Quick fix for earache
March 7, 2020 10:51 AM Subscribe
I woke up with a slight earache today. Difficulty level: I am supposed to fly out Thursday, so naturally this alarms me. Any of your quick tips, home remedies, anything to help?
More info:
-This is not a life and death flight, although I would disappoint a few people if I didn't make it (I'm doing a reading in another state, plus visiting relatives I hadn't seen in forever).
-Heck, *I'd* be disappointed.
-My tix are Southwest, so there is no change charge.
More info:
-This is not a life and death flight, although I would disappoint a few people if I didn't make it (I'm doing a reading in another state, plus visiting relatives I hadn't seen in forever).
-Heck, *I'd* be disappointed.
-My tix are Southwest, so there is no change charge.
get earplanes,put them in as soon as you sit down, don't remove until the door has opened after landing
posted by brujita at 11:01 AM on March 7, 2020
posted by brujita at 11:01 AM on March 7, 2020
This happened to me before. I've had ear infections in the past, so I visited an urgent care center out of an abundance of caution. I would have gone to my regular doc's, but it was the weekend and his office was closed.
The urgent care doc told me I had a cold—apparently I had post-nasal drip, but an achy ear was the only symptom I really noticed. I was prescribed some nasal spray, which I filled, but by the time I went to fly, I was feeling better.
I'd recommend speaking with a doctor before you go, if you can. It'll put your mind at ease. Try your favorite cold remedies too.
posted by vitout at 11:24 AM on March 7, 2020
The urgent care doc told me I had a cold—apparently I had post-nasal drip, but an achy ear was the only symptom I really noticed. I was prescribed some nasal spray, which I filled, but by the time I went to fly, I was feeling better.
I'd recommend speaking with a doctor before you go, if you can. It'll put your mind at ease. Try your favorite cold remedies too.
posted by vitout at 11:24 AM on March 7, 2020
Resting my ear on a hot water bottle (covered with a towel) helps my ear infections go away really quickly so long as they aren't fungal. (I get a ton of ear infections.)
If it's fungal, which I can tell when the hot water bottle makes them worse the next day instead of better (also I can smell the difference on a q-tip if that's even an option- if my ears are too swollen and sore it's not- I go get clotrimazole drops (not cream) from the athlete's foot section of my drug store. Unfortunately they all reek of tea tree oil and I have to treat it 3 times a day like clockwork for a long time- basically til the bottle's empty, about 8 days. I feel better pretty quickly but if I stop mid course it'll just come back worse.
EDIT: When I'm feeling like I have a high tolerance for pain, household vinegar has worked for fungal infections, too, if they aren't too severe. Sometimes I prefer pain to the smell of tea tree oil, which I hate.
posted by small_ruminant at 11:44 AM on March 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
If it's fungal, which I can tell when the hot water bottle makes them worse the next day instead of better (also I can smell the difference on a q-tip if that's even an option- if my ears are too swollen and sore it's not- I go get clotrimazole drops (not cream) from the athlete's foot section of my drug store. Unfortunately they all reek of tea tree oil and I have to treat it 3 times a day like clockwork for a long time- basically til the bottle's empty, about 8 days. I feel better pretty quickly but if I stop mid course it'll just come back worse.
EDIT: When I'm feeling like I have a high tolerance for pain, household vinegar has worked for fungal infections, too, if they aren't too severe. Sometimes I prefer pain to the smell of tea tree oil, which I hate.
posted by small_ruminant at 11:44 AM on March 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
--Agree that you should go to an urgent care to get antibiotics for now. And bring them with you on your trip. This will probably clear you up.
--Carry Afrin in your carry-on. Bend your head down right before takeoff and landing and squirt the Afrin into your nose. Do this during all your planned flights.
--If you get ear pain during the flight, ask the attendant to give you a cup. Wad up a paper towel and have the attendant pour a little hot water into the cup to create warmth and steam.
posted by Elsie at 12:09 PM on March 7, 2020
--Carry Afrin in your carry-on. Bend your head down right before takeoff and landing and squirt the Afrin into your nose. Do this during all your planned flights.
--If you get ear pain during the flight, ask the attendant to give you a cup. Wad up a paper towel and have the attendant pour a little hot water into the cup to create warmth and steam.
posted by Elsie at 12:09 PM on March 7, 2020
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posted by Weeping_angel at 10:59 AM on March 7, 2020 [1 favorite]