HELP - bad ear infection & we are flying in 48 hours!

[Ocruise]

Hi everyone. I can't belive this. This saturday we are flying to Orlando for our Disney Wonder cruise that leavs sunday. I went to the doctor's this morning & I have a wicked ear infection in my left ear. The funny thing is is that last Tuesday I had a very bad ear infection in my right ear, so he put me on the antibiotic Zithromax, which I stopped taking a few days ago. Now, 1 week later it's my other ear! (I have not had ear infections since I was a kid)

My doctor gave me a new 10 day antiobiotic (Ceftin), he said I should be able to go on my vacation. (And he said I can drink alcohol on this antiobiotic if I want.). But just to be on the safe side he made an appointment with an ear nose & throat specialist at 4:00 today. He said not to start my new antiobiotic until I see this ear specialist, since he may advise something different.

My ear is so painfully clogged right now, I know you can't fly with a bad ear infection right? I have vacation insurance but I don't want to miss my cruise. Today is Thursday & my flight is at Saturday at 3:00.

Do you think i'll be able to go on my vacation? Please say a prayer i'll be better by then

~ Marina

 

6/03 - Celebrity Horizon ~ Bermuda

7/03 - Carnival Paradise ~ West. Carrib.

7/04 - Disney Wonder ~ Bahamas

7/04 - RCCL Explorer of the Seas ~ West. Carrib.

8/04 - NCL Pride of Aloha ~ Hawaii

2/05 - Golden Princess ~ Southern. Carrib.

[Cotton]

Oh Marina, bless your little heart. I'm sorry, but hopefully by tomorrow the new antibiotic will have kicked in. Could you just stick cotton or ear plugs in your ears for the flight? Obviously, I'm not a doctor, but that's what I did for my son years ago, when he had ear infections and we had to take a flight - on the advice of an ENT. Worked for my son - maybe for you, too?

[triplelutz]

Usually after 24 hours on an antibiotic you'll start to feel better. Good luck - I hope you feel better soon!

[CruiseCATnMACK]

Ear infections and flying are not fun and can cause further damage. I would talk with the doctor and follow his instruction.

[Lorax]

Flying with an ear infection is very painful and you could bust an eardrum. My daughter gets ear infections frequently when we travel so I unfortunately have a lot of experience with this. If you start taking your antiobiotic as soon as today (zithromax is pretty powerful), your ears should really be clear enough for flying. If the feel at all clogged the morning of your flight or even just to be on the safe side, you could always take a decongestant an hour before take off.

 

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon. Enjoy your Wonder cruise. It's a great ship!

[dms_cruisers04]

Sorry about your ear infection Marina. As Cotton said, hopefully the antibiotics will be helping by Saturday. As we say on that other board ...

 

Here's a little pixie dust, hoping things will get better. :)

[marshabear]

i have had many ear infections in my lifetime...

 

one thing my doctor gives me for the pain (in addition to an antibiotic) is an ear drop that has a numbing medicine in it...helps stop the discomfort.....

 

maybe yours can give you this also...explain the situation and i'll bet there is something they could give you....

 

also, chewing gum on the plane helps to prevent ears from getting plugged under normal circumstances so it couldn't hurt to do this also....

 

GOOD LUCK!!!

 

 

Marsha

[Dee88]

I've flown with an ear infection before and the doctor gave me a decongestant - that drained the ear alittle and helped.

There are also ear plugs that help the pressure in the ear while flying, this will also help.

Hope you feel better and enjoy your cruise!!!

[halos]

I am so sorry!! Bad timing, eh???

Please, please, please listen to what DEE said and TAKE A DECONGESTANT!! The antibiotic is for the infection only, NOT the fluid in your ear. You need to be rid of the fluid!! When you see the ENT today he'll probably prescribe one for you especially since you are flying.

This is very important...the antibiotic removes the infection from the fluid but does NOT remove the fluid, and the fluid is what is causing the pain and what could cause a huge problem if you fly!!!!!

[mirrajay]

Okay, I used to think that this was an old wives tale, but I tried this after a friend suggested it to me and it worked! Take a few drops of olive oil and put them in your ear and then put cotton pieces in your ear to hold in the olive oil while you sleep. I woke up the next morning with no pain and all and it never came back. Sounds like you might have a more severe ear infection than I did, but I was amazed that this actually worked.

[Guest Time2gocruzn]

I believe those ear plugs that help with ear preassure on airplanes are called "EAR PLANES". I haven't heard anything about how well they do/do not work. I plan on purchasing them from myself, as the last time I flew I had TERRIBLE ear pain and could barely hear for a whole day after I got to my destination. Good Luck!

[Cotton]

About the olive oil - My in-laws were Italian, and thought olive oil was the cure-all for everything! (And they were usually right.)

I had forgotten about that, but YES, I did put the warm olive oil in my sons ears at times, with cotton to plug it up. Worked for his normal earaches, but had to go to ENT at worst times.

[Boo's Mom]

OCruise...... I was in your very situation a few years back. The Dr. had me return to the Dr's office just prior to flying....and if needed, he was going to relieve pressure from the ear drum, if it was obvious that the air pressure from the flight was going to damage the ear drum. Fortunately, I did not have to have this done. (doesn't sound like much fun)

 

I know you are leaving soon, but rest, rest, rest! A few extra hours a day can do serious wonders for an ailment.

 

Also, on the morning of your flight, take sudafed and motrin/tylenol. The sudafed will help relieve any congestion pressure that might be there already and the motrin/tylenol will help with any pain that will probably accompany the air pressure in the cabin of the plane.

 

You're going to be just fine!!! Relax...and rest! Have someone bring dinner home tonight! Or...order pizza! No cooking for you!

 

Have a great cruise!

[mysticalblues]

Last year my friend got an inner ear infection (the one that makes you dizzy) about 4 days before our flight to San Juan. Doctor told her to take Sudafed starting the day before flying. She didn't have any problem.

 

Good Luck.

[Guest Time2gocruzn]

Oh, forgot to mention, when my son gets an ear infection we get RX ear drops that relieve pain. Very cheap and easy.

[born2crooz]

My son, who is 6, seems to get ear infections right before our vacations and we faced the same problem. Luckily, they clear up in time, however, we are prepared.

 

What would I do?

 

I'd take an extra day off work and drive down. We live in NH, so I'd say it's about the same trip from here, maybe 28 hours straight through or 2 days, if you stop over night.

 

Nothing would stop my vacation.