Re: Issues With Flying and High Altitudes

[Guest guest]

Is it normal to experience a lot of pain while flying?

Sam

If you have intact eardrums and poorly functioning Eustachian tubes then it would be normal to experience anything from fullness of the ear to excrutiating pain. It is generally most severe on descent from high altitude where external air pressure exceeds the pressure in the middle ear.

A lot of ENTs will recommend using a nasal spray which helps to open the Eustachian tubes. I've occasionally seen cabin crews handing them out to passengers who are having problems. They are supposed to be used roughly an hour before ascent and an hour before descent. It's a good idea not to fall asleep during take-off or landing.

There is also a commercial product known as Earplanes. This link explains a little of how they work though I don't know how effective they are.

http://www.corporatetravelsafety.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=118

Under normal circumstances the Eustachian tubes open whenever you yawn or swallow. That's why some people suck sweets or chew gum while flying.

There are a few people whose E-tubes never open naturally, sometimes due to the small muscles that control them having atrophied. An indication of this is if your ears have never popped, you're unable to blow your nose etc and your eardrums tend to perforate a lot.

Years ago an ENT doctor had me practice holding my nose, sticking my thumb in my mouth and blowing in an attempt to get the E-tubes working. An easier one is simply to hold your nose and swallow. These are similar to the techniques used by pilots and divers to equalize ear pressure. You'll find them described dive sites though you have to go a bit gently with some of them.

If none of these countermeasures ever work for you then, should you have to fly, you'd be stuck with the discomfort until the point where your eardrum gives way.

For a few people there is also a potential for vertigo while flying.

Phil

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[Guest guest]

Hi Sam:

I usually have problems with my ears when flying. I think it really

depends on the air pressure in the cabin. Some flights I don't have

hardly any pain, while others I would be writhing on the floor if it

wasn't for the seatbelt. I use the earplanes, and they seem to help

somewhat if they are in correctly. I also try to take Tylenol before

take-off and landing, which helps numb the pain. I've gotten better

recently at popping my ears so I may try that on my next flight. So

you may want to do like I do and use a combination of things. I'll

take the tylenol, put my earplanes in, and be chewing gum for take-

offs and landings. The more remedies I can throw at it, the better

chance I'll have!

Dave

>

> Is it normal to experience a lot of pain while flying?

>

> I had my first surgery when I was seven and my second one when I

was thirteen. I flew a few times before my first surgery but I didn't

ever fly again until two summers ago when I flew from St. Louis to

Baltimore to work in DC for the summer. The entire flight was

horrible except for the first half when I was some how able to fall

asleep. I drove back home with my grandparents to their house in Ohio

so I didn't have any problems going back.

>

> When I moved to California to start college in August me and my dad

drove his car out from Missouri so, again, I dodged the plane bullet.

Only, I have to take the plane home for Christmas at the end of the

month and I'll back and forth while I'm in college. Not only that,

the program I am in requires that I study abroad for a full year.

That in itself is not a problem. The problem rests in the double-

digit hour long plane rides I'm going to face when I come home from

Japan/Britain/Wherever.

>

> It seems to happen at just high altitudes too to a lesser degree.

Driving through Arizona and New Mexico with my dad and then driving

through the mountains in Southern California with my friends over

Thanksgiving was painful as well.

>

> I mean, it's obviously because of my surgeries and the results of

those surgeries and there probably isn't anything I can do about it.

I had a really bad experience with health care and my cholesteatoma

and I haven't had an ENT for over two years now. Plus, I can't really

get one where I am now because it's hard to find someone who takes

Tricare.

>

> I'm just wondering if there is some simple fix like ear plugs or

chewing gum or something that will help.

>

> Many thanks.

> Sam

>

>

> ---------------------------------

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>

[Guest guest]

Try taking a sinus medication of sorts, like Sudafed (sp?). I'm a diver and

need to be able

to equalize my ears often and easily. Whenever I'm having difficulty or pain, I

make sure I

take Sudafed the night before and morning of, and I usually don't have any

problems.

While flying I take Sudafed as well, chew gum, and equalize my ears often and

have not

had any problems flying. There is discomfort and a bit of pain, but it's

managable.

This is just my experience and it works for me ...

Colleen

>

> Is it normal to experience a lot of pain while flying?

>

> I had my first surgery when I was seven and my second one when I was thirteen.

I flew a

few times before my first surgery but I didn't ever fly again until two summers

ago when I

flew from St. Louis to Baltimore to work in DC for the summer. The entire flight

was

horrible except for the first half when I was some how able to fall asleep. I

drove back

home with my grandparents to their house in Ohio so I didn't have any problems

going

back.

>

> When I moved to California to start college in August me and my dad drove his

car out

from Missouri so, again, I dodged the plane bullet. Only, I have to take the

plane home for

Christmas at the end of the month and I'll back and forth while I'm in college.

Not only

that, the program I am in requires that I study abroad for a full year. That in

itself is not a

problem. The problem rests in the double-digit hour long plane rides I'm going

to face

when I come home from Japan/Britain/Wherever.

>

> It seems to happen at just high altitudes too to a lesser degree. Driving

through Arizona

and New Mexico with my dad and then driving through the mountains in Southern

California with my friends over Thanksgiving was painful as well.

>

> I mean, it's obviously because of my surgeries and the results of those

surgeries and

there probably isn't anything I can do about it. I had a really bad experience

with health

care and my cholesteatoma and I haven't had an ENT for over two years now. Plus,

I can't

really get one where I am now because it's hard to find someone who takes

Tricare.

>

> I'm just wondering if there is some simple fix like ear plugs or chewing gum

or

something that will help.

>

> Many thanks.

> Sam

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Access over 1 million songs - Music Unlimited.

>