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Sick when flying


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I am getting a cold and I'm flying back to Canada in a few days. The problem is when I'm sick in the airplane I get incredible ear pain during takeoff and landing. I was reading a few things can help ease the pain....full strength sudafed which is not available in Thailand and special earplugs.

 

Can I get these things at a private hospital? I'll go see a doc today or tomorrow.

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There has been lots of warnings about that pain killer, few countries have banned it. The ear problem is pressure on the drum. Try pinching your nose to block it and try blow air through you nose to pop your ear drum. I works for me.

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4 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

Take a couple of Decolgen before and during flight. 

 

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Good advise. I always used to feel crappy after diving. Started taking a decongestant before dives. Works amazingly wheel. 

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2 hours ago, tweedledee2 said:

An anti-histamine will help alleviate the cold's symptoms, but inner ear pressure can be reduced by the simple act of chewing or swallowing. Chewing gum or sucking on hard candy will work.

 

Doesn't help.

 

Usually my ears are sensitive mostly during landing, however when I'm sick they hurt x10.

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Never have earplugs in when taking off or landing. Never sleep during takeoff or landing. You can use Otrovin before your flight to decongest your nose. 

 

If you get colds olds or infections when flying, here's my best tip.

Ten years ago I started putting Bacitracin in my nose and coating my nostrils. I used to get sick on long flight but I haven't gotten sick once since I started doing that. 

 

It's available in the US but not in The Netherlands and I don't think I've seen it in Thailand. If you can't find it, try Vaseline. 

 

Put it it on your little fingers, rub them together and put them up your nares and twist them around. 

 

Its the dry dry air that causes cracks in the skin of your nostrils were germs and bacteria can enter your system. A mask with an insert you can soak in water also helps and it humidifies the air you breathe. 

Edited by Guitar God
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Taking zinc before and during flight is also helpful in avoiding colds (though in OP's case i gather he already has one). In Thailand, "Redoxan" is effervescent Vit C and zinc and works wonders. Many airports in the west sell something called :airborne" with is zinc plus a bunch of other things, it is the zinc that works the magic.

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Sounds like you have a problem with narrow sinuses, like I do – do you also have that problem often when not driving or being on an airplane? I get it bad whenever I'm sick, it's been like that since I was young. I've considered surgery to widen my narrow sinuses, might be something for you to consider as well.

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17 hours ago, shaurene said:

There has been lots of warnings about that pain killer, few countries have banned it. The ear problem is pressure on the drum. Try pinching your nose to block it and try blow air through you nose to pop your ear drum. I works for me.

I suspect that works better for landing than take off, perhaps swallowing is better at take off.

If you have a cold sometimes mucus gets forced down the Eustachian tubes and that can cause a problem that lasts after the flight. I also move my jaw from side to side.

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Hello,

 

Been there done that! Its a Barsteward!

 

Its all to do with cabin pressure, I think your getting Sinusitis, along with your horrendous earache, you will probably have a blinding pain across your forehead.

 

A couple of ways that can sort that out when on board the plane:

1.Prior to boarding, start sucking a boiled candy, something that will generate saliva,and keep your face and ear muscles moving.

 

2.This is what I do if I get a pressure build up...Pinch both nostrils together, keep your mouth closed, and breathe out until your eardrums pop,,this will equalise the pressure, and you will feel instant relief.

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18 hours ago, shaurene said:

There has been lots of warnings about that pain killer, few countries have banned it. The ear problem is pressure on the drum. Try pinching your nose to block it and try blow air through you nose to pop your ear drum. I works for me.

 

 

Correct...Pop the drums..Works every time for me!! No Meds required!

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Cabin air is kept at a very low humidity to prevent condensation leading to corrosion of an airplanes inner skin.  I used to fly a lot as an air courier and found nothing worked better than simple saline nose spray..."Ayr" is a very good brand but I don't know if it's sold outside of the US.

Chewing gum also really seems to help.

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 I use psuedoephidrine - take one a few hours before landing and use otrivine nasal drops 20 mins before landing - really helps along with pinching the nose and trying to blow very hard.

 

I did buy it over here at the pharmacy - it was a combined tablet with loratidine (anti-histamine) in it.

 

Good luck as ear pain on landing can be extremely painful.  I wrecked part of my hearing due to flying with a cold.

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