crewdawg

It's the MBU-20P. http://www.gentexcorp.com/default.aspx?pageid=227 Maybe that is the incorrect name but that is all I have ever heard it called. It is a b!tch to get your fingers up to your nose to valsalva. But I did a chamber ride and found a way to clear much easier, hopefully be back in the jet tuesday. Thanks for all the help.

blastboy

Chew gum. I heard this helps sometimes.

mike734

If the problem has been going on longer than a cold, go to the doc (ENT). I had problems with my sinus that kept getting worse. The ENT found all kinds of pollups and crap up there. Surgery took care of it. GO TO THE DOC.

TonyC

Tweet? Pressurization system? That's a new one on me.



Short of the valsalva, there are other things you can do with your jaw, and with your breathing, that will have subtle changes on the airways that tend to get blocked. Opening your mouth wide can stretch certain areas that might help the blockage, but so can straining the same muscles without actually opening your mouth. Try moving your chin left and right, and see if you don't feel some pressure changes. Again, tightening the same muscles without actually moving your chin can have the same effect.


A "mini" valsalva of sorts will have a gentle effect. Close your mouth, but don't tocuh your nose, and just blow quickly and gently -- not enough to dislodge anything you wouldn't want dangling on your lip, mind you, just a gentle puff. Quick short puffs seem to have the best effect.


Experiment with these on the ground and practice the ones that have the best effect for you. I can tighten muscles that open the passageways without moving anything, and it's very effective.


HOWEVER, none of the above will work if you get behind. You have to stay ahead of the pressurization changes, and that means doing those clearing maneuvers even before you feel any pressure build. Once you feel the pressure on your ears, you're behind. Skip right to the valsalva to get ahead of it again, and then keep clearing. When you are using the correct rate, you'll use your method and feel a tiny pressure relief, even though you didnt' realize there was pressure to begin with.






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EugeneZ

Drink water. Its the swallowing effect that gets rid of it. You can drink whatever you want. It clears up the block that some people get when they go up or down in a plane. Worked for me, for years.

TonyC

Did you look at the mask?


Drinking is not an option, nor is putting anything on or in or over an ear -- the helmet is in the way.




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crewdawg

haha......My feeble attempt at humor.

Thanks for all the help. I will try all of these once I get back in the jet. For now going to test mask and swallowing seems to be what works for me.


BTW....Has anyone tried this out?

http://www.etravelergear.com/earforfligea.html

EvilGN

TonyC's comments are dead on, stay ahead of the descent with his techniques.

another place you can practice this stuff is in the pool, as you lower yourself below 6-8ft I would imagine YOU (the OP) should start to feel the pressure, you can practice the different techniques there.

Disclaimer: Don't drown yourself or rupture a sinus if you try the pool thing!

TonyC

I've heard of the Naval Air Station . . .




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fatmike69

I used to have major problems with this as well, it was usually just my left ear that would plug up on descent. One time I had it so bad that it filled with fluid, and the fluid stayed present for close to two months, almost had to have tubes put in. I realized at this point that I would need a reliable method for ear clearing. I learned a technique that is simply a combination of the valsalva (pinch nose and blow) with a swallow at the same time. It takes a while to get the hang of it, but once perfected, it is EXTREMLEY effective. In fact, you can even "pre-pressurize" your ears right before the descent if desired, and it works very well.

Remember, the trick is to be able to swallow while you have pressure in your sinus (generated by pinching the nose, and attempting to breathe air out your nose. It doesn't have to be forcibly, light pressure works just fine)