Originally Posted by Soames

TxTrav ~ I just read this whole thread and was looking for someone to mention the Quies ear Planes.

While I've never had the sinus problem, I have on many occasions thought I'd die of ear pain. It usually depends on the aircraft. This year our descent into NCE was so bad that I couldn't get out of my seat after landing. Anyway, I had to go to several doctors, and eventually, like Gargoyle, a specialist finally saw that the drum had perforated.

I was treated for several weeks and was terrified of the return flight but she said that the Quies ear Planes, apparently invented by US military for fighter pilots, would equalize the pressure.

This might be helpful for sinus problems as well. They are very pliable plastic, less than an inch long, one end, which goes into the ear, is corkscrew-like, in the middle is a ceramic filter, the other end is just hollow. The ceramic filter migrates within this small tube and equalizes the pressure. It saved my life and got me home. My ear has not healed fully yet but the hearing is a lot better. In France at least, they are available in almost any pharmacie and cheap too!