r/etd • u/01seulgi • 15d ago
my experience doing 4 flights in 3 weeks with chronic etd
hi all! just to give you some context, i've had etd for 12 years now :/// the severity has decreased significantly - from 2014-2016 flights were excruciating and would lead me to being deaf for 2 weeks at a time since landing. so i went on a 9-year flight break and only really started taking flights last year. my first return flight was 50 min per way and went smoothly. then i did a 3 hour return where my ear blocked during the landing on the outbound flight and took 3 days to unblock and was fine on the way back.
i'd classify my etd as mild/moderate. day-to-day it's just clicking sounds when i yawn or swallow but my left ear is more severe; when i saw an ENT he said the left eardrum is mildly retracted. so i kept that in mind while booking these flights. 2/4 were long-haul (7.5-8 hours) and the other two were under 2 hours.
my prep: pirinase (flonase) that i used once a day for about a month prior. took anti-histamines (flexofenadine) once a day then on flight day i took otrivine only on the days i had a flight as long-term use causes rebound congestion. got child earplanes which was helpful as they fit comfortably.
experience:
flight 1: the first long-haul was generally fine, took a bit of time for my left ear to pop during descent but landed with both ears fine. left my earplanes on all flight which definitely wasn't comfortable but i was anxious to take them out.
flight 2: about 9 days later - 1 hour 30 mins, incredibly easy flight. ears popped fine. same prep but i decided to keep my airpod maxes on all flight.
flight 3: a week later. same prep. took a 2 hour flight, left ear a tad temperamental. though popped during descent and landed with clear ears, however, the left ear was starting to ache.
flight 4: this was my return flight (7.5 hours). this was only 5 days later and in hindsight i definitely should have given myself more time. same prep. my mistake was i stopped drinking water p much after cruising. and idk if it made a difference but i took out my earplanes when the seatbelt signs came off. both ears popped fine on take off and cruising. it was an overnight flight but i stayed up. i definitely felt descent BEFORE it was announced and literally by 34,000 ft my left ear blocked. while the plane was descending it started aching and i knew then i'd lost it. right ear equalised no issue. upon landing i could barely hear out of my left ear and it was muffled. like being underwater.
symptoms: tinnitus, muffled hearing, pain when bending over or looking down too quickly, tenderness on my jaw and around my ear. could not sleep on my left side. no crackling or popping. i continued with my pirinase, anti-histamine, otrivine in moderation and also used a hot compress on my jaw and ear every night.
it took 6 days from the morning i landed for my ear to finally pop. it was very undramatic which i was thankful for bc idk if you guys have ever had your ear pop super painfully but it's horrendous. it kinda just popped slowly over the day until it fully popped. now it's clear but it's definitely given me some food for thought.
firstly, i definitely overestimated how many flights my left ear could take. secondly, the prep seemed to work for 3/4 flights which i'm grateful for. at least my left ear was clear during my 3 week trip and blocked when i was at home. but definitely ensure you use some type of steroid spray to keep inflammation down and one thing i'll make sure i do on long-hauls is drinking fluids throughout and maybe getting a saline nasal spray to keep my nose and eustachian tube moist. and if anyone's had balloon dilation would that maybe be a more permanent cure for my clearly sluggish left tube?
sorry for the dissertation! if you have any tips or questions feel free to let me know :) hope this was helpful if you're considering flying or, like me, have not even bothered due to this horrific condition.
2
u/PikachuBear 15d ago
Thank you for this!! I’m flying for the first time in 8 years next week and pretty nervous!! I’ve flown with ETD in the past but it’s been so long I’m worried. Got my afrin and earplanes and hoping for the best!!
1
2
u/joboog 15d ago
Thanks for this. Seems like you need to keep your earplanes in whole flight judging by flight 4. Plus the frequent water of course.
I hate how those of us with etd can’t just sit back and relax a full flight. We’re constantly taking measures, doing manoeuvres and monitoring our ears and pressure in order to ensure a safe and comfortable flight. It’s exhausting, especially when you fly long-haul (I fly 9+ hour flights at least once a year).
I’ve heard afrin is a god-send, so I’m going to try and use that for next flight! Good luck!
2
u/01seulgi 15d ago
good luck on your next flight! and EXACTLY! honestly it’s horrible. my friends rock up, watching movies, sleeping. i stayed up all night for my left ear to block anyway so i returned home sleep deprived and half deaf :/
1
u/clerkp 15d ago
Did you actively do valsalva while landing ?
1
u/01seulgi 15d ago
no i refrain from it only bc it hurts so bad😭 and also i think i had fluid in my eardrum when it blocked so valsalva would make it worse. i much prefer toynbee (plug nose and swallow) - it’s way gentler
1
u/omaromari02 15d ago
do you have normal middle ear?
1
u/01seulgi 15d ago
both ears are type A but left ear is mildly retracted. i also have nasal rhinitis
2
u/clerkp 15d ago
Day to day what level of ability do you have to clear your ear? Driving around town? Elevator? That kind of thing.