Crowe
Billerica, MA USA
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Before we left for Alaska I was experiencing some ear pain and general congestion. Since I have allergies I didn't think much about it even though the ear pain was a bit unusual. When we landed at DFW on the first leg I was in tears from the pain (it's a long, slow decent into that airport). The next legs (Anchorage, Kodiak, Afognak) weren't bad. On the way home, same thing-DFW landing was almost unbearable. Went to the doc today and it appears I was traveling with a double ear infection. Wound up staying home from work today and I am miserable as I write but on antibiotics. Risk to me was rupturing both eardrums. Word of advice-make sure your ears are healthy before you fly!
Life is too short to spend it all in one place!
2004 Gulfstream Endura
2005 Chevy Tahoe toad
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DenaliDaveB
Bright, In. USA
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Sounds like a miserable trip. I hope the antibiotics do the job,good luck.
2005 F250 PSD 4x4
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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One of the things that MUST happen as the plane ascends and decends is that air has to pass through the EUSTACHIAN Tubes. these tubes connect the inner ear with the air passages in, as I recall, the throat.
If you get an infection these tubes can clog up and prevent the passage of air, thus pressure inside and outside the ear do NOT equalize, and the result (As you well know) is very painful (I know it too, You do not need to fly to suffer)
Can seriously affect your hearing... IN my case they had to operate to equalize the pressure... Then they were able to clear up the infection and the clog and now everythign works well again. But it sure hurt!!!!!
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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gasbag
Washington State
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Joined: 02/13/2004
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Crowe wrote:Word of advice-make sure your ears are healthy before you fly!
Ok.
Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?
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gamersredneckwife
Tx, USA
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Joined: 06/04/2004
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OMG!!! You flew into DFW and didn't let me know....Unbelievable...I may never forgive you for this 
Summer
2009 36RD5S Cedar Creek
2006 310RBDS Pilgrim
2005 Dodge 3500 CTD 4X4
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Crowe
Billerica, MA USA
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Actually, Summer, I did it TWICE!  Had lots of time in between flights, too. Next time I'll tell you!
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Grey Mountain
On the rez somewhere in Indian Country
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Joined: 08/25/2002
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As a veteran with over 5000 hours in the sky, I can verify with assurance that one should never fly with an ear infection. Even a simple head cold can cause the same problem. If you cannot equalize the pressure, there can be great pain.
For some, a simple thing like chewing gum achieves that purpose. Another method is the "Valsalva." This is done by holding your nose and blowing. That should clear your ears. That was a standard check the flight surgeon had us do to determine if we were fit to fly.
I was in Texas in February, and again in April, but I don't want anybody to know that.
GM
2000 Southwind Storm 34N Tin Teepee
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gamersredneckwife
Tx, USA
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Crowe wrote:Actually, Summer, I did it TWICE! Had lots of time in between flights, too. Next time I'll tell you!
You better!!
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WC&DC
Salesville, TX
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the last time I was on an airplane my ears did the same thing landing at DFW, that was 1988, have not been on a airplane any more.
WC
Just WC&DC
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msmith1199
Central, CA
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Joined: 10/07/2001
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Grey Mountain wrote:As a veteran with over 5000 hours in the sky, I can verify with assurance that one should never fly with an ear infection. Even a simple head cold can cause the same problem. If you cannot equalize the pressure, there can be great pain.
For some, a simple thing like chewing gum achieves that purpose. Another method is the "Valsalva." This is done by holding your nose and blowing. That should clear your ears. That was a standard check the flight surgeon had us do to determine if we were fit to fly.
I was in Texas in February, and again in April, but I don't want anybody to know that.
GM
Yup, you're right. Spent 2000 hours in a C-141 and learned a lot about ear problems. The Valsalva is a good technique. What I used to do with kids on the plane was give them oxygen at a higher pressure. You could tell when they were having ear problems so I'd put an oxygen mask on them and put some pressure to it. This would basically do the same thing as the Valsalva. But if you have an ear infection it's possible the valsalva won't work.
2004 National Tropi-Cal T-350, Class A, Triple slide, 330 HP Cat DP.
2006 Dodge Dakota 4x4 or
2002 Harley FLSTF Fat Boy on a Trailer or
2004 Polaris Quad on the Trailer
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