Comments on: Two very different trips

By: Woulda Coulda Shoulda » Well, that didn’t take long

Woulda Coulda Shoulda » Well, that didn’t take long — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:04:23 +0000

[...] We went away. We had a lovely trip. We saw lots of friends and family and enjoyed the wedding and ate all manner of delicious foods and encountered minimal travel difficulties (you know, if you don’t count my husband’s near eye explosion from the outbound leg) and it was all perfectly lovely. Until we got back. [...]

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:44:40 +0000

This happens to my hubby EVERY TIME WE DESCEND ON AN AIRPLANE. The first time I was a wreck, running around the airport looking for medical help (found=only defibrillator.) He always takes a decongestant while in flight and it seems to help. He FINALLY asked his doctor about it last month, who was not alarmed. He thought perhaps it was a nasal polyp, but a CAT scan revealed a deviated septum and nasal irritation. Has he gone back to the doctor to get the meds to treat the irritation?? No. Urgh.

By: mama speak

mama speak — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:09:52 +0000

my guess is also migraine, but i agree go have a doc look at him puleeezze!!! we lurve otto don’t let anything bad happen to him!

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:03:51 +0000

I just had this happen for the first time on a flight from Boston to Seattle. I was really congested due to allergies and I seriously thought my eye was going to explode and/or pop out of my head. My doctor attributed it to sinus pressure, but it scared the living daylights out of me!

By: kk

kk — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 01:56:28 +0000

Loved the picture the story and all the tips from readers.
I am a new addict to your site – and have introduced you to my family & friends…I have to laugh as earlier today while on the phone we were again cracking up thanks to your wit! I agree Otto should have a few meds in hand for the return and perhaps a glass of Pinto Grigio is on order for you:-) !

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:45:23 +0000

WARNING: ASSVICE AHEAD
My family has at least 5 horror stories involving eyes that range from the inane to the “Oh my God what is that thing???” (One of the stories involves a buckle around the eye. Which then shrinks and expands with the weather.) You should probably see if you can get Otto to have the eye checked before the flight back. It’s probably sinus pressure and you’ll feel stupid for going to that much effort. OR it could be some horrible & hideous nastiness. Wouldn’t that be fun?!?

By: Pamela

Pamela — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:41:48 +0000

Awesome picture of the kids!! Those moments are so precious.

Hope Otto is okay – sinus pressure problems are horrible. I whine like a baby when mine hurt and take lots of meds.

By: Flea

Flea — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:17:57 +0000

Oh ow. Flying is already so much fun these days. My Hunny flew from FL to CA with wisdom teeth inflamed, once upon a time. I’m trying to remember … something to knock him out, I think.

By: Berni

Berni — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:15:33 +0000

From what you described, I’d say Otto had a migraine. Mine starts with pain behind my eye. If I don’t take my migraine meds, it gets waaaaay painful, I get very very queasy and greenish. The change in pressure on an airplaine can trigger one for me. Most of mine are caused by hormones, but there are ALOT of migraine triggers. Just my guess, since it sounds exactly like what I’ve gone through.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:50:47 +0000

If it was in fact sinus pressure, I can provide some advice for the future. Sinus pressure once partially ruptured one of my eardrums on a flight. It was exceptionally painful and isn’t something to put on your lifetime to-do list. The doctor I saw afterwards told me to stay off planes for two weeks (to allow the eardrum to heal a bit) and to do the following going forward:

1. Before a flight, take sudafed.
2. Also before a flight, use a nasal spray, like Afrin.
3. If you feel the pressure building up, keep opening and closing your mouth in a yawn-like way. It helps the fluid in the tubes drain. (Though it feels awfully silly.)

And that’s what I’ve done ever since. It hasn’t eliminated the pressure entirely, but it’s never gotten as bad as it did that day.