Ear problems flying

[scorpioto]

Hi all, does anyone know of anything that stops ear popping on flights, my wife suffers terribly and sometimes she has been crying with the pain, it also usually takes her a least a day of the holiday to get back to normal. We have tried the special balance ear plugs from the chemist and normal ear plugs, she has been to the doctor to find out if she had a problem but he said there was nothing wrong.

Cheers Tony

[lauren_jayne]

i suffer from it terribly
but i found if i suck on a hard boiled sweet
as we are taking off it helps me

[White Yorkshire Rose]

My daughther and husband suffer with this problem, my daughter is like your wife, but it only affects her when landing, she also is in tears with the pain. An nice air steward once said to take some painkillers a couple of hours before landing, sometimes helps. We have tried everything, earplugs, drinking something through a straw, chewing or sucking sweets, and not much helps to be honest.

[Lynn m]

I read somewhere that Sudafed is good to take might be worth a try if all else has failed.

If you are in pain after landing try steaming your ears that tip was in the same article.

I dont know if any these tips work as I have never tried them.

[Subzi]

This works get your Ipod or Mp3 plug it in before your about to land well when your decending put your music on loud and constantly try and yawn i do that and never have a problem

[s_mc]

The problem is caused by the rapid change in air pressure and is usually worse when landing , going from low atmospheric pressure down closer to earth where the air pressure is much higher . I've heard that using a decongestant pill or spray an hour or so before landing can help as it will shrink the membranes and allow the ears to pop more easily .
There is also a new type of ear plug available now called " Earplanes " , made specifically for people that suffer with this . Apparently they help to slow down the rapid air changes and reduce discomfort . Here is a link to their website .

http://www.cirrushealthcare.com/

I am dreading flying this year, I am being tested for Menieres in August and suffer terrible with balance and ear problems of late.

Am watching with interest

[babs]

How do you steam your ears - sounds too painful to me!!
I have the same problem with both take off and landing and feel half deaf for the whole holiday and a couple of weeks after and nothing I have ever tried has worked

[Lynn m]

To steam your ears apparently you just put a small amount of hot water in a cup and tilt you head holding you ear over it

[Karemolinos]

I too have terrible ear pain , but only when landing. I used the 'earplanes' ear plugs in May and did find them slightly better, but not a great deal better than the ordinary cheap earplugs!

If you can suck an ENOURMOUS boiled sweet about 15 mins BEFORE starting your descent that helps a lot !

I may give the sudafed tabs a try in 10 days time...

[Lynn m]

http://www.flyana.com/ear.html

[shastie]

My daughter suffers badly and the doctor said it was caused by narrow air tubes in her inner ears. She gets Ephidrine nose drops on prescription and takes Actifed about 30 mins before landing to open up the tubes as much as possible and that sometimes helps. To be honest, when flying with some airlines ( Virgin and Thomas Cook Airlines) she has a pain free journey. Must be due to the control of the cabin pressure.

[scorpioto]

Thanks for all of your replies, I will get some earplanes and see if they help and maybe try some of the other remedies as well, she has tried boiled sweets with no joy and tried pinching her nose and blowing (that always works for me)but not for her.

Cheers Tony

[Glasgow Girl]

Tell your wife to try hopi candle treatment a day or two before holiday. It works for me! Ive always suffered with my ears and sinuses and not only does this clear and soothe them, it also very relaxing! For anyone that doesnt know, hopi candle treatment is a non invasive way of relieving pressure in the ears and sinuses with hollow candles made of natural ingredients of beeswax, honey extracts, sage, St Johns Wort, chamomile, beta-carotene and flax. They are placed at the entrance of the ear and draw the impurities out. It's sooo relaxing and I always have it done before flying.

[scorpioto]

Hi GG, where do I get this hopi candle, do you buy it or is it a special treatment.

Tony

[kazz59]

Collette, What is Menieres ? Only earlier this year I was having very bad problems with balance etc., which would cause me to fall over quite easily if my head was tilted at a slight angle even. Just lifting my head off the pillow in the morning would cause the room to spin (no I hadn't been drinking ha, ha), and I could even be sat on the "loo" and fall off. Anyway the Doctor diagnosed me with "Vertigo", gave me a course of tablets, and I've been as right as rain since. Also the pain in my ears during flying has gone. Is Menieres something similar ? or maybe like me, you could have Vertigo.

[Jula]

I always take sudafed before flying,seems to do the trick for me.

[Marm]

My husband uses Earplanes. They last for two flights so get you there and back and can be bought in boots. He reckons they work a treat

Kazz sent you a pm

[Glasgow Girl]

tony, its a treatment that you can get in some salons, do an internet search for it in your local area. I pay £25 for it and it lasts 45mins and it includes a sinus massage, well worth the money.