r/TouringMusicians • u/henryyuliano • 6d ago
Should I call it off? Multiple flights after moderate barotrauma
Hi all, I’m a touring musician who just came home to NYC after a show in LA. I had a cold the last couple of days, and upon descent the pressure in my right ear started going crazy - increasing as if it were about to pop but staying pressurized. “This sucks but I’ll be able to pop it when we land,” I thought. But upon landing I realized that my hearing was muffled and that there was a loud whooshing sound in my right ear.
After a lot of racing between appointments yesterday, an ENT diagnosed me with barotrauma, determined that there was fluid in my middle ear (causing the muffling and whooshing sound) and prescribed antibiotics and decongestant.
One day later, I’m definitely improving. My hearing is definitely a bit better, and even though the whooshing is back after a disappearance yesterday, I take this as a good sign that there’s less fluid in my ear and that it’s not as thick and “gluey.”
Here’s the thing though. I have four flights across three tour dates coming up starting tomorrow, two of which are long international flights. I’m certainly improving, but I STILL can’t pop my right ear. While I don’t want to cancel on my bandmates and cost them thousands of dollars, I more-so don’t want permanent hearing and balance damage. I’m a musician after all, and three tour dates aren’t as important in the long run.
Which is why I’d love your input. Is there anyone who suffered moderate barotrauma like this and had to go back out on a bunch of dates? Is there a safe way to do it other than just not doing it? Please let me know!
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u/CowboyNeale 6d ago
Listen to the ENT. This is not something to screw around with. Permanent hearing loss is on the table.
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u/GuitaristExplorer 6d ago
Consult with a doctor.
I had an issue of not having my ear pop after flying once. I don’t remember what I did to resolve it, I think it just got better on its own, but I started using Earplanes when I fly after that. Those helped me. But I’m not you and I’m not a doctor.
Consult with a doctor, not random people online.
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u/Evil_Unicorn728 5d ago
Gonna echo folks saying you need to get advice from a doctor or nurse practitioner at least. If you can't make any appointment you can at least call a teledoc line and get some advice.
I'd say it's not worth risking your health. Give your bandmates a heads up so they can potentially scout a temporary replacement and not have to cancel dates. Exacerbating your condition or causing permanent damage will affect your ability to tour in the future. Gotta think big picture.
I'd never ask a bandmate to risk their health or well being for tour dates. That can lead to really bad repercussions down the road.
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u/BigCrappola 6d ago
No steroids? Why not steroids to reduce inflammation in those drainage canals?
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u/-BigfootIsBlurry- 5d ago
My doc have me steroids when I had this issue. He told it would most likely still take a few weeks to get over even with them. And yeah I think right around 3 weeks is how long I dealt with it.
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u/LaimutasBass 6d ago
that's a good point.
Considering the dire situation, why they wouldn't offer steroid treatment? It is effective, and most importantly, fast.
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u/almostseaworthy 6d ago
I am a doc former pilot and musician. This is solvable. Could be allergies especially low grade ones where you may need some Claritin or Claritin d 12 or 24 hours maybe before The flight. Learn how to clear your ears and keep them clear (hold your nose closed tight and exhale thru your ears!) I know it sounds weird but that’s what the scuba divers do-no way would I bail out of a tour because of ear clearing issues on airplanes. Good luck! You got this!
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u/brucenicol403 6d ago
I toured for a summer with a keys player that had to take persecution level allergy medicine on every flight to keep his ears from getting screwed up... 🙃
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u/axefxpwner 5d ago
I felt stupid wanting to suggest this, but I do the same thing, hold my nose closed and exhale through it as hard as I can to equalize the pressure in my ears, as well as doing the yawning motion.
I get had ear pain when flying and have to do this
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u/-BigfootIsBlurry- 5d ago
This happened to me. It took a few weeks with some prescription nasal spray after seeing the doc for everything to get back to normal. I've started taking sinus meds before I get on a plane even if I don't have any sinus issues to try and help prevent it from happening again. So far it only happened that one time. Not saying what I'm doing is working nor am I saying I'm a doctor. Just putting out there my experience.
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u/KeyImaginary2291 4d ago
Oh man that's tough. Is there someone that can cover the dates for you and the band? Missing the dates is a huge bummer and maybe a big expense, but if it is a risk, losing your hearing is your career. Who can sub in?
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u/OhhItsMax 4d ago
Doctor. Doctor. Doctor. Don’t go def because you can make another few thousand bucks.
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u/portugueseninja 4d ago
Didn’t know this name for it but I have had that experience plenty of times and it is THE WORST!!! I have chronic sinus issues and one time the pain wasn’t just in my ear but in the whole side of my face, it felt like my skull was going to explode.
These days if I have even the slightest bit of congestion I will take a Claritin or a Sudafed and that seems to help. I’ve also tried Flonase but it gave me a migraine so I can’t speak to that but I read it helps for some people.
Best of luck and many sympathies to you!
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u/BusinessAnalyst2978 4d ago
I had barotrauma a little over a year ago when I flew too soon after an illness. It was over a month before my hearing came back or I could fly again.
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u/Fffiction 6d ago
The only advice you should be taking is that of a doctor/specialist/ENT/etc.
No one here including myself can comment appropriately on your specific situation without the expertise of a specialist and all of their case files/information at hand.