? For People Who Fly A Lot

Mike69 · 11-04-2009, 01:48 PM

I don't get on planes very much but the last 2 time I flew I experienced real sharp head pains. I guess that is how I can explain it. It only happens when the plane starts to desend. It's a real sharp pain like behind my eyes & in my head. It last anywhere between 1-5 mins. Has this happened to anyone else?

I talked to my doctor about it & he said that it might be due to sinus & head congestion. He told me to take some sort of decongestant. Just wondering if something else can be wrong.

homealone · 11-04-2009, 01:53 PM

Yep, it's just pressure on your sinus'. Take some decongestant before the flight. Are you able to "pop" your ears during this time. That helps. If not, try chewing gum or swallowing. That helps.

AL P · 11-04-2009, 01:56 PM

I don't know how to tell you this but you are going to fucking die, man!!

Mike69 · 11-04-2009, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AL P

I don't know how to tell you this but you are going to fucking die, man!!

Lol... Thanks!

Jedi · 11-04-2009, 02:05 PM

It's probably a reverse block. Your eustachian tubes (throat to inner ear) aren't allowing you to equalize and air pressure builds up inside your head.

Sudafed about an hour to 30 mins before you land should help. If you still have problems you should visit an Ear Nose Throat doctor and see if he would recommend a nasal steroid spray.

bcoop · 11-04-2009, 02:24 PM

Sounds liek you got AIDS to me.

Sgt Beavis · 11-04-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jedi

It's probably a reverse block. Your eustachian tubes (throat to inner ear) aren't allowing you to equalize and air pressure builds up inside your head.

Sudafed about an hour to 30 mins before you land should help. If you still have problems you should visit an Ear Nose Throat doctor and see if he would recommend a nasal steroid spray.

x2

Rreemo · 11-04-2009, 02:26 PM

Try picking your nose real well before desend.

Seriously though....decongestants are about your only option....maybe chew some gum.

RyanB · 11-04-2009, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homealone

If not, try swallowing.

this

AL P · 11-04-2009, 02:31 PM

Its cancer.....of the asshole.

bcoop · 11-04-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AL P

Its cancer.....of the asshole.

Fawcett Syndrome?

JimD · 11-04-2009, 02:35 PM

I'd get the problem cleared up before going up again, might be a little painful now with the airplane pressurized, but if it does a rapid-d....you are fuct! When i crewed tankers in the USAF, we were taken off flying status with ANY headcold.

AdamLX · 11-04-2009, 02:48 PM

Usually just due to sinus congestion. I was on a flight to NYC about a year ago the last time I had it happen. The pressure got so bad that it felt like I was being stabbed in the face with knives, on fire even. The pressure finally released and my girlfriend next to me actually heard it happen. Not something I ever want to feel again.

ceyko · 11-04-2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AL P

I don't know how to tell you this but you are going to fucking die, man!!

Yup, vessel in the brain about to pop. Will happen sooner or later. If it happens on a plane your family will probably be able to sue.

ZYouL8R · 11-04-2009, 07:57 PM

I fly almost everyday but we keep our cabin pressurized to a lower altitude than most airliners do (because we cruise about 5-10k lower), and I never get head pain on our aircraft. However, I do usually experience a slight pain on descent when I fly commercially.

Sudafed will work if you're congested, but if you just have small eustachian tubes like I do, all you can do is Valsalva. Just hold your nose closed and blow. Do it in short, hard breaths. If there's one ear that's blocked more than the other, tilt your head so that the blocked ear is higher than the other. This is a medically proven way to open up your eustachian tubes and has worked for me 100%.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valsalva_maneuver

lethal injection · 11-04-2009, 08:03 PM

I wondered wtf that was, now i know

Jedi · 11-04-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcoop

Sounds liek you got AIDS to me.

ZYouL8R · 11-04-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lethal injection

I wondered wtf that was, now i know

It's just a pressure differential in your body compared to outside your body. When you're climbing, the pressure inside your body is greater than outside, so if you have pain, it'll usually be in your stomach (gas expanding), sinuses (cavities expanding), or your teeth (air bubbles under your teeth). When you descend, the pressure outside your body begins increasing faster than the pressure inside your body, which kind of sucks your eustachian tubes closed.

Jedi · 11-04-2009, 10:34 PM

If you ever scuba dive - you'll become very familiar with this. Can't go down very far without becoming a very quick expert in how to equalize.

likeitfast55 · 11-05-2009, 01:30 AM

If your eustachian tubes are blocked in any way, your sinus can not equalize pressure. The intense pain you feel is your body trying to fill up the cavities in your head with blood.
A head cold or small eustachian tubes will do it for sure. I fly 80+ hours per month. I like most airline pilots can clear easily. NEVER fly with a head cold, permanant damage could result. Not to mention possible ruptured ear drum.

Mike69 · 11-05-2009, 04:50 AM

Thanks fellas for all the help!

theludeone · 11-05-2009, 11:08 AM

This can also be caused when the pilot descends to quickly. All of the above remedies (medicine, yawning, chewing gum, etc.) can help though.

11-04-2009, 01:48 PM	#1
Mike69 Lifer Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,416	? For People Who Fly A Lot I don't get on planes very much but the last 2 time I flew I experienced real sharp head pains. I guess that is how I can explain it. It only happens when the plane starts to desend. It's a real sharp pain like behind my eyes & in my head. It last anywhere between 1-5 mins. Has this happened to anyone else? I talked to my doctor about it & he said that it might be due to sinus & head congestion. He told me to take some sort of decongestant. Just wondering if something else can be wrong. __________________ 1990 Mustang GT 306, typhoon intake, E303, stock heads, 1.6 FMS R.R., 70 T.B., 80mm PMAS, 42lb injectors, 255 fuel pump, adj. billet regulator, MSD dist., coil & 6A box, BBK shorties, o/r x-pipe, Spintech Pro Streets dumped, T-5, Center Force Dual Friction, 3.55's, S-Trim... 396hp/398trq

11-04-2009, 02:26 PM	#8
Rreemo Thats against the law Man Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 5,420	Try picking your nose real well before desend. Seriously though....decongestants are about your only option....maybe chew some gum. __________________ 69/70ish Mustang Dedicated To The Hater Purists 70' Chevelle RagTop 68' C10 SWB 11/1/09 Gone To New Home Last edited by Rreemo; 11-04-2009 at 02:38 PM.

11-04-2009, 07:57 PM	#15
ZYouL8R Sports weenie @ full attn Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Laughlin AFB Posts: 5,394	I fly almost everyday but we keep our cabin pressurized to a lower altitude than most airliners do (because we cruise about 5-10k lower), and I never get head pain on our aircraft. However, I do usually experience a slight pain on descent when I fly commercially. Sudafed will work if you're congested, but if you just have small eustachian tubes like I do, all you can do is Valsalva. Just hold your nose closed and blow. Do it in short, hard breaths. If there's one ear that's blocked more than the other, tilt your head so that the blocked ear is higher than the other. This is a medically proven way to open up your eustachian tubes and has worked for me 100%. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valsalva_maneuver __________________

11-04-2009, 08:03 PM	#16
lethal injection Time Served Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Colleyville Posts: 421	I wondered wtf that was, now i know __________________ 03 Dodge 2500 CTD 92 GT/ Cobra clone

11-05-2009, 01:30 AM	#20
likeitfast55 Time Served Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 306	If your eustachian tubes are blocked in any way, your sinus can not equalize pressure. The intense pain you feel is your body trying to fill up the cavities in your head with blood. A head cold or small eustachian tubes will do it for sure. I fly 80+ hours per month. I like most airline pilots can clear easily. NEVER fly with a head cold, permanant damage could result. Not to mention possible ruptured ear drum. __________________ ======= WTF =======

11-04-2009, 01:53 PM	#2
homealone Still got Nothing Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: If I were you, I'd kill myself! Posts: 2,399	Yep, it's just pressure on your sinus'. Take some decongestant before the flight. Are you able to "pop" your ears during this time. That helps. If not, try chewing gum or swallowing. That helps.

11-04-2009, 01:56 PM	#3
AL P Man of Steel Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 31,159	I don't know how to tell you this but you are going to fucking die, man!!

11-04-2009, 02:05 PM	#5
Jedi Redneck Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Anti-Newbie Posts: 11,478	It's probably a reverse block. Your eustachian tubes (throat to inner ear) aren't allowing you to equalize and air pressure builds up inside your head. Sudafed about an hour to 30 mins before you land should help. If you still have problems you should visit an Ear Nose Throat doctor and see if he would recommend a nasal steroid spray.

11-04-2009, 02:24 PM	#6
bcoop Resident Epicurean Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Irving Posts: 18,408	Sounds liek you got AIDS to me.

11-04-2009, 02:31 PM	#10
AL P Man of Steel Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 31,159	Its cancer.....of the asshole.

11-04-2009, 02:35 PM	#12
JimD Lifer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Haughton,La,USA Posts: 12,262	I'd get the problem cleared up before going up again, might be a little painful now with the airplane pressurized, but if it does a rapid-d....you are fuct! When i crewed tankers in the USAF, we were taken off flying status with ANY headcold.

11-04-2009, 02:48 PM	#13
AdamLX Frequent Flyer Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 8,902	Usually just due to sinus congestion. I was on a flight to NYC about a year ago the last time I had it happen. The pressure got so bad that it felt like I was being stabbed in the face with knives, on fire even. The pressure finally released and my girlfriend next to me actually heard it happen. Not something I ever want to feel again.

11-04-2009, 10:34 PM	#19
Jedi Redneck Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Anti-Newbie Posts: 11,478	If you ever scuba dive - you'll become very familiar with this. Can't go down very far without becoming a very quick expert in how to equalize.

11-05-2009, 04:50 AM	#21
Mike69 Lifer Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,416	Thanks fellas for all the help! __________________ 1990 Mustang GT 306, typhoon intake, E303, stock heads, 1.6 FMS R.R., 70 T.B., 80mm PMAS, 42lb injectors, 255 fuel pump, adj. billet regulator, MSD dist., coil & 6A box, BBK shorties, o/r x-pipe, Spintech Pro Streets dumped, T-5, Center Force Dual Friction, 3.55's, S-Trim... 396hp/398trq

11-05-2009, 11:08 AM	#22
theludeone Time Served Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Frisco Posts: 379	This can also be caused when the pilot descends to quickly. All of the above remedies (medicine, yawning, chewing gum, etc.) can help though. __________________ Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can't and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it. In other words - JUST SHUT UP! Now: 2005 Silver Mustang GT Former: 1993 Mustang LX 5.0 - SOLD to Grim Reaper 1995 Mustang GT An assortment of vehicles in between (Prelude, Celica, Grand Cherokee, Accord(s))

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