Steam also good.

Before flying, I'd take an anti-inflam and a Sudafed. Swelling is pain.

I can't take sudafed, would benadryl help?

ETA: Rum sounds like a good idea Laura, I might test that out tonight.

Benedryl will not. Antihistimine versus decongestant. You are looking for decongestant, if there are any you can take.

No, I really don't do well with decongestants. Hopefully the mucinex will help.

sj, this might be contraindicated for, well, anybody but me. I've had bunches of ear infections, usually coupled with sinus infections. Cass is absolutely right: swelling is pain. I pack my ears with sterile cotton. It sounds wacky, but I've had my ear canals swell completely shut--or nearly--too many times to count, and it's utter misery. With packed ears, the swelling can only go so far. They'll still ache, but whatever anti-inflam you take will have less work to do if the swelling is kept down.

Two doctors have approved this, at least for me. But you have to be careful not to pack tight, or that causes its own problems. If you do this, dab a little vaseline in your ears with a swab, then pack with a continuous length of cotton. Just a comfortable fit, not even firm. You might want to run this by your own doctor before you try it, but it helps keep the swelling--and the pain--down for me.

sj, I don't do well with decongestants, either, but considering that you're going to be flying? You may want to risk it. Flying with an ear infection is No Fun.

OMG, so tired. I left work around 4:45 pm (15 min late), came home, walked the dog, fed the animals and washed some dishes, grabbed some yogurt and went to the laundromat, worked on my pitch slides for the Mardi Gras beads thing, came home, grabbed a toasted cheese sandwich and did more dishes, and have been working on my slides for the last two hours or so. Three. Damn. Slides. But finally, they are off to my partner for his perusal and editing. Time to walk the pup, shower, and fall into bed.

Thanks, smonster. I am not comfortable being crawling up the walls anxious while flying, so no decongestants for me. Hopefully the ear infection will clear up (it already feels better) before I go and the benadryl will knock me out.

mucinex is a decongestant -- but it works on keeping the flow going -- and doesn't have the anxiety /hyper effects there is more nose blowing, because it doesn't dry you - it thins things

ok _ stand corrected -it is an expectorant - but in the case of trying to keep the pressure down , it works. I used to live on sudefed. I don't seen to need any with mucuinex.

Thanks, Beth. I'm taking mucinex already. So, I'm hoping that will do the trick.