Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
1303966 tn?1296740010

ear pain since flying

Since flying last August my ears have given my trouble.  A lot of ear pressure and pain, mostly right ear.  I did have pressure and fullness in my ears prior to this, but not this bad.  In December, my ears began to muffle.  I could hardly hear.  I felt like I was under water talking to people.  My environment is always moving around me.  This can be slight, and at time bad.

I went to the Ear Nose and Throat doctor who said I did not have ear infection and I had slight hearing loss in one ear.  

I do have Chiari Malformation 1.  My Neurologist prescribed me Diamox to see if the pressure in my head, mouth and ears would get better with this medication.  About 2 weeks after taking this medication I felt my ears unplug and something drain into my mouth (sorry so gross).  I spit out blood clots.  My ears felt better for a while, but now they are really painful and the pressure is bad again.  It feels like there is fluid in my ears, mostly the right ear.  

I'm frustrated, because I don't know if this is a Chiari issue, or something unrelated.  The pain and pressure is getting to be too much to deal with and on top of that the dizziness/vertigo feeling is very annoying.  

Any suggestions would be appreciated:)
13 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I had something similiar happen after flying - 5 months later after so many tests - etc &  ent - Neuro and an ear specialists ... I am still in pain & pressure . Its ruining   my life.. I already had migraines for 43 yrs and they now say its neurlogical not a prbo with my ears . But no ideas hat to help. so I still have to depend on Imitrex and Xanex - not what I ant to do ...
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
so sorry to hear.  Has your ENT told you about reverse ear pops?  This is where you hold your nose and blow.  It will pop your ears.  Do it several times gently.  Try taking an antihistamine such as claritan. You can try otc pseudoephedrine which you have to ask the pharmacist for.  It's OTC but they keep it behind their counter.  These things could help you overcome this.  They did me.
1644078 tn?1300972552
Hey, how familiar does your story sound... I'm just gonna throw out barotrauma. One of the many symptoms would be the blood that you experienced - from a perforated eardrum- not uncommon. This is all caused from the plane trip and the failure of your ear to re-pressurize during decent. It can also cause eustation tube dysfunction, I also believe there can be symptoms of decompression sickness associated.... but haven't found a doctor that is willing to concur.
It can be quite a ride...  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You have been through alot.  PTSD?  How in the world did he come up with that dx.?  What a smuck!!!!!!  That is awlful.  

Well, ask about the decongestant and she what she thinks.  

You should probably have imaging done too.
Helpful - 0
1303966 tn?1296740010
I called my pharmacist and was told not to take a decongestant with the medication I'm on.  I will talk with my neuro about this, but she is out of the country at the moment.  

My most recent scans are from Dec. 09.  The spitting of blood was a year later.  I should probably have another MRI, and ask that the focus be on the ears and the Chiari if possible.

The spitting out blood was only that one time.  I wish I would have known when I spit it out it was going to be blood, I would have collected it and had it cultured.  If it happens, I will make sure I have this done.

I'm concerned about having another CT.  I had one in Feb. 2010 at the ER (diagnosis - TIA).  I went to the ER after getting a sharp pain in my head and the left side of my body went numb.  I have complicated migraines, so whether this was an actual TIA or from the Complicated migraine I will never know.  This was the 2nd possible TIA, each time I had a sharp sudden pain at the top of head face numbness, body numbness, metal taste in mouth, etc........

I was also in the ER several times with complex seizures (left temporal lobe) that began on October 5, 09.  Didn't know they were seizures until diagnosed by EEG more recently.  This made for very frightening ER visits, sitting in the waiting room with steady epileptic discharges for over an hour and one visit lasting over two hours and losing control of my bladder and given nothing to stop these episodes.  With all of this happening around the same time, I think something is going undiagnosed.  

I actually had one doctor whom I saw for about 20 minutes after an ER visit (now known to be from a seizure) diagnose me with PSTD.  Pretty interesting diagnosis:)  The not so funny thing about this, is that when I wanted to go to Mayo they wanted me to go through the Psychiatric Clinic for evaluation, before I could be seen by the Neurologists because of his report.  WHAT!  He thought I was having anxiety attacks.  I probably was having anxiety after the 4 or 5 seizure.  I felt trapped in my own body unable to respond.  My brain felt like it had a mind of it's own and was going to shut down any minute.

Anyways, my life has been pretty interesting these past several months.
Thanks for reading,
Kristel












Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A couple of your symptoms can be related to Meniere's and TMJ;  bleeding/spitting out blood is DEFINITELY not one of them.  Sounds like this ENT Specialist really didn't do alot of investigation.  What exactly did he/she say was causing your problems?  Sounds to me like something going on with your middle ear/eustachian tube.  I would seek a second opinion and if possibly have this bloody drainage cultured.  I know you said you have had tons of scans, but have you had scans of your head focusing on the ears, i.e. a high-resolution CT?

I know you stated you used an antihistamine, but have you tried a decongestant?  It is ideal to combine the two.  

I can COMPLETELY understand your situation; getting NO real answers, but a "purseful" of bills.  I have gone through the same thing, and I have learned to live with the problems I have.  
Helpful - 0
1303966 tn?1296740010
I called my ENT, and I did have a tympanometry in December 2010.  

With spitting out blood, I would expect there was some form of infection(?) This happened after the tympanometry.  Is it possible that the results of that test could be wrong if there was a full blown infection in my ear.  Is it possible to miss this infection when examining my ears during the visit?  It was not a small amount of blood and it felt like it came from my ears, this can't be good.  

I was surprised after my visit that I was told there was no infection, because of the ear pain and pressure I was experiencing.  My ears were almost completely muffled and the pain was horrible.  I was frustrated and went home and started taking bee propolis and kyolic garlic upon rising and before bed.  10 days later my ears unplug and I'm spitting out blood.  I'm wondering if there was an infection, and if there is still some of it lingering???

Menieres disease was also mentions and was TMJ.  





Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well, if you think the fish oil helps, use it.  

A Tympanometry is an examination used to test the condition of the middle ear, the mobility of the eardrum and the conduction bones by creating air pressure in the ear canal.  The middle ear and eustachian tube work closely together.  
Helpful - 0
1303966 tn?1296740010
I have tried claritin.  What is a tympanometry?  My ear trouble did get worse after my flight, but I was having problems with ringing and pressure in my ears before I flew.  This was the first time I have flown in 20 years.  I was also having stabbing pains inside my ears.  I will ask about the Tympanometry.  

I'm not sure if this is actually helping, but I started taking triple fish oil every day for two weeks as soon as I wake up.  My ears feel better these past couple days, but I'm not holding my breath, because they have felt good for a couple days before and then the pain and pressure comes back out of nowhere.

Thank you,
Kristel
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I would recommend having a Tympanometry done if not already done.  Sounds like you have something going on with your eustachian tubes; Barotitis?  I think this is related to the flight, but it is difficult to say that Chiari's didn't play a part too.  Chiari can cause so many problems or make you susceptible to some many problems.  

Have you tried a decongestant and an antihistimine?  

  
Helpful - 0
1303966 tn?1296740010
Hearing test and looked inside my ears with their little looking device?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
What exactly did the ENT Specialist do during your visit as far as testing and assessment?
Helpful - 0
1303966 tn?1296740010
Thank you for the reply.  Can I ask how your doctor discovered the wax buildup?  Wouldn't the Ear, Nose and Throat specialist have seen this at my visit if I had a wax build up?  

I was actually concerned that once I began taking the Diamox, the pressure was relieved and therefore the blood clots were released.  If this happened, I'm sure this can't be good.  The problem.  I feel like I just get shuffled around from doctor to doctor, bill after bill, with ultimately no answer.  And, here I am on here asking questions?  Go figure:)  I guess I just keep making 5-10 minute doctor appointments and writing out checks until I find some relief.  

A little frustrated, sorry................  Could be worse when I see the many neurological problems many face.  Having Chiari malformation is one of those conditions that come with many symptoms that mimic so many other conditions.  I just wish I knew if my ear trouble was from my Chiar (pressure) or something simple.  Is this really that difficult for a doctor to diagnose?  I've been to many neurologist, specialists, and family doctor.  Had MRI's, CT, and other tests.  Really, thousands of dollars later.  Venting again..............

Again thank you for your reply, I will look into this, and hope it is this simple.  
Kristel

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi. I had a similar problem with my ears when flying which was attributed to a sinus infection at first. Since then however, my doc has found that my ears have a large build up of wax which can cause all of these symptoms especially the dizziness and vertigo. The wax also hides any possible infections so your doc could easily miss that. A continued infection could cause a perforated eardrum which would account for the blood. I would suggest that your doc gets rid of any wax in your ears so he/she can see if an infection is lurking behind it. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Ear, Nose & Throat Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
Discover the common causes of and treatments for a sore throat.
Learn about what actually causes your temperature to spike.
Find out which foods you should watch out for.
Family medicine doctor Enoch Choi, MD helps differentiate between the common cold and more threatening (bacterial) infections
Dr. Steven Park reveals 5 reasons why breathing through your nose could change your life