vladdie

Hi all,
My husband and I will be flying out of town for our annual anniversary trip and I wanted to get some feedback on ear pressure problems and relief methods some of you may use? I always use those ear plugs called "Ear Planes" I believe they are called and they help a bit, but boy is it frustrating feeling deaf and plugged up for the entire flight (the Ear Planes folks recommend keeping them in for chronic sufferers like me). Does anyone have any methods they use, aside from the usuals like chewing gum and popping your ears and so forth? One of my eardrums (ear canal?) has a problem with adjusting to pressure (I can't even go to the bottom of a 10 foot pool fercryinoutloud). Thanks in advance!

Cassandra

OK -- first let's get out of the way all the caveats about seeing your doctor and getting REAL medical advice and not getting advice from strangers on a website forum.

I use half-dosage of an OTC antihistamine, such as Claritin (non-drowsy) plus low-dose anti-inflammatory like Advil. It seems to help having my ears collect quite so much fluid and swell up and refuse to go back down again.

But I do also chew gum -- hold my nose and GENTLY blow or try to make myself yawn (one works better going up, the other coming down -- forgot which though, sorry).

El_Swainer

My doctor gave me heavy-duty rx decongestant pills. Problem is solved.

I take one before the flight.

aloha

A nasal spray such as Neosynephrine can help also.
Use it an hour before takeoff or landing.

jtrandolph

Chew gum. Don't laugh, it works for me.

atrevido

When I'm super congested I use of course, a decongestant + ear planes which I leave in starting b4 they close the door and don't take out until they open it. Not perfect, but helps

Melissa

Get an empty styrofoam cup. Poke a hole in the bottom. Place warm paper towel on bottom of cup. Put over ear. You look like an ass, but problem solved.

I have had horrible problems with ear pressure, since having a ruptured ear drum from an ear infection over 10 years ago. I would compare the pain to having a screwdriver stabbed behind my eyes and this has worked for me every time.

Nasal decongestants are also helpful-careful if you have high blood pressure. Antihistamines will likely not help. I would bet my life on an anti-inflammatory not helping.

And I am a Nurse Practitioner/Primary Care Provider. These are the recommendations I give my own patients.

spirobulldog

This is wierd, and I thought it was crazy until I tried it. Try ear candles. Yes, you light a hollow wax candle and place it in your ear for about 10 minutes. I don't think of me as having bad earwax. I don't even get that much out with a Q tip. However, the first time I did the ear candle I got well over a tablespoon of wax from my ear. Almost everyone that tries this the first time will get that much out as well. It does open you up a little. I always do ear candles now the day before I fly and it seems to help a bunch. You can buy them at some pharmacy or on the web.

suze

I really would ask your doctor for his recommendation, whether nasal spray or an oral something. Eardrums are nothing to mess around about (speaking from experience here).

pjsparlor

Don't think you it is weird spriobulldog, I had terrible ear problems, I went to my Dr. and had the wax removed! I haven't had a problem since, so what it is worth, I would try the ear candles!

TxTravelPro

I have loads of problems with my ears and I am a frequent traveler.
I used a Neilmed nasal wash a few hours prior to a flight and take a Wellbid D. I try not to blow my nose at all before or suring the flight. It makes it much worse.
I fly Monday and have a bad cold ... on top of mt normal ear issues. For me, the trick is to get control of my nose for the 24 hours prior to a flight. If I can do that, my ears are ok during the flight.

I would do some basic research on ear candling on the web. Just sayin'...

Sara

I was intrigued with this idea of ear candles, and wondered if I should try them. I decided to Google for them, and this was the first web site I ran across:

http://www.quackwatch.com/01Quackery.../candling.html

So, I guess the moral is, if it seems too good to be true.....

Sara

By the way, Melissa, I'm really curious where you get a WARM paper towel when you're sitting on a plane waiting to take off - I assume the warm part is important, or you wouldn't have mentioned it. How do you arrange that? I wouldn't object to trying it - surely you're not just playing a prank to get people to look idiotic on planes, are you? ;-)

spirobulldog

yeah, the website you clicked on said they saw no earwax in the candle. Well everyone in my family did it with prett much the same results. I am not talking about a trace amount of wax. I am talking a big huge gross glob of it. I don't see how it could be a risk to your ears really. I guess it is possible. The most dangerous thing about it would be catching your hair on fire.

character

Uh, the ear candle thing is not going to work on the plane or in the airport unless you want to be attacked by air marshalls and all the other passengers around.

TTess

I don't think the poster meant to do the ear candling on the plane, for Pete's sake. In addition, Quackwatch is a scary website. The creator is not up-to-date with cutting edge medicine. Take heed.

TxTravelPro

I have discussed candling with no less than 3 ENT specialists, 2 of whom conducted thier own tests and said the result were exactly the same when done over a paper plate (no ear) as the were when held over an ear... and it can be dangerous.
I do use the nasal wash, and it is NOT hooey.
To me it is pretty similar to using eye drops. The saline reduces the swelling inside your nose and sinuses. No hocus pocus. It is not dangerous and does not even feel uncomfortabe!

Debi

Well - these have been interesting.. I have seen people ask attendants for warm clothes, and they can usually get that for you (for the person that asked that). If it's a flight that has Business or First class, they hand out warm clothes to all the people there anyway. Otherwise, they could wet and warm a paper towel...

trippinkpj

I took an OTC decongestant last time and still had ear pain. I think an extra strength one next time or the ear planes, may work better for me.

MaureenB

Our pediatrician recommends about three drops of warmed olive oil, dropped into the ears to clear out clogged canals. It worked for our kids.
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