Skydiving with head cold?

[hooked 0]

What would be the discomfort, if any, of doing a skydive with a head cold?

[Slappie 9]

I didn't do a skydive with a head cold but I rode the plane. My head felt like it was going to EXPLODE at altitude!! The expansion of your sinuses and stuff fills your head with so much pressure you could rupture an eardrum, sinus blood vessels.. It's not a good idea to jump with a head cold or blocked sinuses with alergies period.
This is my .02
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[skygeek 0]

IT HURTS!!!! BAD!!!! DONT TRY IT!!!

[skreamer 1]

WHAT? WHAT DID YOU SAY???
YOU'LL HAVE TO SPEAK UP COS I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING SINCE I WENT SKYDIVING WITH A COLD....

/S
PS WANNA BUY A FROG?

[Zennie 0]

I jumped with a headcold once...
Once.
Last thing you need to do is blow out an eardrum because you're congested.
"Zero Tolerance: the politically correct term for zero thought, zero common sense."

[hooked 0]

Okay, thanks everyone! Now I just have to work on getting rid of this thing! I think I already knew the answer, but it was such a depressing thought, not being able to jump!

[riggerrob 643]

Discomfort?
Does burying an axe in your skull bring discomfort?
To kill the bug try echninacea.

[MiataDRM 0]

I did it last weekend! I took a nasal decongestant to dry up my sinus...it worked, but it still took me 4 hours for my ears to pop. If you are going to do it...make sure u take sinus/head cold meds far ahead in time. Or if you are smarter than I am, wait 'til you feel better.! :-)
**I'm a Pschydiver!
Majdi

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

nasal decongestant

You know, its probably not a real good idea to jump if your really hopped up on goof-balls. Most decongestants don't do anything to me, but there's a couple that I don't even want to drive after I take them, much less jump...
AggieDave '02
Too much of anything is bad, Too much burbon is just right.--MarkTwain

[Kelly 0]

PS WANNA BUY A FROG?
____________________________
let the bidding begin at.........
mE! ME! ME!!! whats the deal? you got a prince there?... hmmm
http://www.geocities.com/flynfroggie/skydiving_friends.html

[rendezvous 0]

Don't push it. Fix yourself up first. People make mistakes under mals even when they are absolutely fine who knows how your head cold may affect your ability to make those decisions when the time comes. It's not something you wan't to find out the hard way, do you.

[freeflir29 0]

Head Cold + Skydiving= Bad Juju!!! Last time I did that stupid crap I couldn't hear for a whole day. It pushed snot into my middle ear so I couldn't hear anything on the right side. It went away because I purposely went to sleep on my right side. It drained and I was fine the next day but I won't do it again.
"I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"
Clay

[MiataDRM 0]

Good point & I probably shouldn't have done it, but it seemed harmless at the time. I should have clarified my earlier post a little better...I guess my wife is right, I do need to work on my communication skills! No goof balls...I'm talking about a day time (non-drowsy) formula like sutafed, comptrex, or Motrin sinus/headache. I'm stubborn and rarely take meds...so my body is sensitive to them and work for me! :o)
**I'm a Pschydiver!
Majdi

[DBTECH 0]

This is an earlier post regarding the question of ear problems. db
I would not jump with a cold/sinus congestion, but if you feel it's minor, then---
If your Eustachian tubes are relatively clear, you should be able to clear/pop your ears by blowing on your pinched nose "slightly," thus, pressurizing/clearing your ears. (equalizing/creating pressure in the middle ear space)
As we ascend to higher altitudes the expanding air in the middle ear space exits easily through the Eustachian tubes. It's the re - pressurization of the middle ear space on descent that presents varying problems for many people. (like a check valve)
I recommend never jumping with a cold, as this can drive mucus into the middle ear space via the Eustachian tubes, (when/if your middle ear spaces try to equalize/clear during the jump) possibly causing a middle ear infection. (or worse) If your ears do not equalize/clear on descent this 'can' result in a ruptured ear drum. The potential for a ruptured ear drum will depend on the absolute pressure in the middle ear space at exit, and the altitude that will be descended, and of course if your ears don't equalize/clear. (air entering into the middle ear space via the Eustachian tubes)
A good rule of thumb is; if you can clear/pop your ears by blowing on your pinched nose slightly,
on the ground, and at jump altitude, you are probably OK to jump. There is also a slight plus here at altitude, as you are slightly pre-pressurizing the middle ear spaces before the jump. (as long as you don't swallow after) HA-HA All of the above will all but eliminate the chance of a ruptured ear drum.
As said before, I recommend never jumping with a cold.
BTW: Ruptured ear drums normally heal with minimal scar tissue, but I would listen to your doctor as far as returning to jumping. (and only when I could pressurize/clear my ears with minimum sinus pressure. (nose pressure)
Decongestants can also help clear your sinuses after a cold.
Yes, I do Scuba dive also.
Dave Brownell
Mesa/Eloy, AZ

[SkydiveMonkey 0]

Hop 'n' Pop !! I like my women like I like my coffee - hot and with a spoon in

• Quote

[Stacy 0]

jumped with a head cold earlier in the summer. wanted to get in more coached jumps, so it seemed like a good idea. HA!
ended up rupturing a few blood vessels in my nose which took forever to heal up- every time you blow your nose they pop again.. it was nuts. needless to say, it was not pretty at all.
Stacy
http://users.snip.net/~stacy