Hello-
Has anyone here ever flown with fluid in their ear? My ear has fluid in it from radiation, and the tube is damaged anyway so it could be a chronic problem. The doctor says he thinks I'll be ok flying, but there's no guarantee and I'm really afraid of being on the plane and screaming and it being horrible. I do have pain meds left over from treatment(vicodin and fentanyl breakthrough) and I'm debating just bringing a few on the flight and going for it. If it's a chronic problem I can't just avoid flying forever.
Of course one solution would be not to go....but it's to a good friend's wedding and I already bought a GREAT dress...
Thanks, I could really use some help deciding and my husband is tired of hearing me debate it! The trip is in 3 weeks.
Mel

I have this problem (unrelated to H/N cancer) and when I fly I take 60 mg of Sudafed about 30 minutes before take-off and again 30 minutes before landing (if the flight lasts more than four hours). I also use Afrin nasal spray just before taking off and landing (the most difficult time), which is a big help.

There is also a product out there called "Earplanes" and if you Google that you'll get lots of info. I personally haven't tried them so can't speak to whether they work or not.

Since you have some pain pills, I'd go ahead and take them with you to use on your return trip if you find it was still too painful on your flight out.

Hope you have a GREAT trip!
-Tricia

BTW I think it is great you are getting away to a friend's wedding. I'm sure that will do your soul good and help with your overall health and healing to be at the wedding and wear that great dress!

Thanks for the reply, Tricia. Do you take the Sudafed becuase it may unclog the tubes a little bit? Mine are totally closed off on one end so I don't know if that would help, but maybe it gives you some pain relief too?
Yes, I am totally excited about going to this wedding, during radiation I kept thinking that in May I would be feeling better and the trip would be like a celebration.
Mel

Mel, if the tube is totally closed off [you can't relieve the pressure any by swallowing] then the pain medication may be the best route to go.
The Sudafed, or similiar, is supposed to dry up secretions that block the tubes. I have been on some flights [feeling perfectly well] and had bad ear pain just from the pressure. Can you ask your Doc's advice? Amy in the Ozarks

Hi Amy-
My main doc said I might be in severe pain, so he referred me to the doc that does the ear tubes.(both are ENTs). The second doc said he thought I would be fine, he said if the tube is truly full it actually protects the eardrum from moving back and forth which is what causes pain. So I should probably just trust him and go for it. I was just hoping to find someone else in the same situation who has flown and could say that yes, everything was fine.
Mel

Trust your Tube Doc, I guess, but if it were me, I would at least take a couple of Tylenol about 30 minutes before boarding and Amy in the Oz