Airflow When Doing Valsalva

[RobPNW]

I’m not on a diving trip or anything but I felt the need to equalize my ears yesterday. No cold, sinus, allergy, fever, congestion issues at all right now. Normally when I pinch my nose and blow gently, I feel airflow briefly, but when the pressure is balanced, the airflow stops. This time on one side the airflow keeps going as long as I blow. It feels like there’s a pressure boundary that’s leaking IOW. The other side stops normally. Yeah normal disclosure see an ENT etc. Any thoughts on where that air may be escaping to?

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

I’m not on a diving trip or anything but I felt the need to equalize my ears yesterday. No cold, sinus, allergy, fever, congestion issues at all right now. Normally when I pinch my nose and blow gently, I feel airflow briefly, but when the pressure is balanced, the airflow stops. This time on one side the airflow keeps going as long as I blow. It feels like there’s a pressure boundary that’s leaking IOW. The other side stops normally. Yeah normal disclosure see an ENT etc. Any thoughts on where that air may be escaping to?

Can you describe what you mean by feeling airflow? Healthy middle ears should equalize pretty much instantaneously with a gentle valsalva. A sensation of flowing air could indicate an obstructed Eustachian tube. If that sensation goes on longer than usual, it could mean that one tube is more obstructed than the other. If you think there's a leak someplace, the most likely thing would be a tympanic membrane rupture.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[RobPNW]

When I blow, I normally feel air pressure move into the middle ear for a split second and then things are equalized. Right now, that happens on one side. On the other side, I can feel air movement as long as I blow like it’s leaking somewhere. Thanks. Have an ENT appointment later this week but was hoping someone has experienced this. I mean could it be my eardrum is perforated and air is crossing the eardrum?

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

I mean could it be my eardrum is perforated and air is crossing the eardrum?

That was the first thing I thought of. Hope things go well with the ENT, can you post back once you hear?

Best regards,
DDM