Ear issues (Pain, ringing, tinnitus, tubes, perforations)

[Guest]

So did you get the procedure done? and if so were you able to take your FC1?

I found another public link to the waiver guide (see my signature). Check out the section titled "Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and Otitis Media."

Other procedures such as adenoid resection and laser eustachian tuboplasty have also shown a mix of success and failure in treating ETD. Thus, regardless of whether medically or surgically treated, and regardless of specific etiology, the outcome of any treatment for ETD needs to be evaluated on a case by case basis to determine the presence of acceptable ET function. This is especially true in the aviator population.

You would likely have gotten a waiver (if your condition was serious enough and caught at the time of your IFC and you had the procedure earliy on and the procedure fixed the condition). But getting any procedure now would DNIF for several months, and then the waiver would later be submitted and might take around 45 days on it's own. You're best bet is to try to resolve these acute issues, and later be evaluated for possible recurrent/chronic ear conditions. Edited February 10, 2013 by deaddebate

[Tnkrdriver]

I found another public link to the waiver guide (see my signature). Check out the section titled "Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and Otitis Media."You would likely have gotten a waiver (if your condition was serious enough and caught at the time of your IFC and you had the procedure earliy on and the procedure fixed the condition). But getting any procedure now would DNIF for several months, and then the waiver would later be submitted and might take around 45 days on it's own. You're best bet is to try to resolve these acute issues, and later be evaluated for possible recurrent/chronic ear conditions.

Doc, very helpful thanks for the info...

[Motrin]

I found another public link to the waiver guide (see my signature). Check out the section titled "Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and Otitis Media."You would likely have gotten a waiver (if your condition was serious enough and caught at the time of your IFC and you had the procedure earliy on and the procedure fixed the condition). But getting any procedure now would DNIF for several months, and then the waiver would later be submitted and might take around 45 days on it's own. You're best bet is to try to resolve these acute issues, and later be evaluated for possible recurrent/chronic ear conditions.

https://www.enttoday.org/details/article/496989/Eustachian_Tuboplasty_A_Potential_New_Option_for_Chronic_Tube_Dysfunction_and_Pa.html

Again we don't give out medical advice publicly, but the above article has more info on the procedure.

Aero medically if you had this condition and you were going IFC 1 they would take a long hard look at you, probably ACS eval, and they would wait probably years after the surgery since the restenosis rates are high, meaning it may come back. You're also looking at long term anti inflammatories like steroid inhalers which is not ok for class 1 but waiver able

For trained asset you are looking at prolonged DNIF but i could see acs clearing someone for low performance acft. This is one of those special times when you get to be a trailblazer. I always thought it was cool when I brought an aviator back to flying (something) by challenging the reg. EDIT disclaimer, things might not work out. Good luck

Edited February 11, 2013 by Motrin

[CCoates23]

Damn it. I was expecting more answers here. I also suffer from tinnitus and hyperacusis. It just started on new year's eve. It's pretty terrible. 

[wikz]

I have a question regarding ear infections.

About a year ago, I started getting ear infections quite frequently from wearing over ear headphones at the gym. it came to the point where I had like four in the span of a couple months and it got pretty bad. I ended up going to my doctor about it and all he could do was give me eardrops and advise me to stop listening to music while in the gym (real bummer). I did that for a while and thought id try to listen to music again while doing things like homework of just for the sake of listening to tunes and found that I was getting them again just from having them on for longer than an hour. it comes to a point where if you get too many that it can actually be detrimental to your hearing and I believe you need good hearing to be a pilot. I even tried just regular AirPods that dont cover the full ear and it does the same thing. ive scoured the internet searching for solutions and it seems like the only answer is "clean your headphones" (isn't that pretty obvious?) which I do before every time I wear them. However, I did find that putting garlic oil drops in your ear stops infections, so maybe putting those in beforehand??

it seems like ive become very susceptible to ear infections with no clue what's causing it because ALOT of people can wear ear phones for hours on end and be fine. I dont understand why I am any different or what caused me to just get so many ear infections so randomly. 

for records sake, ear infections from headphones are usually caused by moisture and fluid being trapped in the ear creating a warm temperature building up bacteria and ear wax causing the ear to get infected. this has me wondering: are the fighter pilot helmets super snug on your head to the point where it restricts air flow into the ear? do you have to wear earbuds when you fly?

This got me worrying about the MFS process (if I did get hired one day). is this a disqualifying possibility because how can I possibly fly and defend my country when I would get an ear infection from wearing the helmet and earbuds every single sortie ultimately leading to hearing loss?

has anyone heard of others having this problem? is there any remedies? 

sorry this is kind of all over the place, I would appreciate any feedback. 

 

Edited April 22 by wikz

[wikz]

apologies for the way too specific problem, and hoping to find a solution on a forum.

anyways, for knowledge sake, I was diagnosed with chronic ear infection and was given allergy medicine (loratadine tablets and fluticasone propionate nasal spray) by my doctor. when I went to my ENT, she cleaned the wax out of my ears and gave me ciprofloxdexameth otic susp ear drops which helped with hearing loss and the middle ear infection.

things have been going good so far (knock on wood), so hopefully this can help anyone else who runs into the issue.