<p>So I’m on vacation and I went on a trip yesterday that involved high altitude. I was fine but on the way back down one of my ears was suddenly painful. It is now full of fluid and didn’t repressurize when we came back down.<br>
This has happened to me in the past and the only solutions were having a doc irrigate the ear canal or taking Allegra D. Unfortunately I won’t be able to see my doctor for a few days.
Anybody have any other ideas? I’ve tried yawning, chewing gum, holding my nose and mouth closed and blowing out and taking an OTC antihistamine. No luck.</p>
<p>I cant help you with the current situation-( did you try Benadryl?)
but these are great for your next flight
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<p>EK I didn’t try Benadryl but I think I will. Flying home tonight on a red eye so that should be interesting…</p>
<p>Depending on where you are: consider getting some sudafed before the flight. (Some places it’s easy to get, others, it’s by prescription.)</p>
<p>I find heat very helpful. I fill a mug with boiling water, let it sit to heat up the mug itself, pour the water out and then cup it over my ear for a minute or two. It creates kind of a steamy environment that’s very soothing.</p>
<p>Try looking up, holding your nose, and swallowing several times.</p>
<p>dmd I’ll try that. There is a sauna where I am…maybe that would help.</p>
<p>If you fold a paper towel into the bottom of the mug, it retains the steam better when you pour out the water. Old airline trick from years ago.</p>
<p>You guys are great! Boiling the water right now.</p>
<p>you should also be able to get the ear plane ear plugs at the airport so your head doesn’t explode from the pressure on your way home.
Good luck.</p>
<p>Another fan of sudafed here. Get the real stuff from behind the pharmacy counter. My doctor told me to take at least 2x the dosage for flights when I had an ear infection.</p>
<p>Depending on where you are and what transportation you have available, I’d try to find a walk in clinic before you fly. I had a similar situation about 12 years ago and flew home without seeking treatment. I’ve had ear problems ever since.</p>
<p>If the clinic isn’t an option, try Benadryl. That sometimes helps for me. I hope you find some relief, there’s nothing more annoying.</p>
<p>a double dose of the real sudafed + afrin right before you fly, and also on landing. A sauna or long hot shower while rubbing below your ear to try to relieve pressure. I would also take some advil before the flight and before landing</p>
<p>The pressure is in your middle ear so irrigating the ear canal will not help. If you have middle ear fluid that persists, an ENT will be needed.
Be careful flying as you can be in severe pain from Barotrauma as you already have pressure your ear.
You really should have a doctor or ENT examine you to see what is going on. It is not recommended that you fly with this condition.</p>
<p>ebeeeeeee
Get treatment and stay on vacation a bit longer!!!</p>
<p>I vote for the walkin clinic idea…unless it’s too late. Hope the trip back wasn’t torture.</p>
<p>The trip back was difficult but I am home. Unfortunately no time for a walk in clinic. IGoing to see my doc this afternoon.<br>
So far tried regular Claritin then Sudafed and now home and took a Claritin D. That has worked in the past but doesn’t seem to be helping this time.
Definitely time for a doctor to look.</p>
<p>I hope you are feeling well soon!</p>
<p>For your next trip, if your doctor does not prescribe/recommend something, this is an all over-the counter routine I used for years. Take an over the counter decongestant and use a nasal spray decongestant as well. Now, nasal sprays long term are the work of the devil* and so you must promise to use it only for air travel. </p>
<p>This routine is best carried out 20-30 minutes before boarding the plane. Don’t worry about the people looking at you in the restroom because it sounded like you were snorting something else in the stall. Drink plenty of water. And keep drinking water on the plane. </p>
<p>*Nasal membranes can become less responsive to nasal decongenstants after a few days. Then you have to use more of it and so on and so forth. The good news is that it’s not permenant. But there are much better ways to control chronic congestion, which is why I only use mine when I fly the allegedly friendly skies.</p>
<p>I thought this was a misspelling of “peer pressure” and was hoping for something juicy.</p>
<p>Riverrunner, sorry this is the parent cafe. You know where us old folks as each other for help…
I just got back from the Doctor and she was no help. Basically loaded me up with nasal spray and freebies of Claritin D. Told me try these or try Benadryl. She said just have to wait. There is no fluid and no ear infection.
I mentioned Chriopractor and she said it might help. That’s the plan if this persists through Monday.</p>
<p>Have you tried ibuprofen? I once went to see my ENT for ear pain and it turned out to be from clenching my teeth. Honestly, I thought my ENT must have started drinking at lunch but I tried it anyway and, sure enough, the pain went away.</p>
<p>Good luck! Ear pain is, well, a pain!</p>