Ear pain

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I have experienecd pain and discomfort in my ears while flying ever since I was exposed to my first flight at age 14. I had a cold, flew commercially, and had huge, huge pain, bloody nose, plugged ears for days. I have had a couple more similar experiences flying commercially when young, though now I use a decongestant. Sometimes I get plugged, but usually I am ok now. I am an expert at clearing ears regularly.

When I fly myself around I have to be very, very careful to avoid plugged ears and pain. I can even be bothered at 500fpm if on a long descent. I seem to get a couple ear infections per year, sometimes even pretty bad ones with high fever etc,.. but I am good at recognizing the symptoms now and get antibiotics ASAP. I don't like the idea of over using antibiotics, and I hate the discomfort issue. I have tried using the equalizing earplugs, but they don't really work for me.

I am ready to consider ANY other options!! This is a big problem. I guess I should see a specialist, but am curious about what kind of options I might have.
 
Anonymous said:
I have experienecd pain and discomfort in my ears while flying ever since I was exposed to my first flight at age 14. I had a cold, flew commercially, and had huge, huge pain, bloody nose, plugged ears for days. I have had a couple more similar experiences flying commercially when young, though now I use a decongestant. Sometimes I get plugged, but usually I am ok now. I am an expert at clearing ears regularly.

When I fly myself around I have to be very, very careful to avoid plugged ears and pain. I can even be bothered at 500fpm if on a long descent. I seem to get a couple ear infections per year, sometimes even pretty bad ones with high fever etc,.. but I am good at recognizing the symptoms now and get antibiotics ASAP. I don't like the idea of over using antibiotics, and I hate the discomfort issue. I have tried using the equalizing earplugs, but they don't really work for me.

I am ready to consider ANY other options!! This is a big problem. I guess I should see a specialist, but am curious about what kind of options I might have.
Click to expand...
Well it depends on causation. If your sinuses and eustacean tubes (and mastoid air cells, just below the ears) have plugged drainage tubes, the most common source is from the turbinates.These are structures in the back of the nose which provide surface area for heating and moisturizing the air that passes into your lungs. When they get swollen you get constantly stuffy, that "my head is about to explode" feeling. When this happens transiently decongenstant sprays are commonly used (afrin, etc). But if there is constant allergic stimuli, after three-four day this doesn't cut it, and there's rebound worsening of the swelling after you quit.

Nonadsorbed steroid antiinflammatory sprays come next. They're FAA acceptable; they directly counteract such swelling but take three days to have their effect. They don't have any effect if they don't get there, e.g., you're too stuffy to get it back there.

If the condition is really, really chronic, you will have thickening of the lining of the sinuses (Ethmoid sinues, between your eyes, maxallary sinuses just below your eyes, sphenoid sinus- under the brain, etc) which then presents an anatomic barrier to the small passages that connect these sinuses to your nose (clogged vent!). Even worse, when backed up, the sinuses start to contain standing fluid (air fluid levels seen on ex-ray or MRI). DANGER WILL ROBINSON...fungi love growing here. Anitbiotics don't help much- drainage is necessary.

At that point the ENT surgeon goes in an removes the intranasal swollen gunk. He tries to clean out the thickened junk, and may actually punch through bone to drain out the sewage. Literally.

Not pretty. But you sure do feel better after it's been dealt with. Sorry about the graphic detail....
 
bbchien said:
Nonadsorbed steroid antiinflammatory sprays come next. They're FAA acceptable; they directly counteract such swelling but take three days to have their effect. They don't have any effect if they don't get there, e.g., you're too stuffy to get it back there.

....
Click to expand...

Is Nasonex one of those? I use it in the spring for allergies. Would I have to take it year round for it to be effective for flying problems?
 
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