Flying with a Sinus Infection

engee

engee

engee

Associate
Joined
10 May 2006
Posts
397
Hopefully this thread is fine as I'm not after medical advice, just peoples experiences.

Has anyone flown with a sinus infection?

I'm supposed to be flying to Menorca on a family holiday in 6 days, but yesterday developed a sinus infection.
I went to the pharmacist this morning who have told me to see my GP as I may need anibiotics due to the short time before flying. Thankfully they've fit me in this afternoon.

I had sinus pain descending on a flight without an infection a few years back and it felt like my head was going to explode.
 
giphy.gif
 
SimonRigga said:
I flew with blocked sinuses.. and during the flight got some tinitus.. unfortunately it never went away.. that was 9 years ago..
Click to expand...

I flew with a heavy cold (no idea about the state of my sinuses). On descending to land l developed a sharp pain in my ear that swallowing just wouldn't clear. This pain went on for days and was in danger of ruining the holiday until it finally shifted. Overall not much that could have been done differently (this was pre COVID and I couldn't exactly cancel the holiday due to having a cold) but the impact of those pressure changes was brutal.
 
I went to Barbados in 2019 with some sinus cold thing, and I couldn't hear for the first 2 days. My wife was literally having to talk for me.

I don't remember the pain being particularly bad though, we went out locally the first night.
 
I flew with a cold recently. I made the mistake of leaving my nose plugged through out the flight and then not blowing my nose to rid it of the built up mucus prior to the aeroplanes decent phase. Legit thought my ear drums were going to explode. I was gripping the seat in pain.

If I had to go through it again I would Try to clear any mucus in my nose prior to the plan loosing altitude. The increase in pressure probably pushes the mucus to places it shouldn’t go.
 
Last edited:
Sinus barotrauma is no joke. I once flew with sinusitis and the pain was so bad I briefly drifted out of consciousness. Thought my face was going to explode. Took a load of pseudoephidrine for the return flight which worked a treat.
 
Just back from the GP and I've now got some Pseudoephedrine tablets, and also been prescribed antibiotics to take with me if it gets worse.
I'll make a decision closer to the time if its worth the risk.
 
I suffer when I fly with being able to clear my ears. It's mostly on descent. The worst I ever had, was indeed when I had a cold and was blocked up, and still flew. Sorry OP.
I mean you'll be fine...but expect pain/deafness and to write off the first day of the holiday I expect.
 
I've made some questionable decisions in the past about flying with a cold - I fly a lot and generally it's fine but can be a bit painful.

Apart from that one time I genuinely thought I was having a stroke....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom