Hey guys, if you have any more information on this I'd love to hear it... I'm currently on disability due to an ear injury I sustained flying... not fun, and neither is being cooped up in your house for a month!

I've always had issues with my right ear, Valsava maneuver is a common practice for my flying, and I love to find a solution to keep me in the sky. I've heard of getting tubes put in your ears, which to be honest isn't the best idea for me as I am an avid free divier, scuba diver, and surfer...

What can you tell me about this tube in the estachian tube stent??

Any other ideas, I'm all ears.. so to speak

I don't know anything more, a navy DMO (diving medical officer) just told me about it in passing several years ago. I'm sure an ENT doc could fill you in.

Obviously, for the OP, the pressure changes are excessive. He needs to see a doc (and I hope he has already) before he "goes diving".

That's the point, he can control the pressure change and practice in the water. You can't do that in the air unless ATC is OK with you leveling off every 2000' on the way down.

I had trouble clearing too at one point but diving fixed it for me.

If you're just starting to note ear pressure/discomfort, go to an ear/nose/throat specialist as soon as you can. It'll save you much trouble in the end if you have an inner ear infection.

A few years ago, I was starting to note degraded hearing and slight pain, and I ignored it thinking it was just a cold/sinus problem. Few days later the ear drum burst. It felt like someone was shoving an ice pick in my ear repeatedly. I was out for a few months on FMLA until the drum healed, and have had tubes installed ever since to ensure that no more fluid builds up.

Going to an ENT is worth whatever your insurance co-pay is, trust me.