Question: I have to fly tomorrow from Guam to Philippines. I got a bad cold two days after i arrived from the PI. First noticeable day i felt very weak. No energy. Second day morning bad sore throat. Then third throat felt better and got a stuffy nose. 4th day blowing green from nose and now my back of head neck hurts. If i breath in deep though i cleared my nose bad paid is same as blowing the nose. Like if i were hanging upside down. I also feel throbbing. When i stop deep inhalation it stops. If i blow my nose lightly same. If i plug my nose and blow same pain. I bend over upside down same paid and feel as my blood in my head will explode. My nose now is clear from blowing it. Feels like my lower back neck glands are swollen or sore. Based on all this what do i have? Can i still fly if i keep my nostrils clear? Is there something i can buy or take before flying. Please help..

Thanks for your quick reply. Since we last spoke its gotten worse. Now I just lean my head forward or cough and I have the same pain in the back of neck and now coming stronger in the ears. I went and bought this, Hylands Earache drops in hopes it will also relieve any pressure and pain. I tried on ear didn’t notice anything yet. 5 mins ago. I will do as you recommended and take my sinus spray decongestant. Its called, Vicks Sinex moisturizing/ it’s a 12 hour decongestant. I tried to test my ears and pain by plugging my nose and blowing in and out while plugged. When I try and breath in the pain is bad. Same as blowing out but it stays until I pop it back. Yet my nose is clear now, only blow it once in awhile. So an upper respitory infection dont have to feel in the front of the nose or sinus. I have no pain or pressure on the nose and sinus cavity area. Its back of head lower neck and now aches in the ears, and heart throbbing in ears and neck just leaning little forward. So if I fly will this remain the same. Or will it intensify where I can get no relief? I had a sinus infection I didnt know about some years ago and flown and while landing the pain was so intense and my eyes felt they were going to explode. It was the frontal area then . As of now the ears and back of neck now feel intense. I bought Nasal rinse to try tonight. My only worry is air pressure when flying. I think I need an antibiotics shot and medication. I will see a doctor after I land. Can you please answer my comments. I don’t understand why my nose now is clear yet ears feel achy and back of neck and throbbing. This is upper respitory infection. Which part? Thanks

Well, I may have exaggerated the neck pain because after I blew my nose and popped my ears a bit the pain stayed awhile then subsided to nothing. Only time I feel a pain is if I lean forward where my head is lower than my heart. But laying down flat it not a problem. I took the Alkeselzer cold an hour ago and I do feel better. I wont take the sinex spray until I leave. So if I dont have pain in the neck sitting doing nothing its normal for a bad cold right. If I could it hurts, blow nose. I really want to go to Doctor. Im in Guam have no insurance and its 130am about here. I called emergency room they of course cant tell me anything but come in. Told me around $500. If I just fly 4 hours to Guam I can see a doctor there affordable for me. Do I have any risk of flying? I mean something go wrong in my head or just worst case pain till I land? Sorry for this last question. I have to know this one thing before I can make decision. My wife and daughter waiting for me. We just moved from Korea to my wifes country. Im XXXXXXX I came to Guam to put my container from korea to storage. We are fighting to make it. I dont want to goto emergency room unless I have to. I have no pain in neck now. Only when I cough or pop ears or bend down lower than heart. My sinus is pretty clear I must say just that hidden infection I feel when I cough. Will I make it to the Philippines.? No worsening neck pain. Just when I aggravated it by popping and unpopping my ears with a plugged nose. I didnt take that alkeselzer or any pain med since 1 hours ago. Maybe the alkeselzer made it moer calm. Ill await your reply. thanks again. I dont want to be annoying.

Hi Dr. XXXXXXX

I flew and made it to the Philippines ok. No pain. No ear pain. Landing was a little scary since my right ear dnt pop right away but little by little pressure was released and fully when landed. I went to the hospital an hour after landing. ENT stated i had both ears infected and enflamed throat. My sinus were congested but no pain. Im so thankful the situation was not worse. No fever. No sickness. Just weak and tired from the infection. I received 500mg antibiotics Cefuroxime Axetil. This is the second day taking it and my ears are no longer clogged or hurt. No pain or throbbing bending over. No back if neck pain when i cough. My congested chest or bronchils cleared up. Just exhausted and still weak. Ill see the doc a week after finishing the meds. Thanks for your advice and help. Glad to be with my family.