What you can do 1. Write down any symptoms you are experiencing, including any that do not seem to be related to your ears. 2. List any medications/vitamins or supplements you are taking. 3. Write down any questions you want to ask your doctor. It helps to have a list of questions prepared in advance to make the most of your time. If you are experiencing signs or symptoms of airplane ear, you might ask the following questions 1. Are these signs and symptoms possibly related to my recent airplane ride? 2. What is the best treatment? 3. Are there any long-term complications I may have? 4. How can we monitor for possible complications? 5. How can I avoid it happening again? 6. Should I consider canceling my travel plans? 7. Is there a relevant pamphlet or printed material that I can refer to? Do you have a relevant website you can recommend? If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask your doctor. What the doctor will do The doctor will ask a number of questions, including: 1. When did you start having symptoms? 2. How severe are your symptoms? 3. Are there any allergies? 4. Have you had any recent colds, sinus infections or ear infections? 5. Have you ever had airplane ears before? 6. Has your past airplane ear lasted long or been severe? In the meantime what can you do? Pain can be treated with NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Avastin, Motrin IB, etc.), or methotrexate (Aleve, etc.), or pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, etc.) The doctor can usually make a diagnosis after interviewing and examining the ear with a light-emitting device (otoscope). Signs of airplane ear may include mild bulging of the tympanic membrane inward or outward. In severe cases, the doctor may find a tear in the tympanic membrane, bleeding, or fluid behind the tympanic membrane. If there is also a feeling of vertigo (dizziness), this may indicate structural damage to the inner ear. Your doctor may recommend an audiogram (audiometry) to test your hearing and determine if the source of the hearing problem is in the inner ear. For most people, airplane ears usually heal on their own over time. If symptoms persist, treatment may be needed to balance air pressure and relieve symptoms. Medications Your doctor may direct the use of a number of prescription or over-the-counter medications to manage the condition and restore normal function of the eustachian tube. These medications may include: 1. decongestant nasal sprays 2. oral decongestants 3. oral antihistamines To reduce discomfort, you may need to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Yarvi, Motrin IB, etc.) or methotrexate (Aleve, etc.) or pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, etc.). Self-treatment While taking medication, your doctor may teach you a self-care method called the Valsalva maneuver. This maneuver involves pinching your nose and closing your mouth so that the gas gently enters the posterior nasal passage, as if you are puffing. The Valsalva maneuver may force the eustachian tube to open once medication has improved its function. Surgical treatment There is essentially no need for surgical treatment of airplane ears. However, doctors sometimes still need to cut the tympanic membrane (tympanotomy) to equalize the air pressure on both sides and drain fluid from the middle ear. Severe injuries, such as a ruptured tympanic membrane or a ruptured inner ear covering, can usually be self-repaired. However, a very small number of cases require surgical repair. Follow these tips to prevent airplane ear 1. Do swallow and yawn when the plane is ascending or descending. Swallowing and yawning contract the muscles that open the eustachian tube. You can eat candy or chew gum to help swallowing. 2. Do Valsalva action when the plane is ascending or landing. Pinch your nose, close your mouth, so that the gas gently into the posterior nasal passage, as if in the puff. Repeat several times, especially when the plane is landing, so that the pressure in the ears and cabin is balanced. 3. Do not sleep when the airplane is taking off or landing. If you are awake when the plane is rising or landing, you can do some necessary self-protective actions when you feel the pressure inside your ears increase. 4. Reconsider your travel plans. If possible, do not fly when you have a cold, sinus infection, nasal congestion or ear infection. If you have had recent ear surgery, ask your doctor when it is safer to travel. 5. Use an over-the-counter decongestant nasal spray. If you have nasal congestion, use a decongestant nasal spray within a half hour to an hour before takeoff or landing. But avoid overdose, because decongestant nasal spray can aggravate nasal congestion after a few days of use. 6. Caution should be exercised when taking decongestants orally. It may be helpful to take decongestants orally within half an hour to an hour before the plane takes off. However, if you have heart disease, arrhythmia, high blood pressure or have had a drug interaction, do not use oral decongestants without your doctor’s approval. patients over 50 years of age, especially those with an enlarged prostate, can experience serious side effects, such as urinary retention, with decongestants including pseudoephedrine (Actifed, Sudafed). Pregnant women should take decongestants under medical supervision. 7. Use anti-allergy medication. If you have allergies, take the medication one hour before the plane takes off. 8.Use filtered earplugs. These ear plugs slowly equalize the pressure in the eardrum during takeoff or landing. You can buy these earplugs at pharmacies, gift stores at airports, or local hearing clinics. If you are prone to severe airplane ear and must fly frequently, your doctor may recommend placing an artificial tube in the eardrum to help drain fluid, increase ventilation in the middle ear, and balance pressure between the outer and middle ears.