A friend of mine has suffered severe ear damage (hearing loss) on a flgiht home from Paris last year. She was very sick in Paris and flew home with sinus infection, etc. She has paid dearly for it. SO if you have to fly with sinus, ear problems be sure to take something prior to talking off and landing. Afrin nose spray, Sunutabs, antihistamine, something to help open that very tiny little tube that causes all the problems in your ears. Shar

If you have trouble opening your ears prior to landing or have an upper respiratory infection before a trip, be sure to check with your Otorthinolaryngologist before your trip. I have one troublesome ear and I always have this ear checked and get medicine and information prior to my European trips.

I flew home from Paris with a cold I caught just a couple of days prior to leaving. I remember that it was very uncomfortable but got even worse during the flight. Fortunately it was a regular cold and not one that made the sinuses infected. I do remember that my ears were very blocked and I didn't have Sudafed or antihistamine with me. Of course nowadays I'm wary of this and take Sudafed along in case I come down with a cold. If I were to have sinus infection before flying home, I'd consult someone in the pharmacy or try to see a doctor.

Otorthinolaryngologist???? Wow ,thats a big word!!

It's an earth, nose and throat doctor.

<BR><BR>I guess anyone who treats the earth as well as noses and throats has to have a big name huh?<BR><BR>Rich

Lol!

I was on a flight from Budapest to Zurich and sat next to a woman that had a sinus infection. At take off and landing, the flight attendant gave her two plastic cups that had warm wet cloths in them (from the microwave). The woman put each cup on her ear, during take off and landing. I'm not sure why this works, however, the woman was very happy, and the pressure was relieved. I'd never seen this prior to this flight, but I've seen it numerous times since.

I first learned that my ears were too weak for airflight on my first trip overseas. It was excrutiating and I thought that my ears were going to burst. It took weeks before they fully recovered. Since then I now buy these<BR>"earplane" plugs meant especially to regulate the flow of air pressure of the ears. You can get them over the counter at most pharmacists or shoppers drug mart. My doctor also advised me to take Sudafed before I board any plane with a stuffy nose, and this really helped with the last time I flew with a cold. Also combine these with chewing lots of gum when the plane starts to descend and if you feel pressure beginning, open your jaws as if to yawn or pinch your nose and take a deep breath moving the air up into your ears. I use all these methods and have no troubles flying which I do often.