StearmanR985 0 #1 October 20, 2003 I am hoping to start my training soon at the Parachute Center in Lodi [:) But...... My ears are quite sensitive to the rapid altitude changes (i have had ear trouble since I was a child). Don't want to gross anyone out here, but after my last tandem jump I got a bit of fluid behind my ear drums for a few days, ouch . Any advice? I asked my doctor about it, he suggested I pursue a different hobby....Wrong answer! Any help would be greatly appreciated. Jeffrey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WrongWay 0 #2 October 20, 2003 Well, I'm no doctor, and I know nothing of your problems with your ears (or any medical stuff for that matter), but I would tell a person to wear ear plugs and spend the whole ride clearing out your ears (by yawning, swallowing, etc.). If that doesn't work, and you still wanna jump, I would suggest learning sign language. Ya know, just in case. Wrong Way D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451 The wiser wolf prevails. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmcd308 0 #3 October 20, 2003 PM Muenkel. ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
storm1977 0 #4 October 20, 2003 I too had many problems as a kid with my ears. Now, I still have some issues, especially in cold weather. Through my short experience in jumping there are a couple things I have noticed. 1) The more often you jump, the less the ears will bother you. 2) Jumping while congested is a VERY bad idea. It is true. My first jump was quite painful, and I couldn't hear good for days. After my second jump my ears didn't hurt much, and recovery time for my hearing was about 1 day. After my 3rd I forgot my ears used to be a problem. However, Recently I hadn't jumped in over a month, plus I was getting over a cold. Sure enough I jumped and was in a great deal of pain under canopy. Once I cleared my ears though I was fine. I think going up in altitude opens the ear cannals a bit and allows fluid to flow behind the ear. Rapid pressurazation can trap that fluid and cause pain and muffled sound. Eventually the fluid is absorbed, flows back out or causes an infection. Take some suddefed (Never on jump days) and wait it out. I think you will find that if you jump within the next 30 days your ears won't be as bad. If you stay current I think you will find they get better and better the more you jump. I always wondered why the instructors never told any of the students at my DZ about the ear problem, but I suspect it is because it has been a while since they experienced it themselves. Chris ----------------------------------------------------- Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fast 0 #5 October 20, 2003 QuoteI am hoping to start my training soon at the Parachute Center in Lodi [:) But...... My ears are quite sensitive to the rapid altitude changes (i have had ear trouble since I was a child). Don't want to gross anyone out here, but after my last tandem jump I got a bit of fluid behind my ear drums for a few days, ouch . Any advice? I asked my doctor about it, he suggested I pursue a different hobby....Wrong answer! Any help would be greatly appreciated. Jeffrey I think it might be wise to talk to an ear, nose, throat doctor, and tell them that you are determined to become a skydiver and that not jumping, won't cut it. Ask them about the potential problems, and what kind of solutions that you have because you don't see not jumping as one of them.~D Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me. Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuteless 1 #6 October 20, 2003 the previous reply from "FAST" is the best advice. I spent a long time studying the ear for my application to the Canadian Space program years ago, and there are simply to many things to consider here. Make sure the Doctor specializes in the ear. Good luck, and if you can't hear me....I'll wave . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,447 #7 October 20, 2003 He's right. You have to have good, educated, advice. If you have a problem that needs medical advice, and you have to hide stuff from your doctor, then you're risking making yourself miserable for a lot of years. Something you could think about trying is going the static line program. You will be increasing the altitude incrementally, which might give you an idea of just how much you can do at once, without actually having to do it at once. No, you don't get as much freefall in your first jumps, but it might be a better way for your particular needs. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuteless 1 #8 October 20, 2003 good idea Wendy. makes good sense Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StearmanR985 0 #9 October 20, 2003 Thank you all for your help! I will be going the static route due to $$$ defficiencies so hopefully the ears will adjust over time. If not, well hell, they're only ears.... Bye for now, Jeffrey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyDave 0 #10 October 20, 2003 actually i sorta know what u mean with the ear thing... i got it on my first jump, REALLY BAD EAR ACHE. but i was high on adrenaline so i didnt care! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aero04 0 #11 October 20, 2003 I too have had problems with my ears, but my trouble started when I was 18. My ears are sensitive to sound and pressure changes and I've got some nerve damage in one ear. BTW, by sensitive to sound I mean sounds that others think are moderately loud are downright painful for me. A concert is a good example. Anyway, my ears were ringing, felt full of fluid, and I couldn't hear that well after my first jump and this lasted for about a week. Second jump, same thing. It took quite a few jumps for my ears to get accustomed to skydiving. Now they are usually no problem. If I go awhile without jumping (~2 weeks), I'll have a bit of ear trouble for a day or two. It seems like the more you do it, the better your ears will handle it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydivingdutch 0 #12 October 21, 2003 I jumped last weekend right after being sick that week. My head was all congested. All that happend was i had to clear my ears (like u do when going down SCUBA diving) after i was under canopy. Kinda annoying, but not any problem. Pieter http://dropman.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldnewbie 0 #13 October 21, 2003 Like somebody else said, talk to muenkel!!! Both he and I have had problems with our ears for months. I would (and did after i screwed my ears up) go to an ear, nose, throat specialist and get their opinion. My problem started out small, but i kept jumping. Bad move. Now its been 5 months since my last jump. My ears are just now starting to get better. Mine appear to be from allergies, so the doc says! Dang, now i have to get current again. Take care of your ears, they are the only ones you will ever get!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muenkel 0 #14 October 21, 2003 I heard from stearman. What healed my ears after 6 weeks was a run of prednisone. I know now to listen to my body. If I have allergies or a cold, it's not the time to jump. Chris _________________________________________ Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
schattenjaeger 0 #15 October 21, 2003 I've heard nasty stories about people jumping all congested and having their sinuses rupture. It's not fatal, but having a bloody nose for several weeks is probably annoying...and unsanitary, at best Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuteless 1 #16 October 21, 2003 Stearman: One thing I would like to know. Do you listen to loud music with a headset, especially the kind you inbed deep into your ears and they have to be taken out when you talk to someone. / This can certainly give you hearing problems which would be added to when jumping. My son is making himself deaf with such a device, and wont listen to anyone. I told him, in about 5 more years of that stupidity, he wont be able to hear anything...no phone calls, no music, just deafening silence. Telling him to change his method is like flogging a dead horse....it will not get up and walk. I've told him, make it a bit easier by wearing a headset that can rest on the temples and transmit the sound through the bone to the ear drums. You can still carry a conversation that way as people speaking can by pass the headset on the temple and talk to his ears. He still wont listen. This could be part of your problem.....just a thought. I wish you well Bill Cole D-41 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
projanska 0 #17 October 21, 2003 QuoteStearman: Do you listen to loud music with a headset, especially the kind you inbed deep into your ears and they have to be taken out when you talk to someone. / My son is making himself deaf with such a device, and wont listen to anyone. You know, it's not the headset but the loudness... I think you could try talk to your son about dropping the level. Usually with phones it's easy to listen to music louder than it's neccesary just out of a habit - when you drop the volume, it'll sound odd and quiet at first but after few minutes you can hear it just as well as before you lowered the volume. Just ask him to try it. Oh, but on the pressure thing. I personally like to chew bubblegum on the way up, it works just as if doing the yawning motion but you don't have to think about it. Besides for some reason it helps on the nervousness I get as a S/L student But on the ear issue, ear doctor will help you I'm sure. ___ "Ye Gods!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
