"Muscle humming" inside my head? :)

[neekoh]

Hi,
Lately I've been reading again about equalization and BTV and people who are "born with the gift" of opening their eustachian tubes. I'm one of those who have given it a shot with the persistence to practice for an hour a few times, then call it quits because it just wouldn't happen. Now I'm again feeling motivated as ever trying again. I can usually do a comfortable frenzel against my mask without hands, but it depends on the day, sometimes I just spill out a few bubbles trying, then quickly grab my nose and equalize (and usually have to stop descending for a second). It's ok as I'm not competing, but I hate the unconsistency and the effect of having to resort to plan b, usually ruining whatever I'm doing.

To the topic. I can contract some muscles inside my head, resulting in a deep loud humming in my ears. Have been able to since as long as I can remember. The squeeze itself feels weird, like squeezing the muscles in your pelvic diaphragm (had to look it up, hope it makes sense, close to "holding your pee in" ), it's hard to keep the contraction going on for very long. When I do it repeatedly in short "snaps", or manage to do it for a longer period, I usually end up feeling my tubes having negative pressure, like reverse equalizing. Only a couple of times, with some jaw-wiggle and a tongue press has it resulted in a slight popping sound. If someone knows what I'm doing, I would love to hear an explanation and perhaps any idea if it could lead to mastering btv.
My guess is that I'm actually contracting muscles around the eustachian tubes somewhere, but instead of being able to open them voluntarily, I manage to lessen the volume in the tubes momentarily and in fact sometimes push some air out, resulting in negative pressure when I stop. That's how it feels, but I haven't found a way to really tell. In a swimming pool I've tried to descend to about 1-2m without equalizing, just when my ears start to hurt, then doing the hum trick and the pain goes away for the duration of doing it. Without getting more air into the tubes the pressure will only rise by making the volume smaller. (Or then the pain recedes because of something else.) That in itself would otherwise be cool to find a few more meters when going deeper, but the problem is that I have to "let go" at some point and the pain comes back.
The humming sounds like what you hear if you put your ear tight against your bicep and flex the bicep, only a lot louder. (Ok, not that easy to realize necessarily). To the surface nothing can be seen happening except for mey eyes seem to want to close a bit, and it can't be heard either.

Any ideas, please share.

[Longfins]

Neekoh,

That 'humming' sound may well be the sound of the muscles 'pulling' the tubes open. Try to verify if your tube is actually open: While this 'hum' is going on, make a real noise in your throat. If your tubes are open the sound will feel very loud, like you're in a cave with lots of echo in your head everywhere (well maybe not that much...).

Try to make this 'hum' effect while you're doing the frenzel (pinch your nose, get a mouthful of air, close the wind pipe, relax soft palette to neutral position, use tongue to push air back and up) and see if this aids in your Frenzel. If you're clearing your tubes then this can help cross you over from frenzel to BTV. Remember you have to get some air in order to fill the tube volume. 'Pulling' the tube open is only half of it. The rest of the BTV is pretty much the Frenzel maneuver.

Practice a lot. Practice, practice, practice.

Best,

Peter S.

[neekoh]

Thanks, Longfins!
The 'hum' makes a difference in everything I hear, but it's not the same sound than when the tubes are open. After I keep pushing air in with a long frenzel or after a good work-out, the tubes sometimes are left open for a moment, and I know it's not the same.
Whilst doing the hum, frenzel still requires the same effort and yields the familiar pop, that's why I feel it's unfortunately not opening the tubes.
I'll keep practising and try to feel the inside of my head better! Thanks.

[eckaflx]

I can make the humming sound you're talking about. Always been able to, since I was young. I've often wondered whats actually happening in my head when I do it. Although I've not been able to utilise it to equalise, it feels as though I should...

[neekoh]

Originally Posted by eckaflx

Although I've not been able to utilise it to equalise, it feels as though I should...

Exactly, mate! It just feels to me, the more I practice, that it has no real use for that (or any) purpose. I also used to wonder if I'm just imagining it.

[Lachlan]

Hey this is interesting,
I can make that humming noise too. Have been able to do it since I was young (still am at 17!). I can do it by using a exhale or almost burping motion or when yawning and it feels like I am using a muscle in my head. I can sort of voluntarily control it and make the hum pulsate but still unsure what it does. It feels like the bicep against the ear hum so I think it is the same thing. I have tried using it a few times but can't figure out what I can use it for. It does feel like it should have a use but I have tried numerous times trying to figure it out.

Well it is good to know that I am not the only one and others are trying to use it. Let me know if you find a use for it or an explanation as to what it is and does.

Catchya, Lachlan

[Aquagenic]

Same thing here, slight humming sound, but I can usually hold my tubes open dry. (I know because when I inhale or exhale I can feel the positive and negative pressure change on my eardrums). I just have not been able to do it wet yet.

If I make the humming sound, hold my nose, then inhale through my nose I can suck air out of my ears creating a strong negative pressure on my eardrums.

The humming feels the same as when you yawn but you don't inhale or let your mouth open.

Till Later...

~Picksmith

[OceanMan]

The humming sound is directly related to BTV. I am one of the guys who are born with btv and that is how I do it. When I do the humming sound in water (ie opening the eustachian tubes) I equalize.

[neekoh]

Originally Posted by OceanMan

The humming sound is directly related to BTV. I am one of the guys who are born with btv and that is how I do it. When I do the humming sound in water (ie opening the eustachian tubes) I equalize.

That's what I wanted to hear and didn't want to hear. It's great it has a relation to BTV, but I really haven't been able to use it for any effect. Must continue practicing - good motivation build-up.