Sunday, October 14, 2007

Deaf In One Ear

I was fighting a cold all week and had almost gotten rid of it completely, but things got extremely stressful at home (trust me, I can't even go into it right now) and I started having a lot of trouble sleeping. Alas, the cold came back with a vengeance.

So I boarded the plane with a cold and de-boarded with Airplane Ear. My left ear never popped and the pressure feels like it's been building for the last couple hours. I googled it and apparently this is really common when you fly with a cold. They say to take a decongestant. But I'm stuck at the hotel. I'm going to hit up the concierge and see if they can get me anything.

Until then, everything's in mono.

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5 comments:

  1. Mike,
    If this is a common problem for you, you might want to try a device called the EarPopper. I am the national sales trainer for the company that make the device.

    It just blows air up your nose and when you swallow, the air goes up the Eustachian tube, venting the middle ear.

    It is a prescription only device, but it's effects are instantaneous. The website is www.earpopper.com. Please read the testimonials, they are amazing.

    I hope this helps. Good luck with everything and I hope the stress at home drops off.

    Derek Lidbom
    National EarPopper Sales Trainer
    Micromedics
    Eagan, MN

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  2. Alternately, once the stage and audio are setup for your first show, wait until the music is really cranking and the go put your head inside one of the subs.

    Hmm...actually, I've done that. It probably won't help but at least you could say you've tried it! You might want to close off one nostril first.

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  3. Thanks Derek. This is actually the first time, and I think it was just due to flying with a cold. But I'll keep that in mind.

    John, I'll have to NOT try that. :) I value my hearing. Fortunately we've got in-ear monitors which block all the sound out so I won't have to blow out my eardrums on stage.

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  4. I'd be careful if you continue to be sick and will be flying. I flew in August from Heathrow to O'Hare with a cold and I was unable to hear out of one of my ears for my entire 3-week holiday at home. On top of that, my Mom flew with a cold once across the country and blew a HOLE in her eardrum, which she has suffered a massive loss of hearing from and now has to have surgery to have someone go in behind her ear, remove the blown bit of ear drum and try to patch it up. Not fun. :( Be careful!

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  5. Dang, Anglochy...that's scary. *Fingers crossed* -- I've gotten a bunch of decongestants. Hopefully that will help.

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