Help with Sinus Block

[WAFlyBoy]

Fellow aviators,

Long story short: I'm experiencing a very painful sinus block, and was hoping that somebody might have clever suggestions on how to get some relief. This problem is impacting my work, so I appreciate any suggestions you have.

----- If you want more info, here's the long story: -------

About 10 days ago I was on the way down from a skydiving run when I experienced horible searing pain behind my left eye, as if somebody were poking a needle into it. After landing, a dull, mild pain persisted in the left side of my forehead. I did a couple more runs that day and experienced similar problems on the trip down, but not as intense as the first one.

Then last weekend I took a trip via airliner, and by the time the 737 had reached cruise altitude, I thought my head was going to explode. Again, a very excrutiating pain on the left side of my forehead. This persisted until about halfway through the descent, when I started to get some relief. By the time we landed I could hardly feel any pressure at all.

Now, back on the "line" at my flight school, anytime I get above 3000' MSL, the pressure and pain starts to come back. I haven't dared go above 5000' recently.

I recently tried using a sinus nasal spray and have tried a nasal rinse with warm salt water, but neither have provided any relief. I don't have a cold - only minor allergies but I can breathe through my nose with no problem. Does anybody have any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks!

BTW - I've never had a problem with sinus block before, even when I've had a cold.

[TheWife]

Go to www.webmd.com There is a picture of a body on the right side, click on the nose area, and then click on stuffy nose. There is a series of yes or no questions, go through those and it will check your symptoms and tell you if you need to see a Dr. or what to do to treat it at home.

[killbilly]

Originally Posted by WAFlyBoy

F
I recently tried using a sinus nasal spray and have tried a nasal rinse with warm salt water, but neither have provided any relief. I don't have a cold - only minor allergies but I can breathe through my nose with no problem. Does anybody have any ideas or suggestions?

BTW - I've never had a problem with sinus block before, even when I've had a cold.

I have two, because I have experienced similar problems in the past while scuba diving. Opposite direction of pressure, yes, but I have had the same problems flying, too.

Plain ol' Sudafed does wonders for a lot of people, but didn't work for me. I found a medicine called Seldane which, taken 30 min before a dive eased up the pressure and allowed me to equalize. I did need a prescription for it. My sinus problems come and go, I take a Seldane when they do and I don't have problems.

Another friend of mine was having a horrible time with pressure equalization as well. He found, for some reason, if he drank a cup of coffee before diving or flying he didn't have any problems. I'm no doc, but I suspect it has something to do with blood vessel dilation since that's a direct effect of caffeine. The friend *is* a doc (veterinarian, actually) and he believes that's the case as well.

<shrug> Your mileage may vary - anecdotal advice is just that. But maybe it will work for you/help steer you in the right direction. Good luck.

[jtrain609]

You could try calling...a doctor? Or do you not have benefits out there?

[WAFlyBoy]

Originally Posted by John Herreshoff

You could try calling...a doctor? Or do you not have benefits out there?

No company provided benefits. Besides, this advice is free.

Thanks for the help, folks. I did talk to a pharmasist at Wal-Mart about this also. (Who was also interested in learning to fly. Funny, because I had a student who was a pharmasist at Skymates.) He also recommended Sudafed and hooked me up with the cheapest Wal-Mart brand stuff they had on the shelf.

I was skeptical, but it worked wonders. Two days ago I couldn't go to 4,000 without screaming for mercy like a little girl. Today I did three fast trips to 15K and only encountered mild irritation.

[WAFlyBoy]

Originally Posted by killbilly

He found, for some reason, if he drank a cup of coffee before diving or flying he didn't have any problems.

I didn't know it was possible to fly an airplane without first having coffee or Rockstar.

Thanks for the advice... like a said above, the Sudafed worked great.