Flying with a cold

[Nicol@]

Due to fly tomorrow and I am feeling bad with a cold.
I have a blocked nose and 'crackly ear'.

Can anyone suggest something to relieve the pressure problems I will encounter?
I have read that constant drinking during take off and landing may help.

I have flown once before with a cold and the pressure issue felt like a sharp pencil was being pushed hard into my ear. I don't want a repeat of that.

Edited by Nicol@ on Thursday 12th November 13:28

[ShadownINja]

Yes, or suck sweets the whole time. The swallowing action can help. Failing that, close your mouth, hold your nose and blow. It should release pressure in the ear. fk knows how that works (something about the way they're linked but it's black magic I tell thee).

[pokethepope]

Did all that over-hyped Swine flu bks ever actually happen - "if you show up at check-in with cold like symptoms you will not be allowed to fly"?

OP, maybe hold your sneezes in at check in/boarding?

[Nicol@]

ShadownINja said:

Failing that, close your mouth, hold your nose and blow. It should release pressure in the ear.

Not when it is blocked by a cold as I tried that last time, but thanks.

And Poke, thanks, I forgot about the swine flu fear.

Edited by Nicol@ on Thursday 12th November 15:10

[Iain328]

Nicol@ said:

Due to fly tomorrow and I am feeling bad with a cold.
I have a blocked nose and 'crackly ear'.

Can anyone suggest something to relieve the pressure problems I will encounter?
I have read that constant drinking during take off and landing may help.

I have flown once before with a cold and the pressure issue felt like a sharp pencil was being pushed hard into my ear. I don't want a repeat of that.

Clear your sinuses out as best you can before you fly. Really hot shower before you go to the airport (hot water straight down on top of your head & on your face, as hot as you can stand it) & then dose yourself up on decongestants, or maybe lemsip capsules that have decon + paracetamol.

Also use something like a vicks synex inhaler before & during the flight.

Start equalising the pressure in your ears from the moment you take off & chew on something like some Tunes or other menthol sweets. Again equalise the pressure as soon as you think the plane is starting to descent (usually 20-30 minutes before landing).

If you still can't get your ears to pop then pull down & outwards on your ear lobe massage the area directly under your ear & behind your jawbone - that's where the Eustacian (sp?) tube is that gets blocked.

Edited by Iain328 on Thursday 12th November 16:41

[Nicol@]

Thanks Iain (I already have the tablets ready), but have noted the other suggestion/do all.

[ShadownINja]

Nicol@ said:

ShadownINja said:

Failing that, close your mouth, hold your nose and blow. It should release pressure in the ear.

Not when it is blocked by a cold as I tried that last time, but thanks.

Um. You didn't cover your shoulders in snot did you?

[Nicol@]

ShadownINja said:

Um. You didn't cover your shoulders in snot did you?

No

[spikeyhead]

Carvol

For those who haven't flown with blocked sinuses, don't, its about on a par with breaking a collarbone in terms of pain.

[ben_h100]

Be careful, I flew with a 'head cold' and managed to fall asleep as the aircraft descended and landed. (had been on a weeks pissup in Tenerife.)

Stood up and felt very dizzy, went to the docs a week or so later as I had a 'crackly' ear, (thought I had an ear infection). I had burst my eardrum..!

Do all of the above, constantly equalise the pressure, hold nose and blow, sweets, decongestants etc. Maybe neck a lemsip or two before you fly.

[Gnits]

Flown with cold - done that before - NOT recommended!
Sinex gets my vote and have found that a sniff of it followed by a good nose blow and then another sniff does a good job.

[Vipers]

ShadownINja said:

Yes, or suck sweets the whole time. The swallowing action can help. Failing that, close your mouth, hold your nose and blow. It should release pressure in the ear. fk knows how that works (something about the way they're linked but it's black magic I tell thee).

Eustachian tubes rings any bells?

The Eustachian tube (or auditory tube or pharyngotympanic tube) is a tube that links the pharynx to the middle ear. In adults the Eustachian tube is approximately 35 mm long. It is named after the sixteenth century anatomist Eustachius. Some modern medical books call this the pharyngotympanic tube.

Edited by Vipers on Sunday 15th November 10:06

[Nicol@]

I got through it, with:

Fully dosed on decongestants every 4 hours.
Funny/pressure ear plugs.
Chewy sweets and menthol ones.
A bottle of water.
And the occassional nose blow to relieve the building pressure.
My nose kept clear enough for only a tiny pain on descent.

Thanks everyone (who posted on Thurs) and I hope the many suggestions help others.