Flying with ruptured ear drum

[Bamagal]

My daughter was diagnoised with a ruptured eardrum today and I forgot to ask the dr. was it ok to fly. Of course I will call them when they open Monday to consult with him on it but was curious if anyone here had any experience with this. We fly out in 21 days. We are on antibiotics and eardrops for 10 days. She's 3 years old and this is her first time flying.

 

[dis-happy]

They heal quickly; you should be fine in 3 weeks. Yiu could do an ear check and make sure the infection is cleared before you go.

 

[snesguy]

Also, I've never used them but I've heard great things about EarPlanes. Some plugs you put in your ears to prevent the pressure from equalizing too quickly which normally helps people with sensitive ears handle the pressure changes when the plane ascends or (more likely) descends.

I would pick up a pair of EarPlanes for her and have her use them as a precaution if the doctor says she can fly.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Also, I've never used them but I've heard great things about EarPlanes. Some plugs you put in your ears to prevent the pressure from equalizing too quickly which normally helps people with sensitive ears handle the pressure changes when the plane ascends or (more likely) descends.

I would pick up a pair of EarPlanes for her and have her use them as a precaution if the doctor says she can fly.

I second the EarPlanes suggestion! and I'd also have a sippy cup ready to go for at take off!! I speak from TONS of first hand experience with this!
I won't make an opinion from a medical standpoint because I feel very strongly you should refer to your Dr for that. And honestly, if it were my child, I'd take them back for a quick follow up to have that ear looked at prior to flying but this is from a mom whose daughter has ruptured ear drums 3 times and has had 10 sets of pe tubes. She had a GREAT ENT!!! He was the one the surgeons used for their families so we know he was great!! Never really ran into complications and unfortunately we had to put the first set in at the young age of 7mo after 3mo of infection with no relief and 7 different antibiotics. But our ENT highly recommended I use EarPlanes for DD when she started flying. He actually gave me her first set. Good Luck! Ruptured Ear drums are scary and painful!!


Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

 

[js]

Of course call your doctor but my son had a ruptured ear drum and it was ok to fly since there wouldn't be any pressure in his ear since it was already ruptured KWIM?
He had MANY problems with his ears and infections and ended up getting tubes put in at about 5 or 6 months. We still flew after the tubes but I think we had the ear planes. It is when the tubes are in that it is the worry not the rupture since there won't be any pressure but double check that with your doctor.
But you should also look into something that looks like a headband that goes around their head when they shower/tub or in the pool (I'm sorry I don't remember the name since my ds is now 14) so they don't get the water in their ears.
I'm sure it will all be fine and come back and give us an update.
Enjoy Disney!

 

[Bamagal]

Thanks for all the good advice. Dr. Ok'ed flying. We will be going in for a checkup a few days after we finish antibiotics to make sure there are no fluid in the ears. I am defiantly going to look into earplanes and also the band that goes over your ears. My daughter got tubes when she was 12 months but they fell out and are stuck in her ear canal for several years now. With her new allergies and constant drainage we might be headed down the tubes road again. My sister had the surgery on both ears to patch her ear drums up and I just remember she was miserable and embarrassed of her bandage she had to wear. I didn't want to do anything to compromise the healing process.
Now I can breathe a sigh of relief.