Cross Country Flight -- Ear Damage?

[Maulik]

During a cross country flight, my ears began to hurt from the changing pressure. This is typical for me when I fall asleep and cannot adjust during the descent. I also suffer a temporary loss of hearing that fades slowly as my ears readjust after the flight. When the second leg of this flight reached peak altitude, my ears settled, pain subsided and normal hearing resumed. I planned to stay awake for the descent and to try to directly handle the changing pressure. Instead, I woke up during the last 100 miles of the flight as we passed over Lake Tahoe and were well into the descent. Seven hours later, my ears have not adjusted and when I speak, I hear myself as if I am speaking through a tunnel or water.

[Go Blue]

[ QUOTE ]
During a cross country flight, my ears began to hurt from the changing pressure. This is typical for me when I fall asleep and cannot adjust during the descent. I also suffer a temporary loss of hearing that fades slowly as my ears readjust after the flight. When the second leg of this flight reached peak altitude, my ears settled, pain subsided and normal hearing resumed. I planned to stay awake for the descent and to try to directly handle the changing pressure. Instead, I woke up during the last 100 miles of the flight as we passed over Lake Tahoe and were well into the descent. Seven hours later, my ears have not adjusted and when I speak, I hear myself as if I am speaking through a tunnel or water.

[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting...I've had that happen to me, but it seems like the one or two times I had that, it was because the plane descended too fast. After arrival, it lasted a few hours, then went away. Before freshman year of college, I had a job where I worked on the 40th floor of a building and took those fast elevators. I never had any problems with the changing pressure but one time, leaving work, I got a HUGE pain in both of my ears from riding the elevator down and couldn't do anything about it. It lasted about two days before it subsided...I have no idea what that was all about. All I did was ride an elevator. In any event, I know there are a few things you can do to help your ears return to normal faster. I can't recall everything but I think being in a warm, steamy environment helps (in other words, a long, hot shower). Maybe someone else can point you to something. Good luck.

[daryn]

this happens to me when i am sick or have congestion in my nose and then fly. one time my ears were plugged up for days after i had landed. everything goes back to normal eventually

[Go Blue]

[ QUOTE ]
this happens to me when i am sick or have congestion in my nose and then fly. one time my ears were plugged up for days after i had landed. everything goes back to normal eventually

[/ QUOTE ]

That's right. As a matter of fact, now that I think about it, congested sinuses can worsen the problem. That would make sense as to why taking a hot shower helps...it loosens the sinuses up and thus reduces congestion.

[smoore]

You need to clean your ears. You've probably been duped like most of the world and think that Q-Tips clean your ears. They don't, they just pack the wax in there. The best way is to pour a capful of hydrogen peroxide into your ear and let it sit there for 10 mins or so... then go get in the shower and let hot water run in your ear.

[Sponger15SB]

[ QUOTE ]
You need to clean your ears. You've probably been duped like most of the world and think that Q-Tips clean your ears. They don't, they just pack the wax in there. The best way is to pour a capful of hydrogen peroxide into your ear and let it sit there for 10 mins or so... then go get in the shower and let hot water run in your ear.

[/ QUOTE ]

This can't be the best way.

But yeah, Maulik should clean his ears out.

[Luv2DriveTT]

You most likely have a problem with your gestation tubes (spelling is probably wrong). I have a similar issue, and it can be very painful. The doctor advises me to overdose on Sudafed 1 hour before takeoff, and also blast some afrin in my nose while sitting on the runway. Ever since the problem has been solved.

TT /images/graemlins/club.gif

[miajag81]

[ QUOTE ]
You most likely have a problem with your gestation tubes (spelling is probably wrong).


[/ QUOTE ]

Eustachian. You were close.

I flew with a bad cold one time and blew out both of my eardrums. Some of the most intense pain I have ever had on that landing. Of course that was the first leg in a trip to visit family in Scottland and had three more landings to endure. I didn't really know what had happened but I couldn't hear very well as apparently your ear canals filled with blood drown out sound.

[Blarg]

Jesus that's nasty. I've never heard of it being that bad before.

I had a ruptured eardrum once. Painful but not for long, but there was a lot of blood. I can only imagine what that must be like in a public place, going through customs and all.

[AdamL]

If it hasn't been mentioned yet, you should try the Valsalva maneuver, and see a doctor. I'm pretty sure it's not serious though, don't worry about it. I fly recreationally and sometimes have headaches for a couple days following a very, umm.... fun, flight. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[jdd12]

This happened to me in May and lasted for 3 days. It sucked.

Like Daryn said, it goes away on it's own.

I'm not going to cry wolf here, but my girl friend's mom had this exact same thing happen to her ~5 years ago. SHe figured it would go away, but it didn't and her hearing was permanently damnaged in that ear. FYI

[MrX]

[ QUOTE ]
You most likely have a problem with your gestation tubes (spelling is probably wrong). I have a similar issue, and it can be very painful. The doctor advises me to overdose on Sudafed 1 hour before takeoff, and also blast some afrin in my nose while sitting on the runway. Ever since the problem has been solved.

TT /images/graemlins/club.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I laughed so hard at this.

X

[DasLeben]

What I do on aircraft is the valsalva maneuver. You basically pinch your nose and try to blow gently out of your nose. That'll cause your ears to "pop" and equilize easily. When the airplane starts to descend, make sure to do this early and often, and you shouldn't have any issues.

Trust me on this one...as a pilot, I can tell you that this works wonders.

[mason55]

[ QUOTE ]
What I do on aircraft is the valsalva maneuver. You basically pinch your nose and try to blow gently out of your nose. That'll cause your ears to "pop" and equilize easily. When the airplane starts to descend, make sure to do this early and often, and you shouldn't have any issues.

Trust me on this one...as a pilot, I can tell you that this works wonders.

[/ QUOTE ]

Chewing gum can also work. After years of SCUBA diving this comes naturally to me, I basically just move my jaw and equalize unconsciously. Sucks when I have a cold and do it by accident and those air passages get stuck open for hours though.

[Skipbidder]

25 mg prednisone 8 hours before the flight and 25 mg again 1 hour before the flight.

You should be able to get 100 5 mg tablets for less than 3 bucks (so make sure that you know this when you fill your prescreption...don't pay some $10 or $20 copay).

Make sure to tell your doctor that you read this suggestion from a random guy an on internet poker forum. They love that.

By the way, I'm only suggesting this because I curbsided an ENT about it a few years ago (my ears hurt like a mofo when I fly). It worked very well. I've written it for one patient who claimed that it helped him as well.

I tried to do a literature search on it a few years ago, without being successful. Perhaps I'll try again.

There, I just did it. 120 mg pseudoephedrine 30 minutes prior to flight was effective in a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial reported in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine in 1998. (You won't need a prescription for this in the US, unlike the prednisone.)

One other trial did not show effect for pseudoephedrine in children (Archives of Peds and Adolescent Medicine).

[daryn]

[ QUOTE ]
What I do on aircraft is the valsalva maneuver. You basically pinch your nose and try to blow gently out of your nose. That'll cause your ears to "pop" and equilize easily. When the airplane starts to descend, make sure to do this early and often, and you shouldn't have any issues.

Trust me on this one...as a pilot, I can tell you that this works wonders.

[/ QUOTE ]

but what can you tell me, as an applebee's waiter?

[SCfuji]

maulik

everything should return to normal but you probably wont notice as its probably going to be gradual. if you think your ears are still effed up go see a doctor (ENT/ears,nose,throat specialist).

[DasLeben]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
What I do on aircraft is the valsalva maneuver. You basically pinch your nose and try to blow gently out of your nose. That'll cause your ears to "pop" and equilize easily. When the airplane starts to descend, make sure to do this early and often, and you shouldn't have any issues.

Trust me on this one...as a pilot, I can tell you that this works wonders.

[/ QUOTE ]

but what can you tell me, as an applebee's waiter?

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't you have something else to do with your time than be a complete cockbite? 11,000 posts, you'd expect someone to know how to act.

Jesus Christ dude. You don't piss me off, I'm just amazed that people like you actually exist and are tolerated (well, maybe only on the internet). Go troll another thread.

Actually...y'know what, this just reminded me why I stopped posting here. See you all in another couple months.

[uw_madtown]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
What I do on aircraft is the valsalva maneuver. You basically pinch your nose and try to blow gently out of your nose. That'll cause your ears to "pop" and equilize easily. When the airplane starts to descend, make sure to do this early and often, and you shouldn't have any issues.

Trust me on this one...as a pilot, I can tell you that this works wonders.

[/ QUOTE ]

Chewing gum can also work. After years of SCUBA diving this comes naturally to me, I basically just move my jaw and equalize unconsciously. Sucks when I have a cold and do it by accident and those air passages get stuck open for hours though.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm amazed that some people are unable to do this. I've never done scuba or anything, but I've always been able to relieve pressure in my ears by moving my jaw and... I don't know how to explain it, but it feels like you're blowing air out your ears. But apparently not that many people know how to do it?

[Luv2DriveTT]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
What I do on aircraft is the valsalva maneuver. You basically pinch your nose and try to blow gently out of your nose. That'll cause your ears to "pop" and equilize easily. When the airplane starts to descend, make sure to do this early and often, and you shouldn't have any issues.

Trust me on this one...as a pilot, I can tell you that this works wonders.

[/ QUOTE ]

but what can you tell me, as an applebee's waiter?

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't you have something else to do with your time than be a complete cockbite? 11,000 posts, you'd expect someone to know how to act.

Jesus Christ dude. You don't piss me off, I'm just amazed that people like you actually exist and are tolerated (well, maybe only on the internet). Go troll another thread.

Actually...y'know what, this just reminded me why I stopped posting here. See you all in another couple months.

[/ QUOTE ]

bye bye.... don't come back till you develop a sense of humor. I hope the holiday season is good to you, I hear waiters make good tips around Christmas time.

TT /images/graemlins/club.gif

[Rotating Rabbit]

[ QUOTE ]

I'm amazed that some people are unable to do this. I've never done scuba or anything, but I've always been able to relieve pressure in my ears by moving my jaw and... I don't know how to explain it, but it feels like you're blowing air out your ears. But apparently not that many people know how to do it?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm the same as you, i guess i first realised how to do it while yawning bigtime. I guess its like some ppl can move their ears and stuff if they develop the ability from an early age. (i cant do that)

[daryn]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
What I do on aircraft is the valsalva maneuver. You basically pinch your nose and try to blow gently out of your nose. That'll cause your ears to "pop" and equilize easily. When the airplane starts to descend, make sure to do this early and often, and you shouldn't have any issues.

Trust me on this one...as a pilot, I can tell you that this works wonders.

[/ QUOTE ]

but what can you tell me, as an applebee's waiter?

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't you have something else to do with your time than be a complete cockbite? 11,000 posts, you'd expect someone to know how to act.

Jesus Christ dude. You don't piss me off, I'm just amazed that people like you actually exist and are tolerated (well, maybe only on the internet). Go troll another thread.

Actually...y'know what, this just reminded me why I stopped posting here. See you all in another couple months.

[/ QUOTE ]

http://newmexiken.com/images/2004/05/Accomplished.jpg

[daryn]

so i flew across the country this morning. i had some mild congestion and i thought it might be a problem. as we ascended my ears started blocking. i was trying to yawn and move my ears and whatnot to open them up.. to no avail. then all of a sudden.. BAM! it was the weirdest thing. like this huge suction sound SHHHHHHHHHWWWWWWWWWUUUUUUP! and some brief faint pain but then it was all clear! weird.

[astroglide]

http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/msussman/DensityCratering/goldbrick.jpg

[NutzyClutz]

http://a1468.g.akamai.net/f/1468/580/1d/pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/77431/300.jpg

Those ear drops are great for eachaches.

Also ear planes, ear plugs are good too.

My problem was after I landed my ears lobes, right below the opening would feel rock hard.

[Skipbidder]

[ QUOTE ]
http://a1468.g.akamai.net/f/1468/580/1d/pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/77431/300.jpg

Those ear drops are great for eachaches.

[/ QUOTE ]

Those ear drops are only great for one thing, and that is making money for a company that thinks its customers are idiots. There is no active ingredient in the product.

They have been cited in the past for violation of federal law. Their product doesn't work (CAN'T work), and they cannot even advertise it for use in earaches without breaking the law. They have to try to weasel-word their way around it in the hopes that dupes will still understand what they are claiming without them having to claim it anymore.

[NutzyClutz]

To each his own ... but it works for me every time. And other brands don't.
Active Ingredients (homeopathic)Purpose
Chamomilla HPUS 10x.. .......calmative, pain reliever Mercurius solubilis HPUS 15x...anti-inflammatory, pain
Sulphur HPUS 12x...pain reliever, anti-itch
Inactive Ingredients:Glycerin

[Skipbidder]

If you understood what 15X meant in homeopathic lingo, then you wouldn't have included it in a list of active ingredients. Take one part of substance and 10 parts of water. Shake it up. Take one part of that mixture and dilute it with 10 parts water. Shake it up. Take one part of that mixture and combine it with 10 parts water. Repeat this procedure 15 times. That's 15X. On homeopathic theory, the medicine becomes stronger the more you dilute it. At 24X, there becomes less than a 50% chance that there is any of the original substance left.

Active Ingredients (homeopathic)Purpose
Chamomilla HPUS 10x.. .......separate dupe from cash.
Mercurius solubilis HPUS 15x...separate dupe from cash
Sulphur HPUS 12x...separate dupe from cash

[Oblivious]

Homeopathic "remedies" are bogus. Go see a witch doctor instead.