What to use to relieve ear pressure on a plane if not gum?

[Minnie824]

Can earplanes be used for toddlers? We flew for the first time w/the kids in May and my 5 yo was fine but 3yo was having a rough time. We tried the lollipops, water, etc, but nothing worked very well, and I don't let her have gum. I would definitely try the earplanes if they'll work for her and fit.

 

[Rylinhunter]

Okay I know this is gonna sound really silly, but it worked very very well. When I was little my mom and I use to fly between NJ and FL all the time. I had a horrible time with my ears in general on land (constant infections, etc) One time we were taking off and my ears were so bad I was crying that they were bleeding and hunched in a ball . The flight attendant told my mom that for the trip home to ask the attendant for hot cups. They are plastic cups with steaming hot paper towels on the bottom (just wet the paper towels so they are soaked, but not dripping wet and push them to the bottom of the cup) and put them over the ears. The heat makes the inner ear expand, thus elevating the pressure from the take off (landing wasn't so bad, it was the take off that killed me all the time).

In the 70's they didn't have anything for ear pressure other than chewing gum and well.. hot cups. Just a thought in case anyone ever forgets their ear plugs/gum, etc.... not sure if they teach this to the fight attendants today, but when my mom asked the new flight attendant for them she knew exactly what my mom was talking about.

 

[Yzerbear19]

Definitely Earplanes. They work so well. I like the fact that they also help to decrease the noise. The last time I flew we had also brought suckers with us and I think those helped more so than gum. When we flew and took only the gum it didn't help at all for me. I won't fly without Earplanes though.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

They also have sizes for smaller children....

 

[a1tinkfans]

I vote for earplanes, too.

I've had terrible trouble in the past with my ears while flying, but the use of ear planes, combined with a squirt of Afrin (or any other nasal decongestant spray) 30 minutes before flight time has worked wonders for me.

EARPLANES!!!
Would not fly without them!!

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

I've used the cups as well -- but we've used them without water and it works then too. Put the cups over the child's ears. Sounds odd, but it works -- I've used them myself.

 

[aynt79]

Yawning always helps me.

I used to have braces and never had any trouble with gum, caramel, or any other "forbidden" substance. If he usually had good results with chewing gum on the plane, try it out before you leave to see if he can chew it. I'd probably avoid the overly gooey stuff like Bubbalicious, but the regular stick stuff should be fine.

 

[gabriellewatson]

earplanes!

if you would like something other than chewing/swallowing something.

we have flown 6 times with our DD9 and these are the only things that help - she has a terrible time with the pressure causing pain. Also, be sure to follow the instructions for the best results.

Good luck!

What are earplanes? I need to get this.

My ears never pop when I'm on a flight. I get bad vertigo during every trip becasue my ears don't drain and fluid gets stuck in my inner ear.

I need help with this. I don't want to be miserable at disney again!

 

[a1tinkfans]

Okay I know this is gonna sound really silly, but it worked very very well. When I was little my mom and I use to fly between NJ and FL all the time. I had a horrible time with my ears in general on land (constant infections, etc) One time we were taking off and my ears were so bad I was crying that they were bleeding and hunched in a ball . The flight attendant told my mom that for the trip home to ask the attendant for hot cups. They are plastic cups with steaming hot paper towels on the bottom (just wet the paper towels so they are soaked, but not dripping wet and push them to the bottom of the cup) and put them over the ears. The heat makes the inner ear expand, thus elevating the pressure from the take off (landing wasn't so bad, it was the take off that killed me all the time).

In the 70's they didn't have anything for ear pressure other than chewing gum and well.. hot cups. Just a thought in case anyone ever forgets their ear plugs/gum, etc.... not sure if they teach this to the fight attendants today, but when my mom asked the new flight attendant for them she knew exactly what my mom was talking about.

WOW, INTESESTING!!!
As one who USED to suffer, to the point of going to an ER upon landing because I lost hearing and my ears would not drain properly thus causing an infection, the EARPLANES have worked wonders.
BUT I have also tried to re-use them (says on teh box you should not, stubborn me) and THAT was a huge mistake, so I travel with 2 pairs Just in case.
I do still use one pair for the round trip, but I am so anxious about having the problem again, I always fly with two pairs!

The gum is like giving a "candy lifesaver" to one who has Serious ear issues!

 

[beachblanket]

Question for those mentioning the "close and blow." Once when I was about to fly with an ear infection, one doctor (not my regular one) specifically told me NOT to do that because patients had busted their eardrums doing that (and my boss actually had this happen to him while flying). Have doctors recommended this to you? I've been confused about it ever since.

I challenge anyone here to find anything online or in print from a named, credible medical source (ergo, not just hearsay from "some doctor") that specifically states that the valsalva maneuver (as discussed here, for use in flight) holds any sort of risk.

In fact, not using it (or some other approach to equalizing air pressure in the inner ear to the outside are pressure) is the real risk. Here is discussion on that from the U.S. Air Force:

"Rapid altitude increases and decreases can cause pain because there is an air pocket in the middle portion of the ear. To equalize pressure in the ear, physicians typically advise pilots and passengers to clear their sinuses by plugging their nose and blowing until the eardrums "pop." Other options include yawning, swallowing or chewing gum. For people with a cold or a severely blocked middle ear, the use of decongestants, antihistamines, or nasal sprays may help. Without taking steps to equalize pressure, the tympanic membrane could rupture, causing hearing loss, vertigo, dizziness, and nausea."

 

[beachblanket]

What are earplanes?

They are an overpriced, band-aid "treatment" (with a seriously annoying side-effect, ergo, removing your ability to properly hear) of a symptom (ear discomfort), not a cure for the cause of it.

There is a free, simple cure (which I presented on this thread earlier) that instantly removes the cause of the discomfort, but many others here apparently prefer to spend money on the band aid treatment.

Whatever, to each their own.

 

[Youarehere]

I use the close the mouth, pinch the nose and blow method. It is free and it works better than gum. I have been using that method for 30 years without trouble.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I use the close the mouth, pinch the nose and blow method. It is free and it works better than gum. I have been using that method for 30 years without trouble.

Next time you see your ENT ask them about your method, you might be shocked when they tell you blowing out your eardrum can also happen that way.

Love the Ear Planes!!!!!!!! For the few dollars invested it makes a huge difference!

P.S-Some of us enjoy the fact that they also block out some of the annoying noise around you. Great when you are trying to read or sleep. They in no way make you deaf!

 

[Bob Slydell]

Only on the DIS can a thread about gum and earplanes turn into a fight.

 

[Yzerbear19]

Love the Ear Planes!!!!!!!! For the few dollars invested it makes a huge difference!

P.S-Some of us enjoy the fact that they also block out some of the annoying noise around you. Great when you are trying to read or sleep. They in no way make you deaf!

I agree. I like the fact that they help reduce the noise. My sister who took hers out on the way down to Orlando heard this one child crying for a good portion of the flight. I never heard it since I had left my earplanes in. I was able to relax and rest and just enjoyed the flight.

 

[DznyFan]

OK, for the sake of clarification on the argument of the valsalva maneuver - truly, it would depend on ascent or descent. It would be an appropriate equalization on descents because the external air pressure is increasing, despite the cabin pressurization.
External air pressure decreases at altitude, so blowing more air into the eustachian tube upon an ascent or during altitude flying could be a problem, and ultimately, if enough additional pressure within the eustachian tube were added, on could rupture an eardrum. In an ascent, the pressure INSIDE the ear is higher than the external air pressure.
Upon descents, the external air pressure will increase, which is why ears become uncomfortable. In order to equalize and increase the pressure within the tube, thus relieve the discomfort, you have to add more air into that airspace. The valsalva (among others - yawning, etc.) accomplishes this. One of the MOST important things to remember is; if it works for you, or you are attempting it on a descent, the key word is GENTLY.
If an ENT understands ambient air pressures and how altitude affects them, he will understand the necessity to add/relieve pressure in the eustachian tube.

Everyone is different. Not everyone will respond to the same kind of method as the next guy. If you're uncomfortable trying something, don't. Use what works for you.

 

[a1tinkfans]

OK, for the sake of clarification on the argument of the valsalva maneuver - truly, it would depend on ascent or descent. It would be an appropriate equalization on descents because the external air pressure is increasing, despite the cabin pressurization.
External air pressure decreases at altitude, so blowing more air into the eustachian tube upon an ascent or during altitude flying could be a problem, and ultimately, if enough additional pressure within the eustachian tube were added, on could rupture an eardrum. In an ascent, the pressure INSIDE the ear is higher than the external air pressure.
Upon descents, the external air pressure will increase, which is why ears become uncomfortable. In order to equalize and increase the pressure within the tube, thus relieve the discomfort, you have to add more air into that airspace. The valsalva (among others - yawning, etc.) accomplishes this. One of the MOST important things to remember is; if it works for you, or you are attempting it on a descent, the key word is GENTLY.
If an ENT understands ambient air pressures and how altitude affects them, he will understand the necessity to add/relieve pressure in the eustachian tube.

Everyone is different. Not everyone will respond to the same kind of method as the next guy. If you're uncomfortable trying something, don't. Use what works for you.

WELL SAID AND DARE I SAY, ENOUGH SAID ON THIS TOPIC, LOL ONLY ON THE DIS!

 

[beachblanket]

Next time you see your ENT ask them about your method, you might be shocked when they tell you blowing out your eardrum can also happen that way.

That is a old wife myth that is unsubstainted by ANY medical source. Again, I've asked people on this thread stating this myth to link to neutral, objective third party-provided evidence of what is in the quote above, and none have been able to - because it simply doesn't exist.

 

[beachblanket]

It would be an appropriate equalization on descents because the external air pressure is increasing, despite the cabin pressurization.

That is when it is most useful, because descent is when most people have this problem.

External air pressure decreases at altitude, so blowing more air into the eustachian tube upon an ascent or during altitude flying could be a problem, and ultimately, if enough additional pressure within the eustachian tube were added, on could rupture an eardrum.

The amount of internal air pressure that would be required to do that is far beyond what most people are capable of. That is why pilots and divers are taught to do this - the statistical risk of any ear damage is beyond tiny. Or put another way, all these posts about "you can blow out you eardrum" are a classic straw man.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

FYI
Drugstore.com is not charging for shipping if you need to stock up on Ear Planes and have trouble finding them.