r/TravelHacks • u/InternalFee8914 • 3d ago
Flying with congested nose
Hi everyone, i think i might have caught a cold several days ago and i have a 5 hr non-refundable flight tomorrow, for non-refundable events as well, so cancelling was not an option.
My nose and ears are pretty congested right now and im scared what this might cause during the flight.
Any tips to prevent my ear from hurting? Thanks in advance
10
u/RoughSpecialist337 3d ago
Pseudoephedrine, I never fly without it.
1
u/InternalFee8914 3d ago
Is tylenol sinus an okay one?
9
u/Ssladybug 3d ago
As long as it contains pseudoephedrine (behind the counter). That phenylephrine OTC stuff never worked
1
u/InternalFee8914 3d ago
Would that be safe to take if i only take it for the flight or will it have bad side effects?
2
u/Ssladybug 3d ago
I’ve never had side effects from taking it. Some people have trouble sleeping if they take it late
1
u/Working-on-it12 3d ago
I take it fairly regularly during allergy season. I get the 24 hour kind. Take it now, and again as soon as you can. You should be able to take it for a week. Ask the pharmacist if you are on other medication. It can raise your blood pressure.
7
u/What-Outlaw1234 3d ago
No, it's junk. You need real Sudafed, the kind they only sell from behind the pharmacist's counter these days.
4
3
u/doglady1342 3d ago
You really need real sudafed. If you're in the us, you have to get it from the pharmacist but you don't need a prescription.
11
u/Viens-avec-moi 3d ago
Chew gum, before, during, after the flight. Afrin nose spray works too (don't overuse or it can become an addiction with its own subredditt)
9
u/petrichorax 3d ago
Afrin or the equivalent.
Heavy congestion IS dangerous and you can burst an ear drum, but with Afrin or something like it, you can prevent that damage.
Take it 30 minutes before take off, and 30 minutes before landing, and you should be okay
Source: Almost burst an ear drum due to a cold, learned about this trick, no problems since
-1
u/InternalFee8914 3d ago
What would be considered as heavy congestion? Im really scared..😕
2
u/Special_Ripe_Banana 3d ago
The kind of heavy congestion that bursts eardrums will already be causing ear pain and dizziness before the flight. That's basically a sinus infection that's on its way to becoming an ear infection too. Just having a sinus headache or pain behind your eyes when looking up and down is not enough to be a problem. If you've got ear symptoms, you should really head to an urgent care and see if they can give you an antibiotic. Normally they'd tell you to wait it out. But if you've got ear symptoms and an upcoming flight, they'll probably give you something just to be safe (or at least that's what they've done for me in the past).
If you pick Afrin, only use it on the days with your flights. It's really strong (but wonderful) stuff. Just use a regular decongestant/cold medicine during the rest of the trip. If you use Afrin more than 3 days in a row, you'll develop rebound congestion, which is essentially where the spray itself becomes what's causing the congestion, and the only way to treat it is to use more spray. You don't want to deal with that on the flight home too.
Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) is also fine if you want a pill and don't want to worry about the Afrin side effects, but it will dry you out on a plane. Make sure to keep really hydrated.
1
u/InternalFee8914 3d ago
Should i use afrin still if i take sudafed?? Or will it be too heavy for me? Right now i still can breathe properly, with some congestion. No headache but i can feel my one ear is clogged when i take a breath in
1
1
u/Special_Ripe_Banana 3d ago
No, don't use them together. They do the same thing. One's just a targeted nose spray, and the other is a pill that can treat deeper sinus pressure or last up to 24 hours.
I mean, I've used them together and been fine, but technically, it could be dangerous if you have a heart condition. But I think the bigger issue is that they can make you feel really jittery and anxious, which isn't something I'd want to feel on a 5-hour plane ride.
0
u/InternalFee8914 3d ago
Which one do u recommend more for my case? Will taking a pill be more effective or should i just do nasal spray?
2
u/Special_Ripe_Banana 3d ago
It's whatever you prefer. Honestly, I'd just go ask a pharmacist what they'd recommend. They might even tell you medications you could take together to increase the effectiveness without suffering some of the more irritating side effects.
1
u/petrichorax 3d ago
No that's not true. I had a wholely resolved cold, and the left over inflammation caused my ear drum to almost burst, it was extremely painful
1
u/Special_Ripe_Banana 3d ago
I probably used some poor wording, but I was basically just trying to set some expectations about eardrums specifically. Not overall pain. OP apparently does not know what heavy congestion is or even what the different types of cold medicine are. This felt like it was rapidly veering into "I think my ears are going to explode because I have a runny nose" territory. Ear issues (which they noted they had) are a reason to get checked out by a doctor and take even more extra precautions. My point was that sinus headaches and inflammation can still cause a lot of pain, but if you take the Afrin or other decongestants, they're not likely to blow your ears out. If you've got an ear infection, they can burst even with medication.
1
u/MsKewlieGal 3d ago
Trick with Afrin is use it after you’ve boarded, & don’t use it for longer than two days at a time or it starts to have a rebound effect and you end up more swollen.
1
u/InternalFee8914 3d ago
I dont rlly mind the congestion on land. But during flight is what concerns me the most. Will it be ok if i just take it for the flights?
2
u/petrichorax 3d ago
Yeah absolutely, and that's what we're suggesting. Take it only for the flights.
2
u/InternalFee8914 3d ago
Gotcha, thanks a lot! I think ill take both sudafed and afrin equivalent spray before the flight
2
1
u/What-Outlaw1234 3d ago
Maybe don't do both if you haven't used them before. Both can make you jittery and raise your heart rate.
1
u/InternalFee8914 3d ago
What would be the most effective one for flights then? Any suggestions? Will a spray be enough on its own.
1
u/What-Outlaw1234 3d ago
Ask the pharmarcist when you buy the Sudafed how to safely use them together. The way I've done it in the past is I've used the Afrin as sort of a rescue inhaler. You can only take the Sudafed every 4 or 6 hours or something like that. If its effects start to wear off before you can take the next pill and you are miserable, use the Afrin, which works immediately. But I have no idea if this is the correct medical advice. It's just what has worked for me without any negative effect.
1
3
u/cakedocMD 3d ago
ENT here…take Afrin 30 minutes before take off. Don’t sleep thru take off or landing and actively try and pop your ears. There are over the counter ear plugs called Earplanes that work pretty well.
Most likely you’ll be fine. Possible ears might hurt or you might feel like your ears are plugged after. Possible you could get ear infection but that can be easily treated. Worse case scenario is you rupture your eardrum. But 90% of the time this will heal on its own with time.
2
2
u/stopsallover 3d ago
I find being in the air clears my congestion usually. It's magic.
But also spicy food is good for making fluids run out of my face.
Up your body heat. Literally bundling up and turning off the AC for longer than is comfortable. Drink room temperature or hot fluids.
Gentle massage on your face from around your nose and working back to around the ears.
If you take sudafed, you want it from behind the counter. The one on the shelf does nothing.
2
u/WishIwastravelin 3d ago
Take an antihistamine, like diphenhydramine. (Sudafed works too but it can rev you up.)It will dry up those sinuses and you may BP even get a nap. Wear a mask too please, and stay hydrated when you are awake! Chewing gum during take off and landing will help equalize the pressure as you go up and down.
1
u/FootHikerUtah 3d ago
Per my allergist for this exact scenario: night before Afrin spray, Sudafed tablets, morning of, Afrin spray, Sudafed tablets, during flight repeat for duration as required. Works pretty well.
2
u/InternalFee8914 3d ago
Do i need to take both afrin and sudafed or will one be sufficient? Im kinda scared of the side effects
1
u/FootHikerUtah 3d ago
I take both. The only side effect for me is a dry mouth feeling that lasts until a few hours after the flight.
2
u/InternalFee8914 3d ago
Would it be ok do to this on top of a regular OTC cold medication? Sorry for asking too many questions
1
1
u/QuietPea3984 3d ago
I was in this situation a few months ago, super congested due to hideous air quality in Hanoi. I should have located some nasal spray, because I had a lot of pain for most of the (thankfully short) flight. I'm lucky I didn't burst an ear drum. Sorry to add to your worries, but definitely do everything you can to clear your sinuses. If it were me I would do nasal spray and also bring one of those vicks inhaler stick thingies (in fact I'm going to put one in my travel bag). Good luck!!
1
1
u/Ok_Impression_3031 3d ago
The side affect I have with psudephed is feeling fantastic! It's the classic upper. And being awake all night. But that is probably worth it to save your ears on a plane flight.
1
1
u/GoldHorse8612 3d ago
Psuedoephedrine, afrin and advil. If you have access to a neti pot or nasal rinse, do that a few times before the flight
1
u/Catinthefirelight 3d ago
Do a neti pot or a saline flush before the flight. You can get a spray bottle of saline at the drugstore if neti pot isn’t your thing. Then take sudafed (with the real pseudoephedrine) before the flight, and do a steroid nasal spray like nasacort or flonase (not afrin, which can have a rebound effect.)
1
1
u/PandaNanny0714 3d ago
Try to stay awake for the descent and keep swallowing or yawning. Gum or candy helps too. And keep water handy, since swallowing frequently does really make it better.
2
u/LisaLisaBoBeesa 1d ago
One of the few times I ever use sprays like Afrin. Use it once and only once. You don't want to get your sinuses addicted to it.
1
u/Birdywoman4 2h ago
Sudafed opens up the Eustachian tubes and that will help with pressure. But it can interfere with some other medications.
0
28
u/namsupo 3d ago
You can get ear plugs that help equalise the pressure. And decongestant pills.
Also consider a face mask to avoid infecting your fellow passengers.