Flying with a perforated eardum with an infection as well?
 

Hey all. I'm scheduled to fly late tomorrow night and was wondering if anyone could tell me if flying with a perforated eardrum while the ear also currently has an infection unrelated to the perforation is a good idea or not. The perforation isn't fresh or sensitive as it's almost a year old from when I had my artificial tubes removed. It never did heal up and now they're (the other ear also has a smaller perforation) stuck that way it seems. I realized I had a developing ear infection about a week ago (I know the feeling from having dozens as a kid), went to see my ENT the next day and he cleaned my ears of all of the blockage (mostly ear wax) that was there. I had ear drops (Ciprodex) along with an antibiotic (Levofloxacin) prescribed and have been on them since. I've also been taking Sudafed twice a day.

The infection seems to be mostly cleared up because the majority of my hearing has returned to normal from that lovely blocked/underwater feeling anyone who's ever had an ear infection knows and loves. There's still a slight loss of hearing and I believe my ear is still mildly infected. Not infected enough to still be draining or take much of my hearing though. My question is this - If anyone here has ever gone through this or a similar situation, was it still quite painful? My medical knowledge of ears is minimal at best, so I have no idea if having the perforation means my still slightly blocked Eustachian Tube will cause me pain or not. My eardrum should at least be safe from rupturing more, correct? Can anyone give me an at least somewhat sure answer or am I going to have to leave it to chance and possibly horribly regret that decision? :confused: Also, for anyone wondering - I cannot get in to see my ENT and get his opinion on the matter tomorrow. I doubt I'd even be able to get ahold of him on the phone. I didn't ask if this specific situation would be okay during my visit before because I figured it'd be pretty much completely cleared up by now.

I kind of need to make the flight and I won't be dissuaded easily, but if this is an absolutely terrible idea, feel free to let me know and I might change my mind.

Not a doctor but it sure sounds like terrible idea. Did you google that?

Call you ENT doc and ask. Don't know why you are even asking here, he saw you a week ago. Leave a message with his office and have him give a call back if necessary - he'll check your chart and give you an answer.

The good thing is that if you have perforated eardrums already, any pressure in the middle ear can escape.

Did and searched a lot. Came up with nothing. That's why I'm asking here because it's a flight forum, I guess? Didn't mean to offend somehow if that's the case. :eek: I can try calling him and hope he gets back to me before I leave for the airport. Seems that's all I can do. Thanks for the replies anyway.

Oy. :(

OP, you should really, really get a qualified medical opinion before flying with these kinds of ear problems. A couple of years ago, my wife and flew ORD-LGA when she had a moderate ear infection. I'll spare the dramatics and just quote her: "It felt like someone was jamming an ice pick into my brain with my head in a vice that kept getting tighter and tighter." She sobbed in pain on the way up, and sobbed even harder on the way down. She says the pain was only second to her gallstone.

She was lucky. After the fact her doctor said she could have ruptured her eardrum. I seriously wouldn't risk this.

That's just the thing though. The internet is filled with stories of how horrible the pain is if you attempt to fly with an ear infection. I'm asking because I already have a ruptured/perforated eardrum. There's already a large hole in my eardrum. I know it hurts like hell to fly with an ear infection in a normal, unperforated eardrum and I know it's nice to fly with a perforated eardrum because it means there are much less if any pressure issues within your ear. What I'm not sure of is if an ear infection would still cause you that same supposedly unbearable pain on a flight regardless or if the perforation remains unblocked and will allow the air to flow like normal so that there are no pressure issues and thus no pain. It seems no one knows. I guess I really will have to try to speak with him. Thanks for the reply though.

No idea. But this is surely be worth an emergency call to your ENT tomorrow morning. I wouldn't fly without his/her clearance.

Once, I was traveling with my girlfriend to the Caribbean and she was recovering from a minor sinus infection. Well, she got on the first flight and was in HUGE pain! When we got to DFW, she asked for help at the Admirals Club, and the AAngel was kind enough to find a Sudafed in her purse and give it to her. What aamazing service!!!

So, you might want to carry Sudafed or a similar product to deal with the inner ear pressure that comes from air travel.


*NB: I am not a physician and the above does not constitute medical advice.

If you have something active going on in your ear, as a general principle, it's certainly better that you already have a perforation in the eardrum. I do know that for people with middle ear infections who absolutely need to fly, one solution is to have a myringotomy performed the day before the flight.

Having said that, you should speak with your ENT prior to flying since none of us here has specific knowledge about your particular condition.

Having sufficient personal experience of flying with ear problems, I would guess the pain from the infection could be incredibly intense. I did rupture both eardrums on a TATL flight years ago, and it was probably a decade before I flew without ear pain. The fact that yours are already ruptured is no guarantee that you won't experience an astounding level of pain.

I didn't mean to be abrupt with you earlier, OP, but there is no way to know if you still have holes/tubes in your eardrums without looking. They fall out and seal up on their own. Your ENT looked at them a week ago, so should have a good idea.

I mistakenly flew from MCO to SFO a couple of years ago without realizing my ears were going to plug up. It was torture for 5 hours, and even worse taking off and landing. I couldn't hear well for a couple of weeks. I would do almost anything to avoid repeating that experience.

Hope all goes well for you. Decongestants can help keep the Eustachian tubes open to help.

ESpen36 --Be glad it didnt wear off while you all were still in the air. If it had worn off in the air she would have experinced more pain then she could ever believe. Probably would have rendered her unconcious if it had worn off

As for sudafed need to be specific as there are multiple types on the market. Ones without psuedophedrine AKA fakeaphed IMHO doesnt work at all. While the behind the counter, present ID, sign that your life away is the real stuff that will do the trick. It also needs to be used sparingly as long-term use has other side effects/dependency's.

Tewsly - Honestly you need to call your ENT in the morning, as your playing with fire and potentially your hearing. Better to be safe then sorry potentially for the rest of your life

FWIW Im a paramedic as well as a diver but the following is not medical advice. I have flown with perforated eardrums, it was not my idea of fun, but I had no other choice. Subsequently for 3 weeks afterwards my ears were ringing and my balance was off. To this day I have to be careful on equalizing as that ear is very slow to equalise which is managable on a flight but while diving can be a challenge depending on the conditions.

Decongestants might help, but I'd not want to recommend flying without medical approval. For a while, after a horrible experience with congestion and resulting ear infection, I always took decongestants before (and if long enough during) a flight. It definitely helped keep my ears clear.

Having had perforated eardrums before through infection, this is what the Doc advised me.

1) OK to fly while the eardrum was still perforated - that short amount of time before it healed. As ear system is open, no issue with pressure or pain.

2) Bad idea to fly when it had started to heal as it would tear again and maybe cause more damage/bigger hole/delay final repair/cause hearing loss.

As there is no way of telling when 1 ends and 2 starts without an exam immediately before the flight, the overall recommendation was not to go near an aircraft for at least two weeks and come back to the Doc then for a check.

Option (1) is very much you're somewhere you don't need to be and must be home and sea/road/rail is not an option.

OP, how about reporting back on what happened to you?