Plane trips

[michelle d.]

Hi AN-ers!     Quick question...i will be flying for the first time since surgery 6 months ago and wonder if anyone has had issues with this post surgery??  ENT told me some people have problems with ear pain/ discomfort during flying trips.  Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.~michelle d.~

[JerseyGirl2]

I've been flying fairly frequently since my cross-country flight 10 days after my translab surgery over two years ago and have had no problems. I've generally chewed gum during take offs and landings and have continued that practice since my AN surgery. I think that you'll do just fine!

Catherine (JerseyGirl 2)

[krbonner]

I don't fly regularly, but have many times since my surgery 3 1/2 years ago.  The first time was about 4 months post-op.  Never had any sort of pain or pressure issues aside from the normal popping as the air pressure changes.  You should be fine.

Katie

[cindyj]

Like Catherine (JerseyGirl2), I flew home from LA following my translab...no problems with pain or pressure.  Flew again last summer and no problem then either.

Let us know how it goes for you,

Cindy

[leapyrtwins]

Have flown several times since my AN surgery and have had no problems whatsoever.

Jan

[Debbi]

I agree - you shouldn't have any problem.  The only time I've had any issue is when I was flying back from the west coast with a terrible head cold and my good ear got blocked (eek).  However, that could just as easily happen with two ears.  The only other thing you may want to be cautious about is walking down the aisle of the aircraft while it is flight.  For some reason, I do have a pretty hard time with that and find that I have to clutch the backs of everyone else's seats - which I am sure they REALLY appreciate!! 

You'll be fine!

Debbi

[grega]

Hi michelle d. !

Have flown quite a few times since '04 surgery, with no problems.

Debbi, your story reminds me of an illness that caused me problems flying from Australia to the states back in the 90's .... well before my AN.  In-flight, it was extremely uncomfortable and painful. When I reached Hawaii for a planned overnight stop, I went to a doc who said I had something called barotrauma.  Rx: several days of steriods .... and the kicker .... he said I shouldn't fly for two days!    I can hear the "awwwww's" now, even as we speak.    My co-workers also found it hard to believe .... but, stuff happens.

Michelle, I wish you no flying problems.

Greg

[lori67]

Hi Michelle.

I've had no problems from flying either.  And if you fly Southwest, you can get the priority seating and get on first if you go to the desk and tell them you're deaf in one ear and need to be on a certain side of the plane. (If you are SSD - not sure).  I prefer to have my deaf ear towards the window so I can hear the flight attendant.  I was at the desk asking for the priority boarding pass one day and mentioned that if the plane was about to crash, I wanted to be able to hear the flight attendant make the announcement.  There was a man at the desk who said "Well, since I'm the pilot, I can assure you, if the plane is about to crash and you can't hear the flight attendant, you'll definitely hear me!".   

Another benefit of being SSD on a flight - you don't notice the crying babies as much, and you have an excuse to ignore the person next to you if you choose to.  Not that I would ever do that....

Greg, you poor thing - being "stuck" in Hawaii.... I don't know how you survived that trauma!   

Lori

[joebloggs]

Hi Michelle,

Like everyone else I've had no issues and have flown numerous times since my surgery last year, both long and short haul.  I totally agree with Lori - if you're SSD defo try and sit with your deaf ear towards the window - I got caught out once and it was really embarrassing when the flight attendant was trying to get my attention and I couldn't hear her - those engines are really loud!  Speaking of loud engines - because of this I tend to wear either ear plugs in my good ear while I'm flying like these: (http://www.actionoutdoors.co.uk/shop/care-plus-flight-mate-ear-plugs-p-113.html) to limit the damage this loud noise can do to my hearing.  Alternatively I wear noise reduction headphones.  Helps a lot. 

Have a good flight!

JB

[DR]

I fly on a regular basis and have experienced no serious issues.  The only minor issue was on the return trip home 10 days post op.  I experienced significant swelling in the muscle over the temple (between my right ear and corner of my eye.)  I iced it for a while during the flight.  It wasn't painful, just a bit of discomfort.

[Lizard]

No issues here either, just tough to hear with all the noise.

[nteeman]

No AN related problems but flying in general has become such an inconvenience that I avoid flying whenever possible.  I believe in security but the real problem is that our security system has the mistaken notion that inconveniencing everyone makes us more secure -- it doesn't. 

sorry for the rant.

Neal

[leapyrtwins]

While security can be a pain, I'd rather have them over-zealous than put me at risk.

I'll put up with just about anything if it makes my flight safer.

Jan

[lori67]

I agree with you Jan!

I think being blown to bits would be a bit more of an inconvenience than taking off my shoes!

Of course you could always try my sister's suggestion of going to the airport in your bathrobe and slippers.   

Lori

[yardtick]

I can't walk in the thing that connects the airplane to the airport.  I experience severe dizziness and nausea.  I'm wheeled  in or I cover my eyes like a horse, and my husband guides me with the help of an attendant. 

Anne Marie