Does anyone suffer from ear problems when flying?

Question

My friend and I have booked a long weekend to Benidorm for her birthday in May 2007, am really looking forward to it however I suffer quite badly with my ears a lot, the doctor said I had a lot of air built up in my inner ear and it gets quite painful I ve tried pinching my nose and blowing but that just makes me dizzy and a bit panicky am worried there going to be terribly painful when flying if there bad when on the ground, does anyone have any sensible advice or know anything I can take to prevent it or ease it Thanks

Answer 1

Hello Natalie,I am a sufferer too!! Bit of prevention rather than cure needed here. Perhaps you get congested like me and this affects the Eustachian tube which is trying to adjust to the pressure change. A week prior to flying cut down on foods which cause mucus,mostly dairy products. There is a brill product by Bio force called 'Plantego Lanceolata'- you have a few drops in water daily for approx week prior to flying and it helps to de congest and clear the sinuses/ears etc.
As a pre empt strike take a pain killer at least an hour before landing and this will at least soften the pain if you do have any probs.
I definitely recommend gently sucking sweets to alleviate any discomfort and try to relax as much as poss. If you get tense this will make matters worse,I know from experience!!
Good luck!!

Answer 2

The problem is the middle ear, a small air pocket inside your ear, which opens in the back of the nose.

Usually ear problems occur during the descent of an airplane, when air contracts and an inner ear tube is partially blocked.

Ways to reduce the discomfort include:

1. Nasal sprays.

2. Swallowing.

3. Chewing.

4. Yawning.

5. Earplugs.

6. Perform Valsalva maneuver. (The Valsalva maneuver is performed by attempting to forcibly exhale while keeping the mouth and nose closed, kind of like what you do when you hold your nose jumping off a diving board etc.)

Answer 3

It is painful and you dont want to spoil your weekend, I have similar problems.
Try having your ears syringed, to prevent a build up of wax.
When you fly try chewing gum or a boiled sweet, yawn or stretch your jaw, anything to equalise the pressure. The usual advice is to pinch your nose and blow till your ears pop, if this makes you dizzy, then go see your doctor or practice nurse, see what they advise.
With any flying, try to stay calm, plenty of fluids and deep breathing, ejoy the flight, the films or take some relaxing music to listen to. Your GP can give you a valium for flying if you need it.

Answer 4

First off - DON'T do the hold your nose and blow thing - you can do a lot of damage to your inner ear like that!!

Apart from that sucking on a boiled sweet help, I don't know how but it does! Unfortunatly it's sure rather than prevention though so it won't stop the pain occuring at all it'll just end it more quickly.

Answer 5

I have this problem too as my ears don't seem to pop, the pressure just dissipates slowly instead which can be a bit painful.

You could try sucking a sweet on take-off. once you're up in the air, provided the cabin temperature is set properly you should be ok. Like I said my ears just don't pop and I've only ever had a problem once when flying.

Answer 6

I know that if you have a cold this can be worse but years ago you used to be given a sweet to suck (a hard boiled one - not to be chewed). This does help. You can just bring some boiled sweets with you. Whatever you do don't get yourself in a sweat about it because you could make the flight much worse. Bring the sweets. And start sucking the minute the plane moves and keep sucking till you are airborn and if you want keep sucking for the flight.

Answer 7

My son has very bad ear problems when flying so i got him special ear plugs for in flight (bought in boots) and with using them he constantly sucks on boiled sweets and this helps alot it didnt go away comepletely but helped loads. also i kept him really busy during the flight so he couldnt think about it too much.
Boots also had drops for adults to use, also try not showering or getting water in the ear the day of flying as it tends to block and pop. good luck x

Answer 8

The only thing I know of that helps when flying is chewing gum or sucking on sweets, I know that helps to stop your ears popping during take off and landing. No idea if that's any good to you.

Answer 9

I was going to suggest that Dumbo has a problem with his ears when flying until I realised the seriousness of your question. I have heard that sucking on a boiled sweet during take-off helps as it promotes swallowing which helps you to unblock your ears.

Answer 10

I sometimes suffer from ear problems when on air travel, that is why I chew bubble gum or drink allot of water, but not too much water. You can test different ways of not having your ear hurt as much if you go into a car and go down/up fairly quickly.
For chewing, you can chew: bubble gum or mentoes.