Airplane causes ear pain--HELP!

[Boncho]

Next month, my sister, my brother-in-law, my son and I are going to WDW.
The only problem is, the flight makes my sisters' ears hurt. Any suggestions to help?

 

[seashoreCM]

1. At takeoff and at descent (pilot will announce the latter), chew gum, that flexes the eustacian(sp?) tubes from ear to throat that equalize pressure inside and outside the ear and usually relieves unequal pressure that causes pain.

2. At least one hours before flight take a Dristan(r) or Contac(r) decongestant cold capsule that shrinks membranes and usually widens the eustacian tubes. (or see your doctor for a better decongestant).

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[dpuck1998]

Do a search for earplanes. My son won't fly without them. I don't use them since I haven't had a problem, but he uses them every flight and says they work!

 

[Boncho]

Thanks!!!! I'm going to get her to do all three suggestions so she should arrive at WDW pain free.

 

[justplaingoofy]

I used to work with an ER MD. and when he flew he would bring along prescription otic solution (the kind they give when kids have an ear infection)..it has a numbing agent in it. She could ask her md about that..
I tried it & but it didn't work for me, neither did the ear planes.

I get horrible pains, and have been to many specialists. They had said it was due to all the ear infections I had as a kid which caused some damage to my eustacian tubes so they do not work properly.

Here is my ritual:
-2 days before flying start 12 hr. sudafed. (1 tab every 12hrs)
-Afrin nasal spray an hour before going up.
-Chew gum feverously!
-Try to yawn alot.. I find it easier to take an early am flight (more apt to yawn..I actually find myself looking around for someone yawning..trying to get myself to yawn
-Try blowing my nose often
-An hour and a half before descending I take a pain killer. (Percocet)

Even with all of this I definitely still have pain, but if I didn't do it I end up sitting in the seat with my knees pulled up, sobbing for the last 45min of the flight... (has happened when I've fallen asleep and didn't get my "window" to take my med)

And sometimes once we've already landed it has taken up to 24hrs for my ears to pop... No matter how much blowing/yawning, etc.

*If you sister has any health problems please have her consult a phamacist or md. before taking any decongestant! Especially, high blood pressure!

Still doesn't stop us from vacationing a couple times a year

 

[lustergirl]

I can feel her pain as well!! Our last trip we went on (last september) I couldn't hear for a whole day after getting to disney- that sucked!! I had a bad cold and plus my sinuses were bothering me really bad. On the way home I literally drugged myself up Sudafed (awful expensive if you buy at the resort gift shop, lol). I took some at the Orlando airport and our connecting flight in Atlanta back to Buffalo as well. I will definitely be carrying Sudafed on our next trip.

 

[LisaS]

Here is my ritual:
-2 days before flying start 12 hr. sudafed. (1 tab every 12hrs)
-Afrin nasal spray an hour before going up.
-Chew gum feverously!
-Try to yawn alot.. I find it easier to take an early am flight (more apt to yawn..I actually find myself looking around for someone yawning..trying to get myself to yawn
-Try blowing my nose often
-An hour and a half before descending I take a pain killer. (Percocet)

My DH also has problems with his ears when flying and follows a similar ritual: Sudafed the morning of the flight, Afrin shortly before boarding and lifesavers type candy to suck on during the flight.

One other thing that helps him if things start to get really painful is to apply heat to his ears and the area just below the ears. We bought some of those handwarmer packs for him to take in his carry-on bag. They are a small pack of clear gel with a little metal disk inside. You activate the pack by flexing the metal disk. It causes a chemical reaction that turns the fluid in the pack milky white and generates a lot of heat for about an hour. They generate so much heat, in fact, that I made little pockets for them out of terry cloth because they are too hot to hold directly against your skin. They last about an hour and once they have cooled off, the gel solidifies. You recharge them by either putting them in a pot of boiling water for 10-15 minutes or putting them in the microwave (the method depends on the brand of handwarmer). The microwave ones are more convenient because you can usually find a microwave somewhere while on your trip to recharge the packs for the flight home.

 

[jbdreamer]

Chew gum while taking off. Chewing widely really helps with the pressure! I never fly without gum.

 

[justplaingoofy]

My DH also has problems with his ears when flying and follows a similar ritual: Sudafed the morning of the flight, Afrin shortly before boarding and lifesavers type candy to suck on during the flight.

One other thing that helps him if things start to get really painful is to apply heat to his ears and the area just below the ears. We bought some of those handwarmer packs for him to take in his carry-on bag. They are a small pack of clear gel with a little metal disk inside. You activate the pack by flexing the metal disk. It causes a chemical reaction that turns the fluid in the pack milky white and generates a lot of heat for about an hour. They generate so much heat, in fact, that I made little pockets for them out of terry cloth because they are too hot to hold directly against your skin. They last about an hour and once they have cooled off, the gel solidifies. You recharge them by either putting them in a pot of boiling water for 10-15 minutes or putting them in the microwave (the method depends on the brand of handwarmer). The microwave ones are more convenient because you can usually find a microwave somewhere while on your trip to recharge the packs for the flight home.

You can always ask the flight attendants to heat them in the microwave while in flight.

 

[Maureen McB]

all you need to do is have earplanes. They equalize the pressure in your ear and voila no pain. I couldn't fly without them and won't anymore since I use to be doubled up in pain when flying. I've seen flight attendants using them too so you know that's a good endorsement.

 

[1stWDWtrip]

Do a search for earplanes. My son won't fly without them. I don't use them since I haven't had a problem, but he uses them every flight and says they work!

You can find Earplanes at Walmart, but you must go slowly down the aisle or you will miss them!

 

[fancythemouse]

chew gum

 

[dpuck1998]

You can find Earplanes at Walmart, but you must go slowly down the aisle or you will miss them!

They didn't have them at two or the walmarts in my town. I even asked....and walked slow..in circles...for hours...days even

But I'm sure they can be found in bigger towns....

 

[Boncho]

I found the earplanes in the Pharmacy in one of our grocery stores; they were with earplugs for swimming,earplugs to block out sound,and those little things for putting daily pills in. (They were on a carousel rack) I thought I would have to pay alot more than $5.99.
Thanks a million!
My sister will be doing the happy dance getting off the plane instead of plodding in pain.

 

[m4travel]

I found the earplanes in the Pharmacy in one of our grocery stores; (snip) I thought I would have to pay alot more than $5.99.

For those who are not successful finding them locally, Magellans, the travel company, show them in their catalog for the same price: 2 pairs for $11.98, in adult and child sizes; each pair is said to be good for a round trip. And they should be available on the Magellans website.

 

[justplaingoofy]

Do you have a cvs or walgreens? They would have them

I wouldn't completely depend on this, but they may have them at your airport.

 

[CinRell]

I have small ear canals and flying hurts to the point I used to cry... and my ears ALWAYS remained plugged for at LEAST 2 days after landing.... earplanes saved me. I have to travel for business now and I was so scared. Someone suggested Earplanes and they're a miracle!

 

[Nala56]

We use earplanes. At our walmart they are by the contact solution and ear drops. Usually near the pharmacy, or ask someone in pharmacy.

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

I tried earplanes, yawning, chewing gum and I still had about 24 hours of pain. I havn't tried the sudafed, so I will have to remember to try that, hopefully that will help.

 

[Unregistered]

Tell her to ask her doctor for some Auralgan ear drops. These are used on little ones with ear infections and they numb the ear canal. I know they don't work for everyone but I used them on my daughter on our flight last week and they worked almost immediately. It's worth a try!