Heather

<BR>On the few of flights I've taken in my lifetime, I have a difficult time adjusting pressure in my ears during landing. (Apparently scar tissue has developed on the eardrums due to childhood ear infections.) I'm going to the UK in August and am looking for suggestions to help me with the pain and pressure of landing. I've tried gum and antihistamines. Are there some other choices out there? My ears generally don't "clear" for about 12 to 18 hours after landing and until then, things sound muffled. Any advice would be appreciated.

Arizona

Yours is a common problem, and perhaps we have an EENT doctor among us who would like to comment. Chewing gum works for me, but only partially for Ruth, my wife. Not to be indelicate, but next time you go for a check-up, tell your doctor about this problem and make sure he/she does a complete exam of your ears. Old, hardened wax lodged against your eardrums may be all that is troubling you. There are good over-the-counter solutions which work to soften the wax and flush it away. Good luck!

tom

I travel about 80,000 miles per year for business travel and Delta loves me!. I've found that the problem is increased upon landing rather than at takeoff. The following usually work for me: 1. Chewing gum...particularly when I hear the 4 bells indicating seats and tables upright. 2. Afrin nasal spray just before takeoff will usually clear the nose and ear canals. Do not use that stuff too often, but once on each flight is OK. 3.The flight attendant can help if it is too bad. Once on a ski trip to Colorado I had a head cold and none of the above worked. The flight attendant put wet paper towels in styrophome cups, heated them in the mocrowave or whatever they use and had me place them over my ears. The damp warmth helped solve the problem. Hope this helps. Usually I'm too busy wondering if the pilot has the flaps down and the slats extended to worry about my ears...so maybe there's amessage there also, try to concentrate on somethign else..

Bob Brown

I have the same problem. I have a prescription for a long-acting decongestant (12 hours). I take one of the tablets about an hour before boarding the plane. Then I combine that with a nasal spray like Afrin before landing. <BR> <BR>I really think that for a severe problem a doctor's advice is needed. <BR> <BR>

Arline

For many, many years I suffered terribly once the descent started in an airplane! It was so bad that I often wound up crying due to such severe pain. A doctor told me to use neo-snephrine nasal spray (wrong spelling!) the moment I get on board and then again as soon as the descent starts. Use once more during descent if pain should start up (it usually doesn't). This method has been a total success for me. I'm willing to bet that you can't go under water too deeply without having ear pain also, right? (Me, too.) Try this - I think you will jump for joy.

Linda

<BR> Our daughter was having such terrific pain in her ears that tears were flowing. Nothing seem to help her until a stewardess found the magic cure.A simple styrophome cup with paper towel and hot water inside. After holding it to her ear for only 10 minutes she said the PAIN was gone.(Mind you the cup stayed on her ear all the rest of the trip.)I shall agree with TOM.It DOES WORK. Good luck and have a fabulous vacation.

Susan

<BR>The last time I traveled with a headcold this is what I did- sprayed with Afrin and inserted a product called earplanes in my ears for take off and landing. Worked just great. I asked for the earplanes in my drug store. Good luck!

julie

Had ear infectiion all my life until recently. Travel all the time. My advice: DON"T us Afrin (swells up even tighter later). Take 2 Sudafed, NO alcohol, put head as low as possible when landing, Keep sipping soda until she takes it away, suck a mint, yawn. Sudafed works best for me as it doesn't make me punchy like others and tends to reduce swelling inn eustaacion tubes. <BR>

jenny

I have the same problem. I agree with taking the Sudafed tablets, just before takeoff and just before landing. You should also be sucking on a candy during these times. The other thing no-one mentioned is to clear the blocked eustachion tubes in your ears every minute or so as you go up and down. You do this by pinching your nose shut with your hand, keeping your mouth shut and blowing GENTLY until your ears pop. There's a medical name for this technique, which I have forgotten. I need to do this every minute or so on a descent, but it prevents the pain.

Darrin

Let me tell you something , I have had this terrible experience with my ears and I can sympathize with anyone who goes throught it. I know the pain is just unbearable..it is the worst pain ever.However I have found that the Sudafed works incredible.There is no......no......... I mean no pain when taking this.I wish that I could give it to the people who experience this when flying because I know what they are going through.the problem is...is that we are landing when the pain starts.I talked to a doctor about this and that is what the problem is...the decrease in presssure that is causing the pain.The same thing would probably happen if you were scuba diving as well.Apparently there is some sort of ...pressure stick..( for lack of a better word) which is in your ear and is supposed to bend when pressure decreases but with some people it may not.So I guess the decongestant helps this ...stick..bend.(haha) <BR>Anyway take the sudafed it has help me look a little more forward to flying..as I am not a big flyer anyways..and that damn pain certainly doesnt make things any better. <BR>Hope this helps you and everyone going through this.

Heather

Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions! I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow, and I'm going armed with all the remedies and solutions you have offered. It's so good to know I'm not a freak. I'm looking forward to the trip, including the flight now. Thanks for your help.