Flying when you have a nasty ear infection can be a risky business. I’m 18 and was planning to fly tomorrow, but I’m on antibiotics for the infection and the flight is 12.5 hours. My enthusiasm for the trip is tempered by the knowledge that I could be putting my ears in jeopardy.
I can sympathize, as I recently had a similar experience. I had a mild sinus infection that led to fluid build up in my ear and I flew from the US to India with a layover in Europe. As we started to descend on the second leg of the flight, I felt a terrible pressure in my ears. I tried to clear them like someone had suggested, but it only made the pain worse. It felt like my eardrums were going to burst and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. The pain didn’t stop until the plane touched down. After that, I was left with a month of not being able to hear out of one ear.
The experience taught me the importance of getting checked out by a doctor before flying if there is fluid present in your ear and you aren’t fit to fly. I saw a doctor in India that prescribed me an anti-inflammatory medication. It helped a bit, but the pain didn’t go away until a few weeks later.
My advice to you is to get a doctor’s note that you can file with travel insurance before you fly. If you don’t feel comfortable flying, it’s probably a good idea to postpone the trip until the infection is gone. No matter how enthusiastic you are, your ears and health should always come first.