To ask if anyone has any advice re 10yo and perforated air drum

[Lalala89]

Hi everyone,

Long time poster and after anyones opinions/experiences. I have had quite a bad childhood/life up until a few years ago. I have worked really really hard and "bet the odds" and am so extremely lucky that I have been able to save for a trip of a life time (something I would of always thought out of reach for me) in 6 weeks my family and I are due to fly to USA from New Zealand, 1 week in L.A before flying to Houston to see my dad and family I haven't seen in 8years and them meet my children.

We have been counting down days since January. We are meant to leave in 6weeks today. My daughter was sick with a very bad cold last week, after a visit to the doctor 3 days ago we were told she has a perforated ear drum. She is halfway through antibiotics and finally the infection has stopped leaking out of her ear. I asked the doctor if she would be able to fly in 6 weeks and he was very unsure. I have done a lot of googling (not the smartest I know) and am reading mixed reviews. Mostly that she should be ok to fly but if she catches another infection will be excruciating pain which would basically mean we would be in another country, her in pain and like now, confined to our room due to pain. Then knowing she would have to fly the long distance back with infection.

Am I just over reacting? I'm sorry for the pathetic post, i just went through a lot that I always thought travel would be too far out of reach and now I guess I'm clutching at straws. So any advice would be so welcomed.

We do have travel insurance for our flights. But we were going with our friends to l.a, which they would still go of course so we wouldn't get our money back for accommodation/car rental etc as has already been paid.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any advice in advance.

Oh gosh, **eardrum
So sorry, should of proofread!!

6 weeks is a long time.
I would make sure she is really 100% better after the antibiotics, and let it heal.

Thanks so much for your reply! I forgot to add healing time is 8-12 weeks

All depends if it heals, gets infected or remains perforated over the next 6 weeks and whilst you’re away.
If it remains perforated then flying is fine - the perforation allows the pressure to equilibrate.
If it’s semi healed or still partly infected, the the risk is ++pain followed by further perforation. I wouldn’t fly a child of mine in this circumstance.
If there’s no ongoing infection it may well have healed and all good.

I’d suggest going back to your GP in 4 weeks and getting the ear reviewed. If he’s unsure on flight advice at that time he can always phone the local ENT on call doctor for advice.

I’m afraid you may not know until just before your flight. Hope your dc feels better soon.

I flew to UK from NZ recently with a perforated eardrum and was fine. I would return to GP in 3 to 4 weeks and ask them if it has healed and/or the infection has cleared.

I hope all clears up and you have a fantastic time.

It definitely depends on how quickly it heals. You either want it to still be perforated or completely, completely healed an no remaining infection.

I flew from UK-NZ with a perforated eardrum and it was fucking bliss, the most comfortable flight ever. Then a month after being in the UK flew CHCH-WGTN and it burst again because it had just started to heal but wasn't strong yet.

Even if it is still perforated and therefore okay to fly on the way out, the way back to NZ might be an issue?

Thank you for your replies, its verifying what I'm afraid of. Tbh I always thought it was too good to be true.

I wouldn't risk putting my daughter in anymore pain and would be so worried about the flight and also the possibility of spending pit holiday confined to a room with her in pain.

It's such a shame op, what rubbish timing. I hope you get to go later once it's healed and then be able to really enjoy the trip rather than have a DD in pain or be worrying about the return trip

Hi OP

I had a perforated eardrum many many years ago but I have found ever since that the descent into the airport is utterly off the scale excruciating. No other pain compares in terms of intensity. The good news is that it lasts only as long as the descent - the steeper the descent though the worse the pain.

My solution (I am not recommending this by the way) is to take lots and lots of codeine from about an hour before landing. that kind of takes the edge off.

Also the last time I flew I bought some special ear plugs from Boots specifically for this issue. I didn't think they would help much and have tried ordinary earplugs before to no avail. These ones are plastic and you sort of screw them into the ear and they really do help. But of course, don't use these if the drum isn't completely healed.

My sympathies - it's rotten timing, and I'm sorry to say she may be left with a permanent issue like I have. :(

I would check back with the doctor the week before and go with that opinion only.

Have you got travel insurance?

Thank you all. I am so sad about this but she comes first. We had planned it with out friend for the first part and then the Houston pat was timed so that my sister could come down from college for thanks giving etc. Its out of my hands tho.

Thank you so much for your advice