Was wondering if flying will make my fistula worse, I have had it in my left ear for years now. surgery was not recomended, I have been able to deal with the symptoms..some days are better than others of coarse. Iam a nervous about flying, I don't want it to become worse. What about Earplanes, anyone use them?? Thanks
Was wondering if flying will make my fistula worse, I have had it in my left ear for years now. surgery was not recomended, I have been able to deal with the symptoms..some days are better than others of coarse. Iam a nervous about flying, I don't want it to become worse. What about Earplanes, anyone use them?? Thanks
Hi Shmalky,
I have a perilymphatic fistula. The fistula is a result of stapedectomy surgery that went very wrong. I also have total irreversable hearing loss in the ear due to surgial trauma to the cochlear sustained during the same surgery. I developed the fistula in December 2010 & I've had five different opinions (from ENT surgeons) regarding flying. Two of the surgeons were honest enough to admit they really have no idea what would happen if I flew, two others told me it "should" be ok to fly but they couldn't guarantee the fistula wouldn't open during landing, and one told me definitely not to fly, he said if the fistula tore even a tiny amount during take-off, it may result in worsening sympoms (of vertigo etc) during the entire flight, then it would be even worse during landing, and it possibly could take months to begin to reseal.
I obviously have put off flying however I need to fly soon & I really don't know what to do. I've even emailed numerous clinics in America who specialise in fistula's however they won't offer any opinion without seeing me in person (I'm in Australia and I can't fly so I'm not sure how they think I'm able to get to America).
I can see you posted your message a few months ago, did you decide to fly yet or do you have any information you could share?
Thanks AussieGirl
Thanks for responding!! No I haven't had to fly yet, but my sister will be getting married and I might have to fly, unless we do a 25hr drive..I'm nervous as hell thinking about it, my ear can't even take going over mountains in the car, Are these fistulas not already open in our ears, Mine has been about the same for 15 years, certain things bother it, but it has never healed, just learn what things I can handle and things I can't
