Ear pressure while/after flying...

[disny_luvr]

I'm not really sure where to post this so I thought I'd try here since this is the transportation board.

My DH and son encounter terrible ear pressure while flying. My DH's ears usually are closed for about two days after the flight. My son's ears are closed also but not as long as my DH's. We've tried everything we know of. Last year when we flew DH and my son sprayed saline in their noses in hopes of opening things but that didn't work (Dr. Nany Snyderman from the Today Show suggested that once). My son drinks and eats during take-off and landing. DH chews gum, etc. Does anyone else have any suggestions that they could try. We are flying again next week and, at this point, DH is willing to try anything.

TIA!

 

[Flight]

There is a technique called valsalva method that is very helpful in clearing ear blockage.

It sounds like you have already tried most of the other ways of clearing ear blockage. You need to speak with your pediatrician before your son's next flight and make sure to discuss the valsalva method. The doctor may also recommend Afrin nasal spray and a decongestant.

 

[kristenrice]

EarPlanes!!!

My sinuses are terrible and I always had severe ear pain during and after flying. When I found EarPlanes, I used them and they were PERFECT! I absolutely will NOT fly without them anymore. I put them in when the door closes and I pop them out when we land. No problems at all!

 

[mrsstats]

I always take a benadryal which seems to help.

 

[sixkristy6]

I was told 2 things to try and when I do it, it generally works. One, blow your nose but plug it at the same time. You cannot blow it hard though. Another thing I do, is to act as though you are swallowing repeatedly with my mouth open. That usually pops my ears a bit. These usually work for me but you have to be careful with the first one.

I also take a Sudafed but usually once we get off the plane. I should try it when we get on the plane before take-off (is that when it should be taken?)

 

[bytheblood]

This could also be a blocked Eustachian tube. Generally a nasal spray will clear this up. It may take 2 - 3 weeks. During this time, your doctor will also tell you to pinch your nose and give a little blow to push that junk out.

 

[sixkristy6]

EarPlanes!!!

My sinuses are terrible and I always had severe ear pain during and after flying. When I found EarPlanes, I used them and they were PERFECT! I absolutely will NOT fly without them anymore. I put them in when the door closes and I pop them out when we land. No problems at all!

I just thought of another question. The EarPlanes, can you hear with them in? We planned to keep DD occupied on the flight by watching a DVD on her personal DVD players, and she will wear headphones.

 

[disny_luvr]

There is a technique called valsalva method that is very helpful in clearing ear blockage.

It sounds like you have already tried most of the other ways of clearing ear blockage. You need to speak with your pediatrician before your son's next flight and make sure to discuss the valsalva method. The doctor may also recommend Afrin nasal spray and a decongestant.

Thanks for the recommendation. I will ask my pediatrician.

 

[disny_luvr]

EarPlanes!!!

My sinuses are terrible and I always had severe ear pain during and after flying. When I found EarPlanes, I used them and they were PERFECT! I absolutely will NOT fly without them anymore. I put them in when the door closes and I pop them out when we land. No problems at all!

Thanks for the suggestion. Where can I buy these?

 

[disny_luvr]

Great suggestions so far. Thank you so much! If anyone has any other ideas they'd be appreciated too.

 

[sixcats]

Your hearing will not be as good with the earplanes in. They can be removed once the plane reaches cruising speed and put back in when the captain announces that the plane is starting to decend. I always use them when I fly!

 

[kristenrice]

I just thought of another question. The EarPlanes, can you hear with them in? We planned to keep DD occupied on the flight by watching a DVD on her personal DVD players, and she will wear headphones.

Yes, but you can't use earbud headphones. The "cup" headphones (over-the-ear) work best, but you can also use on-the-ear headphones as well. I will say that the on-the-ear headphones can get a little uncomfortable (not painful) because they exert a small amount of pressure against the EarPlane. The over-the-ear headphones don't directly contact the EarPlane so they are much more comfortable...but usually more expensive.

You can hear with them in place and it is not difficult to hold a conversation with someone nearby. I don't know how they work, but they work!

Here is the info from drugstore.com's website. You can get the adult ones at most pharmacies, but I haven't found the children's size anywhere but online.

http://www.drugstore.com/earplanes-earplugs-flight-ear-protection/qxp12445?tab=1

Read the reviews...they are spot-on.

 

[lilaurora]

Here's another vote for Ear Planes. I personally haven't used them, but DD7 has a very painful time with descent (but not takeoff) and none of the most common remedies have worked. I tried Ear Planes for her on our last trip and they were great! (I found the recommendation here on DIS.) They come in both adult and child sizes.

I found them at Target last November for our fall trip and again last month for this month's trip. They were about $5 for a pair. They are good for use on two flights and then need to be tossed.

 

[sixkristy6]

Your hearing will not be as good with the earplanes in. They can be removed once the plane reaches cruising speed and put back in when the captain announces that the plane is starting to decend. I always use them when I fly!

Maybe we will take them out after the plane reaches a cruising speed.

Yes, but you can't use earbud headphones. The "cup" headphones (over-the-ear) work best, but you can also use on-the-ear headphones as well. I will say that the on-the-ear headphones can get a little uncomfortable (not painful) because they exert a small amount of pressure against the EarPlane. The over-the-ear headphones don't directly contact the EarPlane so they are much more comfortable...but usually more expensive..

You can hear with them in place and it is not difficult to hold a conversation with someone nearby. I don't know how they work, but they work!

Read the reviews...they are spot-on.

We have headphones that do not have earbuds (just the regular over the ear headphones). DD has microtia, so she only has one functioning ear right now (surgery comes later). The headphones we have came with the DVD player.

 

[kristenrice]

Maybe we will take them out after the plane reaches a cruising speed.

Just beware...if the plane starts to descend before you get them back in, they may not work. I tried this once and my ears hurt like crazy. The plane starts descending before the pilot announces that you are preparing for landing. It is gradual, which is why I didn't realize we were descending until I started to feel some pressure in my ears. I put the EarPlanes back in, but it was too late. My ears plugged up and hurt for the rest of the day. On my subsequent flights, I have left them in the whole time and have had no problems. Note that our non-stop flights are 2.5 hours. You may have better luck getting them back in if your flight is longer.

 

[canopynut66]

my ENT has me use Ocean nasal spray before during and after a flight anywhere regardless and has always worked for us also helpe from getting colds as well

 

[MissManda]

I'm not really sure where to post this so I thought I'd try here since this is the transportation board.

My DH and son encounter terrible ear pressure while flying. My DH's ears usually are closed for about two days after the flight. My son's ears are closed also but not as long as my DH's. We've tried everything we know of. Last year when we flew DH and my son sprayed saline in their noses in hopes of opening things but that didn't work (Dr. Nany Snyderman from the Today Show suggested that once). My son drinks and eats during take-off and landing. DH chews gum, etc. Does anyone else have any suggestions that they could try. We are flying again next week and, at this point, DH is willing to try anything.

TIA!

I too have a terrible time with my ears when flying. My first flight was non0stop from Charolotte to San Francisco. I did find on take off but then as we started the descent, I thought I would die. I couldn't hear for days. We were staying in a large hotel and our room was like on the 20th floor. I thought I would die in the elevators because my ears were closed up and I had vertigo. I ended up going to a doctor. He gave me ear drops and told me take a decongestant. He also suggested on the flight home that I should wear Ear Planes. These are ear plugs that you put in before take off. You can take them out once the plane has leveled off (I do so when I get the message you can move about the airplane and they start doing the drinks). Then, you put them back in a certain time period before the plane lands (can't remember exact time, but its on the box). I did this and didn't have any trouble on the return flight home. I also chewed lots of gum on both take off and landing. I also buy myself a drink at the airport so I have something to sip on the entire flight.

On our last trip to WDW, a nonstop flight from Richmond Va to MCO, I left my ear planes at home by mistake and didn't realize it before I got on the plane (opps). I could tell the second the plane started its descent. My ears closed up right away. Luckily they cleared up/popped once we landed and I didn't have any lasting problems. I still wish I had my ear planes though.

Good luck on finding a solution.

 

[caroli]

EarPlanes!!!

My sinuses are terrible and I always had severe ear pain during and after flying. When I found EarPlanes, I used them and they were PERFECT! I absolutely will NOT fly without them anymore. I put them in when the door closes and I pop them out when we land. No problems at all!

My sister uses Earplanes too!

 

[Gigi22]

My dr.'s advice was to start taking a decongestant 24 hrs. before a flight. I used to suffer from terrible pain when I flew, decongestant works for me.

 

[goofy4tink]

Ear Planes and decongestant together will do the trick. You may be able to get away with just the decongestant if they don't want to use the EarPlanes.
But start taking the decongestant at least 12 hrs prior to travel.