Mommy with an ear ache - HELP!!

[momoftwins]

I just got back from the Doctor and they told me I will have to go to an ENT to have some fluid drained from my ear. I have the worst ear ache you can imagine!

Anyway, we are due to leave for DW on 4/17. Does anyone think I may have a problem? I will so cry if we cannot go. The only thing my doctor said was that my ear is full of fluid and when she blew air into it, my eardrum did not do what it was suppose to do?? I was so busy thinking about my trip, I did not have pay attention.

WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

 

[MNT568]

I have problems with my ears all the time (7 operations as a child). Once they drain it you should feel better. I think you should be OK by 4/17. Did the doctor give you a prescription? Whenever I feel my ears filling up, I take a decongestant right away and it starts to pull the fluid out of the ear. Good luck.

 

[Dr. Happy]

If you are flying I think you might have quite the problem. If you are not, you likely will not. But either way, you should try a fairly strong decongestant and take it for several days. You might just dry-up the fluid. If you do fly, the cabin pressure at a cruise altitude of about 32,000 feet simulates an 11,000 foot altitude. The pressure inside your ear caused by the fluid might increase and push outward, and may cause some pretty significant pain, as a result of the decreased pressure in the cabin. If that happens, here's a suggestion that may help:

1) Take 2 styrofoam hot cups from the galley (or you could bring them with you from home, just in case).

2) Place wadded paper towels in the bottom, enough to absorb about 2 tablespoons of hot water. The paper towels should be folded several times in such a way that they fit neatly and cover the entire bottom of the cups (both cups).

3) Have the flight attendant pour some hot water from the galley into the bottom, being careful that it is not too much, and that all of the liquid is absorbed by the wadded paper towels. If it is more than can be absorbed, get rid of the excess.

4) Then, carefully place both cups with the wadded paper towel saturated with hot water over each ear. Be careful not to let the hot water drip out and run onto your ears.

5) The heat of the water vapor will cause an increase in the inside air pressure of the cups, helping to relieve some of the pain and increase your comfort during flight. Keep them in place for as long as you need them, and re-warm the water as needed.

Be careful when doing this as to not burn yourself! You will have to assume all liability with this suggestion but it does work.

But you should check with your doctor about using a decongestant. I like the extended release decongestants that last 12 hours. Usually these are prescription medicines.

Anyway, hope this helps!

 

[momoftwins]

Thank you both for your response. Unfortunately, I will be flying (Providence to Orlando). Unless the doctor tells me no way - oh please don't, I will ask for the decongestant. I was taking GUAIFENESIN and this did not help at all.

I wonder if those airplane earplugs work?

Wish me luck.

 

[2boys'mom]

over the counter at the pharmacy. It's safe to use if you don't have high blood pressure and heart palpitations. Also Walmart has Ear Planes which are plugs that help equalize ear pressure on the airplane. Good Luck! April is still a month away.

 

[vicb]

My DS age 6 came down with infections in both ears 48 hours prior to our flight to WDW in Feb. Dr. put him on antibiotics and suggested using Afrin nasal spray 1 hr. prior to flight. We also used children's earplanes and he did just fine! My mother suggested the earplanes, she uses them all the time! They are about $5 at drug stores.

 

[skeezixspud]

The simple explanation is that my inner ears are always filled with too much fluid. It affects my balance and hearing.

There are MANY things you can do. What you want to be very careful of is a ruptured eardrum, which can happen if you fly with a severe fluid buildup. The paper cup/napkin trick is a good one for normal ear pressure, but if your ear canal is already inflamed, it may not be enough.

Guiafenesin is the treatment of choice for fluid buildup; if you are in pain, you should be taking a pretty large dose, around 1200 mg. per day. You can combine pseudoephedrine with guifenesin and probably should. Also very effective in flight situations are steroid nasal sprays like Nasonex. (For sprays, go with the prescription type; the OTC variety can be dangerously addictive. Most doctors have samples of the prescription sprays on hand.) Another thing that can work is diuretic medications such as dyazide, and for some reason that my ENT says is a mystery, small (2 mg.) doses of valium will also help eliminate fluid buildup in the ears. Most of the time, antihistimines are pretty useless against ear pain.

You can get prescription analgesic eardrops, such as Auralgan, but be warned that there are risks to this, as masking the pain can disguise the seriousness of the problem. Doctors are often reluctant to prescribe Auralgan because some people will let the condition progress too far before seeking additional treatment.

 

[campingcorgi]

Tell your doctor your plans for a flight when you go. He/she will do his best to have you ready for a flight.

66 days to go