Severe sinus pain on descent - tips please.

[Brooke01]

Hi all,

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong area - mods, please move if need be.

Hubby has asked me to post this.

He suffers from pretty severe sinus pain on descent when flying. Just really uncomfortable, stabbing pain around his eyes, forehead etc.

We have tried -

* Ear Planes
* Sudafed an hour or so before descent
* Nasal spray usage

Looking for some other "tips". Have heard that Ibuprofen (Nurofen Plus, perhaps ?) is better than Sudafed ???

It's not to a debilitating level - yet - but just mighty uncomfortable and takes a while for him to recover from. We have a fair few internal (and connecting) flights coming up in July/August on our U.S trip - so hoping for some "first hand" tips before we go.

ANY advice would be greatly appreciated, we will try them all !

TIA,

Brooke

 

[feezable]

My mum suffers terribly and has tried it all with no success until she took 2 panadeine forte 2hrs before descent, used ear planes and chewed on minties.

 

[feezable]

It might have been a fluke, but she was almost pain free.

 

[Hvr]

Have you spoken to your medical professional?

It may be the manifestation of another illness or indicative of other medical issues.

 

[Brooke01]

Have you spoken to your medical professional?

It may be the manifestation of another illness or indicative of other medical issues.

Yes - that's something we will definately be doing. He has had polyps removed from his sinus cavities many years ago - we both suspect that they may have come back to some extent.

Given that we have a lot of connecting flights etc - I guess I was looking for some tips and the like that didn't involve "hard" medication. He needs to be able to function to drive a car and what not when we reach our final destination airport.

Thanks

 

[marki]

Yes - that's something we will definately be doing. He has had polyps removed from his sinus cavities many years ago - we both suspect that they may have come back to some extent.

Given that we have a lot of connecting flights etc - I guess I was looking for some tips and the like that didn't involve "hard" medication. He needs to be able to function to drive a car and what not when we reach our final destination airport.

Thanks

If other issues have been cleared a steroi_ nasal spray ( OTC ) or prescription from a GP for the stronger upgraded version may be beneficial. Though, this would need to be started about a week before travel and continued until flights have stopped altogether.

I don't think it's big barrel shot gun stuff but acts as membrane stabiliser and anti-inflammatory near those pesky "Ostia" where the sinuses drain into the nose. Therefore decreasing swelling of the local membranes unblocking the Ostia and therefore equalising pressure between outside and inside sinuses.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all,

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong area - mods, please move if need be.

Hubby has asked me to post this.

He suffers from pretty severe sinus pain on descent when flying. Just really uncomfortable, stabbing pain around his eyes, forehead etc.

We have tried -

* Ear Planes
* Sudafed an hour or so before descent
* Nasal spray usage

Looking for some other "tips". Have heard that Ibuprofen (Nurofen Plus, perhaps ?) is better than Sudafed ???

It's not to a debilitating level - yet - but just mighty uncomfortable and takes a while for him to recover from. We have a fair few internal (and connecting) flights coming up in July/August on our U.S trip - so hoping for some "first hand" tips before we go.

ANY advice would be greatly appreciated, we will try them all !

TIA,

Brooke

what sort of sudafed? the real one (available only if you present ID at the counter at the chemist) or the PE one which is available for general sale but without anything useful in it?

the sudafed itself words well. And is different drug to ibuprofen. Proper sudafed will reduce the swelling in the sinuses.

I'm guessing you've done the pinch nose and exhale into a closed mouth thing?

 

[straitman]

Hi all,

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong area - mods, please move if need be.

Hubby has asked me to post this.

He suffers from pretty severe sinus pain on descent when flying. Just really uncomfortable, stabbing pain around his eyes, forehead etc.

We have tried -

* Ear Planes
* Sudafed an hour or so before descent
* Nasal spray usage

Looking for some other "tips". Have heard that Ibuprofen (Nurofen Plus, perhaps ?) is better than Sudafed ???

It's not to a debilitating level - yet - but just mighty uncomfortable and takes a while for him to recover from. We have a fair few internal (and connecting) flights coming up in July/August on our U.S trip - so hoping for some "first hand" tips before we go.

ANY advice would be greatly appreciated, we will try them all !

TIA,

Brooke

From the perspective of a retired pilot who is very prone to sinus and associated ear infections I have to suggest you talk to a doctor who understands the risks associated with flying. Blocked sinus can lead to ear problems which can result in ruptured ear drums which, to put politely is not good.

 

[Warks]

It's the most terrible pain - I had a cold on flying back from SIN about 20 years ago. I was headed to BNE so had to land in MEL then SYD then transfer to domestic for BNE. The pain was so intense my only relief was to push the heel of my hand hard into my brow area. What was awful was that I knew I had to endure it twice more after the first experience. Never again! Would hate to have it all the time.

 

[marki]

From the perspective of a retired pilot who is very prone to sinus and associated ear infections I have to suggest you talk to a doctor who understands the risks associated with flying. Blocked sinus can lead to ear problems which can result in ruptured ear drums which, to put politely is not good.

Often you will hear people having grommets, basically an artificial hole in the ear drum. Ask anybody who has or had them especially a pilot who has them no problems with inner ear equalisation it's done thru the grommet!

 

[Cynicor]

Second the idea of steroi_ nasal spray (nasonex/omnaris/avamys etc). You'd need a prescription so you would have to see the doctor anyway, which is always important.

 

[Brooke01]

Oh wow ! Thanks so much for the responses everyone !

After reading through them all, I remembered many years ago (not long before hubby had his polyps removed) he was prescribed Nasonex and found it helpful.

Will definately be asking the Dr for another prescription for it.

Hopefully that will do the trick. As I said, it's not debilitating - just really uncomfortable for him.

Thanks again everyone

 

[Gogo65]

Second the idea of steroi_ nasal spray (nasonex/omnaris/avamys etc). You'd need a prescription so you would have to see the doctor anyway, which is always important.

Also agree with nasonex, had a CT scan once because I thought my head was going to explode on descent, CT showed severe sinusitis, use nasonex now before I fly and it has helped immensely.

 

[Brooke01]

Just to "close this thread off". Went to our GP last week - have a script for Nasonex. Hopefully it will do the trick ! Will report back in August !

Thanks again everyone for your input, greatly appreciated

Brooke

 

[Quickstatus]

I would also get a CT scan of his sinuses. If there are any problems on the scan then you have time to get an operation.

Does this qualify as a preexisting illness on your travel insurance.

 

[Globetrotter]

Just to "close this thread off". Went to our GP last week - have a script for Nasonex. Hopefully it will do the trick ! Will report back in August !

Thanks again everyone for your input, greatly appreciated

Brooke

Nasonex didn't work for me. Nothing worse than severe ear pain. Good luck with it.

 

[Stephen Kleid]

I am an ENT surgeon.

If simple measures (sprays etc) don't work, a few days of Oral steroi_s should (Prednisolone, 25mg per day for 3 days before each flight).

If that doesn't work, Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery should fix it - there's been a trial on US Air Force fighter pilots, who change air pressures much faster then we do in commercial flights - 90% returned o combat duty.

- Dr Stephen Kleid

 

[straitman]

I am an ENT surgeon.

If simple measures (sprays etc) don't work, a few days of Oral steroi_s should (Prednisolone, 25mg per day for 3 days before each flight).

If that doesn't work, Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery should fix it - there's been a trial on US Air Force fighter pilots, who change air pressures much faster then we do in commercial flights - 90% returned o combat duty.

- Dr Stephen Kleid

From personal experience, pulling 4-6G normally drains blocked sinus quite sufficiently :!:

I guess that's not going to happen on an airliner.

 

[John in Melbourne]

I have also had severe sinus pain while flying (not only descending). What works well for me is: "Fess Frequent Flyer" saline spray (start spraying 3 days before flight), Ear Plane earplugs (for take-off until plane levels and an hour before landing until plane is on ground), sipping water and chewing gum (as for Ear Planes). Good luck!

 

[Alh01]

Have had severe pain on descent for years, and kept losing the Earplanes plugs, draining the Fess saline spray, chewing the gum and still having problems.

Recently had the Avamys/Nasonex prescribed by the ENT surgeon, and now seem to get mild blockage only, and no more pain. Been spraying daily, but at least do not have to take the spray on board.

The effects seem to take a while, so he needs to start weeks before you fly.

And despite claims to the contrary, these sprays don't seem to cure snoring or hay fever.