I ask this question about every six months!
This is quite a long post to put you fully in the picture of why I'm
particularly concerned about flying - I really have to tackle it!

Any new thoughts?:

Contents:
1. How I got tinnitus & why I think I'm right to be  concerned about
flying.
2. What I already know.
3. Some questions.

1. How I got tinnitus
six months prior to getting it, flying back from Italy, on descent I
had severe pain in my right* ear until my eardrum went "psst" and the
pain stopped.
I presume a small perforation occurred, releasing the pressure, though
a few days later, my doctor could see no evidence of a perforation.

I started scuba training diving in 10 feet of water
diving was painful. After a particular training session, I noticed a
gentle hissing in right* ear.
Doctor reassured me "it was coincidence and will go away£ so...
Next scuba session resulted in an increase to 'moderate' noise in
right ear, 'gentle' noise in my previously silent left ear.
A third, and final, scuba session; both ears louder.
I therefore presume, definite connection between the pressure of scuba
at just 10 feet, and the development of my tinnitus.
Significantly, I associate the louder right ear tinnitus with the
earlier pressure problem in the airplane.

.........
So I'm fairly sure that a further mild pressure problem, be it scuba
or flying, will make my tinnitus worse.
.........
2. What I already know
Valsalva manouver to clear ears through eustacian tubes -I know how to
do it;
But if I do manage this, and my ears are probably still aching or at
least feeling uncomfortable, how do I know I've got the balance right.
I have a huge difficulty clearing my ears, and there's a danger I'd
overcompensate it and create a pressure problem in the other
direction. So how can I tell?
I could get grommets/tubes fitted through my eardrums. I'd feel
confident enough to try  flying, with grommetts, - any pressure would
equalise through the tubes, but do other people think it makes sense?
Would the operation put my tinnitus level at risk? Maybe?
I know about decongestants like Sudafed, but think maybe my ears are
not actually congested. I think my eustacian tubes are just naturally
narrow, So I'm not convinced a decongestant would have any effect.
Would it?

3 Questions
So what about tubes?
What about decongestants? Any super strength ones?
Any other ways to make it easier to guarantee I can clear my ears?
What about grommets (US tubes)?
What about just getting a hold punced in my eardrum by a doc with a
surgical needle? how long would that last?
Any othr ideas, mainstream, or any at allno matter how unusual.

There is such a lot to lose if I get this wrong and make my t worse. I
have to get it right first time.
I would feel really bad if I flew and made it worse, and read about
some drug or procedure afterwards that I'd missed.

Many thanks
Tony