flight here in the Puget Sound area. Field elevation 500 ft. I
climbed to 4000 ft, and flew for about 15 minutes before climbing to 8000 ft
to get a great view of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Rainier. After
flying for about 45 minutes, I started the descending back toward the
airfield. I descended at 400 fpm and took it down to 5000 ft, and then
500fpm to 2000 ft, and finally down to TPA of 1500 ft. During the descent
from 5000 to 1500, both myself and my passenger experienced alot of pressure
in the ears, and both our ears plugged. I could see it was very
uncomfortable for my passenger, and I wasn't too thrilled either.

After landing, it took a good 2 hours for my ears to be back to normal, and
probably about that for my passenger as well. Just curious about this, as I
have never experienced that before. I have only 70 hours, but have flown as
high as 11500 in a 172, and never had a problem with my ears.

I did just purchase a new headset that seals much better than the old set I
had, and this was my first flight with them, and the passenger was wearing a
set from the FBO that seals pretty well too. Could headsets have been a
factor, or is it more likely it was just a fluke situation.

Also, would it have been better to level off when we first started feeling
the pressure, and see if things would have equalized?


Fred

[George Patterson]

Fred Choate wrote:

> I did just purchase a new headset that seals much better than the old set I
> had, and this was my first flight with them, and the passenger was wearing a
> set from the FBO that seals pretty well too. Could headsets have been a
> factor, or is it more likely it was just a fluke situation.

I don't see how headsets could have caused these symptoms. If anything, the
increasing pressure would simply have clamped the headsets a bit more and you
would have had fewer ear problems.

> Also, would it have been better to level off when we first started feeling
> the pressure, and see if things would have equalized?

Perhaps. A better idea is to hold your nose, close your mouth, and exhale
slightly, forcing air through the eustachian tubes and equalizing the pressure.
A less drastic approach is to open your mouth like you're yawning and wiggle
your jaw back and forth -- that opens the tubes wider.

George Patterson
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.

[Fred Choate]

Right.....we both did that, and it certainly helped. I guess I just never
experienced such a bad case of ear plug-itis before, and it surprised me.
Thanks George.

Fred

"George Patterson" > wrote in message
news:ibO6f.4162$tl5.632@trnddc02...
> Fred Choate wrote:
>
>> I did just purchase a new headset that seals much better than the old set
>> I had, and this was my first flight with them, and the passenger was
>> wearing a set from the FBO that seals pretty well too. Could headsets
>> have been a factor, or is it more likely it was just a fluke situation.
>
> I don't see how headsets could have caused these symptoms. If anything,
> the increasing pressure would simply have clamped the headsets a bit more
> and you would have had fewer ear problems.
>
>> Also, would it have been better to level off when we first started
>> feeling the pressure, and see if things would have equalized?
>
> Perhaps. A better idea is to hold your nose, close your mouth, and exhale
> slightly, forcing air through the eustachian tubes and equalizing the
> pressure. A less drastic approach is to open your mouth like you're
> yawning and wiggle your jaw back and forth -- that opens the tubes wider.
>
> George Patterson
> Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your
> neighbor.
> It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.

[Longworth]

Fred,
I had never experienced plugged ears while flying but occasionaly had
problems in scuba diving. Plugged ears resulted from both the rate of
pressure change and your physical condition (onset of a cold etc.).
I'd suggest leveling off the next time that your ears felt
uncomfortable. Continue to descent may damage your eardrums. If any
discomfort lingers after a flight (or a dive), antihistamine pills
provide great relief. We always pack Benadryl for our dive trips and
take it only at night, never during the day time, and at least 12 hours
before the next dive. However, for flying both Rick ad I draw the
limit of not taking Benadryl at least 24 hrs before acting as PIC.

Hai Longworth

[Fred Choate]

Never thought of the Benadryl....thanks, I will try that if this happens
again.

Fred

"Longworth" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Fred,
> I had never experienced plugged ears while flying but occasionaly had
> problems in scuba diving. Plugged ears resulted from both the rate of
> pressure change and your physical condition (onset of a cold etc.).
> I'd suggest leveling off the next time that your ears felt
> uncomfortable. Continue to descent may damage your eardrums. If any
> discomfort lingers after a flight (or a dive), antihistamine pills
> provide great relief. We always pack Benadryl for our dive trips and
> take it only at night, never during the day time, and at least 12 hours
> before the next dive. However, for flying both Rick ad I draw the
> limit of not taking Benadryl at least 24 hrs before acting as PIC.
>
> Hai Longworth
>

[BTIZ]

I'd suggest that perhaps both of you are at the early onset of a cold or
recently recovering and there may have been some inflammation constricting
the tube to the back of the throat that balances the air pressure in the
inner ear.

Also, if you don't "keep up" with the pressure changes.. then when the
pressure becomes noticeable, it may take more effort to clear and add to
that any problems with the Eustachian tube.

In my flying career, I once recovered from a cold, was cleared by the fight
surgeon to fly, and on the flight the next day had problems such as you
describe. Some ringing in the ears for the next two hours, sounds as if they
were transmitted through water.. and then a pop. I returned to the flight
surgeon and discovered I was very close to rupturing an ear drum. Descent
rates were much higher than yours, but in a pressure cabin, most noticeable
in the last 2000ft to the ground.

B

"Fred Choate" > wrote in message
...
> Hey Folks...
>
> Had an experience yesterday that I have never had. Took off in a 172 for
> a local flight here in the Puget Sound area. Field elevation 500 ft. I
> climbed to 4000 ft, and flew for about 15 minutes before climbing to 8000
> ft to get a great view of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Rainier.
> After flying for about 45 minutes, I started the descending back toward
> the airfield. I descended at 400 fpm and took it down to 5000 ft, and
> then 500fpm to 2000 ft, and finally down to TPA of 1500 ft. During the
> descent from 5000 to 1500, both myself and my passenger experienced alot
> of pressure in the ears, and both our ears plugged. I could see it was
> very uncomfortable for my passenger, and I wasn't too thrilled either.
>
> After landing, it took a good 2 hours for my ears to be back to normal,
> and probably about that for my passenger as well. Just curious about
> this, as I have never experienced that before. I have only 70 hours, but
> have flown as high as 11500 in a 172, and never had a problem with my
> ears.
>
> I did just purchase a new headset that seals much better than the old set
> I had, and this was my first flight with them, and the passenger was
> wearing a set from the FBO that seals pretty well too. Could headsets
> have been a factor, or is it more likely it was just a fluke situation.
>
> Also, would it have been better to level off when we first started feeling
> the pressure, and see if things would have equalized?
>
>
> Fred
>
>

[George Patterson]

Longworth wrote:

> We always pack Benadryl for our dive trips and
> take it only at night, never during the day time, and at least 12 hours
> before the next dive. However, for flying both Rick ad I draw the
> limit of not taking Benadryl at least 24 hrs before acting as PIC.

Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride works better for PIC. Take it about 1 hour before
the flight.

George Patterson
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.

[Fred Choate]

Both of us recently recovered from sinus infections......maybe it isn't all
the way gone yet. Thanks for the advice.

Fred

"BTIZ" > wrote in message
news:%aP6f.13691$MN6.10580@fed1read04...
> I'd suggest that perhaps both of you are at the early onset of a cold or
> recently recovering and there may have been some inflammation constricting
> the tube to the back of the throat that balances the air pressure in the
> inner ear.
>
> Also, if you don't "keep up" with the pressure changes.. then when the
> pressure becomes noticeable, it may take more effort to clear and add to
> that any problems with the Eustachian tube.
>
> In my flying career, I once recovered from a cold, was cleared by the
> fight surgeon to fly, and on the flight the next day had problems such as
> you describe. Some ringing in the ears for the next two hours, sounds as
> if they were transmitted through water.. and then a pop. I returned to the
> flight surgeon and discovered I was very close to rupturing an ear drum.
> Descent rates were much higher than yours, but in a pressure cabin, most
> noticeable in the last 2000ft to the ground.
>
> B
>
> "Fred Choate" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Hey Folks...
>>
>> Had an experience yesterday that I have never had. Took off in a 172 for
>> a local flight here in the Puget Sound area. Field elevation 500 ft. I
>> climbed to 4000 ft, and flew for about 15 minutes before climbing to 8000
>> ft to get a great view of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Rainier.
>> After flying for about 45 minutes, I started the descending back toward
>> the airfield. I descended at 400 fpm and took it down to 5000 ft, and
>> then 500fpm to 2000 ft, and finally down to TPA of 1500 ft. During the
>> descent from 5000 to 1500, both myself and my passenger experienced alot
>> of pressure in the ears, and both our ears plugged. I could see it was
>> very uncomfortable for my passenger, and I wasn't too thrilled either.
>>
>> After landing, it took a good 2 hours for my ears to be back to normal,
>> and probably about that for my passenger as well. Just curious about
>> this, as I have never experienced that before. I have only 70 hours, but
>> have flown as high as 11500 in a 172, and never had a problem with my
>> ears.
>>
>> I did just purchase a new headset that seals much better than the old set
>> I had, and this was my first flight with them, and the passenger was
>> wearing a set from the FBO that seals pretty well too. Could headsets
>> have been a factor, or is it more likely it was just a fluke situation.
>>
>> Also, would it have been better to level off when we first started
>> feeling the pressure, and see if things would have equalized?
>>
>>
>> Fred
>>
>>
>
>

[Longworth]

George,
I forgot to mention that we also take Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine
hydrochloride) before each dive. It does help to clear the nasal
without any drowsy effect. Because of its drying effect, we try to
drink plenty of water before and right after each dive to reduce the
chance of decompression sickness. The antihistamines work to reduce
swelling in damaged eardrums and also help with sleeping especially on
a diveboat. For flying, Rick takes Sudafed every so often before a
flight but only when he is not the PIC. With two pilots in the family,
we want to play safe.

Hai Longworth

[Stubby]

Fred Choate wrote:
> Never thought of the Benadryl....thanks, I will try that if this happens
> again.
>
> Fred
>
> "Longworth" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>
>>Fred,
>> I had never experienced plugged ears while flying but occasionaly had
>>problems in scuba diving. Plugged ears resulted from both the rate of
>>pressure change and your physical condition (onset of a cold etc.).
>>I'd suggest leveling off the next time that your ears felt
>>uncomfortable. Continue to descent may damage your eardrums. If any
>>discomfort lingers after a flight (or a dive), antihistamine pills
>>provide great relief. We always pack Benadryl for our dive trips and
>>take it only at night, never during the day time, and at least 12 hours
>>before the next dive. However, for flying both Rick ad I draw the
>>limit of not taking Benadryl at least 24 hrs before acting as PIC.
>>
>>Hai Longworth
>>
Please be careful. Some of the drugs mention in this thread can cause
drowsiness and/or aggrivate blood pressure. Your AME can provide useful
info.

[Bob Noel]

In article >,
"Fred Choate" > wrote:

> Both of us recently recovered from sinus infections......maybe it isn't all
> the way gone yet. Thanks for the advice.

yep - that is one possibility. I've flown after headcolds and get a little
more ear popping that normal.

--
Bob Noel
no one likes an educated mule

[Tri-Pacer]

Hi Fred:

I'm in the same area as you.I'm based at Spanaway. During are last couple of
days of beautiful weather I noticed that I had a LOT of sinus congestion. I
wonder if you might have allergies you are unaware of. There was a lot of
smog down low and a lot of wood smoke in the air where I am at. You could
see a dirty brown layer topping out at around 1500 AGL. I never got above
2000, but I'll bet if I went high I would have noticed the pressure.

Flew Friday--Saturday says the Spouse "You were at the airport all day
yesterday, honey do day today" Sunday IFR

Cheers:

Paul
N1431A

[Fred Choate]

You are right Paul.....it was a great weekend to fly. I flew Saturday
afternoon out of Thun Field. That smog layer you talk of was for sure
there. We took off and got great views of Rainier, and then went south over
Morton and at 6000 to 8000 we got great pictures of Adams and Helens as
well. We could even see Hood down to the south! But, looking back to the
north, you couldn't see much......you may be right about the allergy
thing....

Fred


"Tri-Pacer" > wrote in message
. ..
> Hi Fred:
>
> I'm in the same area as you.I'm based at Spanaway. During are last couple
> of days of beautiful weather I noticed that I had a LOT of sinus
> congestion. I wonder if you might have allergies you are unaware of. There
> was a lot of smog down low and a lot of wood smoke in the air where I am
> at. You could see a dirty brown layer topping out at around 1500 AGL. I
> never got above 2000, but I'll bet if I went high I would have noticed the
> pressure.
>
> Flew Friday--Saturday says the Spouse "You were at the airport all day
> yesterday, honey do day today" Sunday IFR
>
> Cheers:
>
> Paul
> N1431A
>

[Morgans]

"Fred Choate" > wrote

> After landing, it took a good 2 hours for my ears to be back to normal,
and
> probably about that for my passenger as well. Just curious about this, as
I
> have never experienced that before. I

More than likely, you both experienced a medical condition, causing you ears
to not equalize. This time of year, it is common to have a lot of sinus
drainage due to allergies, and then some of the drainage gets into the
estasian(sp?) tubes, and causes inflammation and plugging.

If you ever have this problem again, try a quick shot of Afrin, or other
same products to clear the drainage. You have to do that after the flight,
because I believe that is a banned over the counter medication. Of course,
your passenger is free to use it! ;-)

A decongestant/antihistamine might also help, but again be careful of the
included ingredients, and the banned medications list.
--
Jim in NC

[Randy]

An old timer once gave me the tip that those menthol inhalers can work
wonders when your ears get plugged. I keep one in the bag and more
than once after a too hasty descent it's had me unplugged and feeling
better within minutes.

Clyde

[Longworth]

I agree. This is why I stated our 24 hrs limit for taking Benadryl
before flying.
Here are the FAA guidelines from this website
http://www.aviationmedicine.com/allergies.htm

Over-the Counter Antihistamines

"The over-the-counter products such as chlorpheneramine (Clortrimaton,
CTM) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) found in many commercial products
cause drowsiness. They are not permitted by the FAA and a pilot should
wait at least twice as long as the dosing recommendation after the last
dose to fly. For example, if the directions read take every six hours",
the pilot should wait at least twelve hours after the last dose before
considering flying. These medications may have subtle adverse effects
for much longer in some individuals. Chronic treatment with over the
counter antihistamines requires a 24 hour wait after the last dose
before flying, according to the FAA Guide for Aviation Medical
Examiners."

Decongestants

"Decongestants, such as Sudafed, are often used with allergies to
constrict blood vessels in the nose and relieve the running nose.
Pseudoephedrine, found in Sudafed, and phenylpropanolamine, found in
many other products, are both approved. These medications act
throughout the entire body by constricting blood vessels. Side effects
may include an increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure and
difficulty urinating in men with prostate problems. Because the
frequently keep individuals awake, they are often combined with
non-approved antihistamines sold over the counter. These combinations
of decongestants and OTC antihistamines are not approved within twelve
hours of flying."

[Fred Choate]

That is funny, because I thought about using Vicks to help, but didn't. It
may have.

Fred

"Randy" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> An old timer once gave me the tip that those menthol inhalers can work
> wonders when your ears get plugged. I keep one in the bag and more
> than once after a too hasty descent it's had me unplugged and feeling
> better within minutes.
>
> Clyde
>

[George Patterson]

Randy wrote:

> An old timer once gave me the tip that those menthol inhalers can work
> wonders when your ears get plugged.

I'm not familiar with these. Got a brand name?

George Patterson
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.

[Randy]

Vicks makes the ones around here (WV). You can find them in any drug
store, WalMart, KMart, etc. They run about $3 or so and last for
months.

[Jay Somerset]

On Sun, 23 Oct 2005 07:01:42 -0700, "Fred Choate" >
wrote:

> Hey Folks...
>
> Had an experience yesterday that I have never had. Took off in a 172 for a
> local flight here in the Puget Sound area. Field elevation 500 ft. I
> climbed to 4000 ft, and flew for about 15 minutes before climbing to 8000 ft
> to get a great view of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Rainier. After
> flying for about 45 minutes, I started the descending back toward the
> airfield. I descended at 400 fpm and took it down to 5000 ft, and then
> 500fpm to 2000 ft, and finally down to TPA of 1500 ft. During the descent
> from 5000 to 1500, both myself and my passenger experienced alot of pressure
> in the ears, and both our ears plugged. I could see it was very
> uncomfortable for my passenger, and I wasn't too thrilled either.
>
> After landing, it took a good 2 hours for my ears to be back to normal, and
> probably about that for my passenger as well. Just curious about this, as I
> have never experienced that before. I have only 70 hours, but have flown as
> high as 11500 in a 172, and never had a problem with my ears.
>
> I did just purchase a new headset that seals much better than the old set I
> had, and this was my first flight with them, and the passenger was wearing a
> set from the FBO that seals pretty well too. Could headsets have been a
> factor, or is it more likely it was just a fluke situation.
>
> Also, would it have been better to level off when we first started feeling
> the pressure, and see if things would have equalized?
>
>
> Fred
>
I've read about a dozen replies, and not one mentioned the good old "val
salva" method of unblocking ears after a descent. Also used routinely by
anyone who snorkles or scubadives.

Pinch your nose and blow gently -- your ears should squeak and then pop,
equalizing the pressure. If it starts to hurt, stop -- you could rupture n
eardrum if you do this too aggressively. Done properly, this will clear many
cases of plugged eustachian tubes.
--
Jay.
(remove dashes for legal email address)

[George Patterson]

Jay Somerset wrote:

> I've read about a dozen replies, and not one mentioned the good old "val
> salva" method of unblocking ears after a descent. Also used routinely by
> anyone who snorkles or scubadives.

I did early on.

George Patterson
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.