whats your best remedy for painful ears

PlanetGanet

My daughter suffers and we were advised by cabin crew to use something like a menthol oil/eucalyptus. I always take tea tree oil now. You can buy it in a small enough bottle to take on a plane and it also doubles up as a great antiseptic whilst on holiday and can be used on bites etc.

Katykat

Planet, what do you do with the tea tree oil?

bcl999

In my experience displacement is very effective, especially for repeat sufferers as they can get into a situation where the anticipation of the pain can actually aid its onset, similar to people who have tinnitus. The tip above about listening to the iphone is a good example - listening to the music probably engaged the sufferer's attention instead of sitting there waiting for the pain to start. On a long flight to Europe from Brazil, I sat beside a lady who told me she always suffered with this pain and, even though only halfway into the flight, she was already anxious about landing. However, we ended up having such a good time chatting that we had landed before she realised she hadn't noticed any pain on the descent. She joked that I must accompany her on all future flights but really it was just the fact her attention was diverted.

[Deleted User]

I will go with the pinching the nose and blowing but do start about 30 minutes from landing as they start to drop

Mk14:37

OP, I get terrible pains too, and find prevention is better than cure - if the earplugs aren't working then it is likely that he has inserted them incorrectly. It's not enough to just push them in to the ear, you have to pull the ear up and back before inserting the plugs (squeezed and rolled in the case of foam plugs).

bb69

My friend uses chewy 'lips' sweets for her daughter, which worked well. The sweets are quite hard and chewy The chewing and swallowing can help, as well as the other advice given

http://www.thesweetiestop.co.uk/juicy-lips.php (can usually be bought from any shop with pick and mix.. Just thought i'd post a pic as an example)

Hope this helps
And enjoy the holiday!

bbford

Keep your ears DRY. Do not get wash or go swimming for at least 48hrs before a flight, the longer the better.

marmitepotato

As Luci says Earplanes really are the best thing. You put them in before the plane starts to drop in altittude and take them out when the plane has landed and the cabin doors are opened. I have used Earplanes on every trip I have had on a plane and have never suffered from painfull ears. I am afraid the holding my nose and blowing method has little effect apart from causing immense pain. You can get Earplanes from Boots.

Ponkle22

I too feel your pain. Its due to small tubes in the ears. A consultant told me to use Actifed decongestant tablets starting a couple of days beforehand and during the day of the flight.

The worst pain is when the plane does a slow descent and is waiting for a slot to land. So painful. Its like someone sticking a needle deep into your ears.

My children suffer too.

Have also found this works to reduce the pain plus a combination of swallowing water now and then and chewing two sticks of gum (large amount).

When you tell people about the pain they think you are describing the horrible sensation of blocked ears that need to be popped, its so much worse than this though so I understand.

Ponkle22

ps: those Earplane things don't work for me - I've tried them again and again and made sure to insert them correctly.