Ear pain while flying

[Padre Disney]

Our family does not fly much because we just are not comfortable with it for many reasons. BUT one of the main reasons is the extreme ear pain that we all have. We have tried the ear planes plugs and they seem to help but you can't hear people talking to you. We have used the vicks inhalers and it helps some. Doc said to use afrin spray and helps also. The gum and drinking ideas DO NOT work. We have chewed gum so much and so long that our jaws get tired and the cup of drink you get only last about 5 minutes of the whole flight. (those pretzels make us thirsty)
So does anyone else have the same problem and have any magical ideas that will help. PLEASE help. We fly in March!
The last time our DD flew the one ended crying for most of the flight to Orlando and was not happy about getting back on the plane for the return trip.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by Padre Disney
ve. We have tried the ear planes plugs and they seem to help but you can't hear people talking to you.

You can try sudafed, take it about an hour before take off and about a hour before landing (slight overdose) BUT it sounds like you already found the solution. DO YOU WANT PAIN OR CONVERSATON?

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I do a combination of things just to cover my bases. I take a Sudafed, use a nasal spray and put in my earplugs as soon as I board. I haven't had a problem since starting my regimine. I know it's not fun being able to carry on a conversation with the ear plugs but it's a small price I'm willing to pay. Good luck!!

 

[GaryWT]

Do you have pain for the entire trip or just the take off and landing?

My son has ear problems and always seems to have major ear infections when ever we are to fly.

Someone suggested juice boxes at take off and landing, mall sips and this works better than gum or drinking at taking the pressure off the ear drum.

It has worked for us so far.

 

[4greatboys]

I have severe ear pain whenever the plane starts to decend. The only thing that works for me is holding my nose and blowing out.
Forunately my kids dont have the same problem and they dont seem to be bothered at all.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Originally posted by 4greatboys
I have severe ear pain whenever the plane starts to decend. The only thing that works for me is holding my nose and blowing out.

I have the same problem and the same solution! Works for us!

 

[SnackyStacky]

One of the women in my choir is a nurse, and when I was taking a flight, she told me that Sudafed should do the trick to take the edge off of ear pain. I've never had a problem, however, so I don't know if it works!

 

[seashoreCM]

See your doctor about recommending a proper dose of decongestant (even Dimetapp or Contac might work).

Holding your nose and blowing is dangerous, something might give way suddenly and too much goes up your ears blowing out your eardrums.

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

 

[JoEllen]

We always use earplanes for my DD and DH. You can buy them at Target, Fred Meyer etc. You put them in at take-off and one hour before landing. Work great and they never have ear pain when flying.

 

[donmil723]

I understand how you feel because I have severe ear pain too but only when the plane descends. My doctor prescribed Zyrtec and Nasonex, a nasal spray, and told me to take both 3 days before flying. I also use Earplanes and bring bottled water and something chewy/sticky like Sugar Babies which works better than gum. I know this sounds like I'm overdoing it but if you've ever had ear pain on a plane, you'll understand. This has helped a lot with the pain but my ears still feel tender after landing. Give your doctor a call and see what he/she suggests.

Donna

 

[NotUrsula]

After my first flight I ended up totally deaf for 3 days; I know ear pain.

Swallowing against a vacuum is better than just swallowing. Each person should carry a large sport bottle of water, pref. with a squirt top. Drink continuously during takeoff and landing, and frequently through the rest of the flight.

The best decongestant to clear existing mucous from the eustachian tubes is Guiafenesin, the active ingredient in Robitussin, and it works best if you drink a lot of water with it. It's billed as an expectorant, but what it really does is liquefy mucous, which allows much better drainage. A compound capsule that mixes it with sudafed is available generically, the name will usually have "tussin" in it. It might also be labeled as "severe sinus pain formula". Check the active ingredient list to be sure there is Guiafenesin in it. (BTW, it doesn't make you sleepy.) Rx steroid nasal sprays also will usually help, if you can get those; I would stay away from OTC things like Afrin; you can get addicted to them VERY easily, even in a couple of days.

If the worst happens and you do have an episode of ear pain, ask an FA for steam cups for the pain; it might look dorky, but it almost always works, even if you need to get a second set.

 

[Jillpie]

To the OP, I'd like to go back to your comment about the Earplanes for a sec. If they worked for you, why not use them? My 15DS used them and they were great. But do you take them out when you have gone as high as the plane goes, so you can listen and talk to people then? You don't need them again till you begin to descend. I think it is worth not being able to hear anyone for a short time, than have ear pain. Gosh, it really helped him alot.

 

[Padre Disney]

Our pain lasts most of the whole trip.

The times we did use the ear planes we did take them out after we had gotten really high up. But the pain seemed to start as soon as we took them out. The kids said they seemed to help them but I didn't notice a big difference. I did try the hold your nose and blow thing but that REALLY hurts, Maybe because I have some ear drum damage to begin with. I had a tube put in the right ear last summer and when we flew in October the flight down was GREAT but coming back I was deaf for three days.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will get some chewy candy, along with some drinks that you need to use a straw to drink. Will use a nasal spray right before flying and get some ear planes to try one more time. I think not being able to hear is much better then the extreme pain we get.

 

[mom_rules]

Not only do 3 of the 4 of us have ear pain but also get motion sick. We now swear by earplanes and Bonamine (motion sickness medication like Bonine). 2 of us can take out the earplugs once we've reached cruising altitude but the other leaves them in the whole trip. I think they are designed so that you are still able to hear (although I find voices slightly muffled).

 

[Ilovedisney]

Here is a suggestion that helped my husband. His ear pain was not severe, but definitely there. It takes him a day or two after flying for his ears to clear. This is what we did and it definitely helped him.

Go to GNC and purchase "Ear Wax Candles". Be very careful using them and follow instructions on package. The cost about $8.00 a package. These remove the excess was from your ears. They are cone shaped and you light them. I guess the cause a vacuum in your ear and remove the wax. Make sure that there is another person present when you do this. You will be surprised on how much wax it removes from your ear.

Once this was done he did not have any further problems. We learned about this from a spa salon. They charge about $45 for the same process. They suggest doing this 2-4 times a year.

It could be worth a try.

 

[Padre Disney]

Ilovedisney,
I had a relative that used the wax candles a few years back and said they worked perfect their wax problem. I never thought about using them right before flying.