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Is Flight Journey Safe With Blocked Ears?
Hi, I m catching a flight at midnight tonight (currently 9:51am where I am) and I have one very blocked ear. Im scared for the pain, and I have tried ear drops and afrin nasal drops to try and reduce the blockage. I have just tried pinching my nose and other ear to try and unclog it and I think I made a small hole in it as I can now hear a screeching sound when I try it. I ve had some drainage but not much and it still feels very blocked. I can f afford to go see a doctor as I am abroad. Is there any you suggest?
Tue, 4 Oct 2016
Hello.
You are right in being concerned as during the flight middle ear pressures and the atmospheric pressures may be different especially with a blocked eustachian tube and may cause more pain.
If you are unable to seek medical care now, I suggest you take decongestants both oral and nasal - like phenylephrine, chlorpheniramine, xylometazoline (nasal) before boarding the flight and then every 8-12 hrs depending on the relief.
If at all you have ruptured your tympanic membrane as you feel, you may not feel much pain. You can just place cotton ear plugs over the affected ear till you land and can go to an ENT specialist.
.
Even if the ear drum is intact, keep doing the Valsalva manoeuvre i.e. trying to pop open the ears by blocking the nose or by yawning. Donot wet the affected ear.
You can then get yourself checked after you land.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Dr Geeta
You are right in being concerned as during the flight middle ear pressures and the atmospheric pressures may be different especially with a blocked eustachian tube and may cause more pain.
If you are unable to seek medical care now, I suggest you take decongestants both oral and nasal - like phenylephrine, chlorpheniramine, xylometazoline (nasal) before boarding the flight and then every 8-12 hrs depending on the relief.
If at all you have ruptured your tympanic membrane as you feel, you may not feel much pain. You can just place cotton ear plugs over the affected ear till you land and can go to an ENT specialist.
.
Even if the ear drum is intact, keep doing the Valsalva manoeuvre i.e. trying to pop open the ears by blocking the nose or by yawning. Donot wet the affected ear.
You can then get yourself checked after you land.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Dr Geeta
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