Gluten free resolved my severe ear pain during air travel?

cinemom · Post by **cinemom** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 10:31 am

Hi all, I just got back to the West Coast from a business trip to Chicago. Since I was age 20 (I'm now in my sixth decade) I've always had moderate to severe ear and sinus pain upon plane descent and am usually left with hearing loss for several days after. I'm not talking about "discomfort" where I can clear my ear by holding my nose and blowing. I have always had severe pain, which brings me to tears and much suffering. Always, every time I fly.

This was the first time I've had to fly since my diagnosis last October. So you can imagine how excited I was when this time, I had absolutely no pain or discomfort on any of the four legs on descent!!

I did not take any decongestant beforehand as I usually do, either. The only difference I can attribute to this lack of pain is the fact that I have remained gluten free for 11 months. I do eat occasional dairy and limited soy, and frequent eggs. I only take D3, magnesium, multivitamins and salmon oil supplements, and Imodium very infrequently. I am amazed at the possibility that an Allergan was the likely cause of all this pain my whole life! It now gives me even more motivation to stay gluten free!

Has anybody had this ear/sinus pain with air travel? I think controlling our sensitivities and allergies have tremendous benefits beyond controlling MC. This is just one more example.

And, btw, in these 11 months since MC dx, I've gone from 16-20 explosive wd and pain, to no pain and 2-6 bm Bristol #6 daily, with no prescription meds. Just thru diet, and an occasional Imodium, like for travel. It is slow progress, but it IS progress. I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Post by **tex** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 12:49 pm

Great! Thanks for documenting another benefit of the diet.

Tex

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 5:49 pm

I used to have same ear troubles when travelling.

I have noticed a huge amount of issues have gone since removing all trigger foods and reducing inflammation in my body. Asthma, allergies to animals, etc are all gone.

cinemom · Post by **cinemom** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 10:58 am

Thanks Tex and Gabes!
Update - I must have caught a virus on the plane, because since Sunday I have had a really painful cold, with sinus drainage and cough, head pain, low energy. Ugh! I have not been sick for a couple of years that I can remember.

I remember reading (maybe here or in Tex's book) that when the immune system is fighting the MC, that it is unlikely to get sick, because I think Tex's suggestion is that the immune system tackles fights one battle at a time (my words, can't remember, and am now woozy, please forgive.)

Anyway, if that is the case, then does this cold mean that my immune system is doing better against MC, and moving on to other battles? Hope so. My MC symptoms are much improved since diagnosis 11 months ago.

Thanks for listening :)

Post by **tex** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 11:06 am

Well, a cold is never a good thing, but IMO you are probably right that your immune system has settled back a notch or 2 from its previous condition of extreme alert, suggesting that it may feel that your MC is under control.

I hope the cold runs its course soon, and you start feeling much better.

Tex

cinemom · Post by **cinemom** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 5:25 pm

Thanks, Tex. Have made homemade chicken soup and am sipping it throughout the day. This is a killer cold, and tomorrow is day 4. It should be gone by the end of the week, hopefully. Have a great evening!

cinemom · Post by **cinemom** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 9:03 pm

Update on the cold: I can't believe that it took through Day 18 before my cold was pretty much over and I started feeling human again. Wow! Does this mean I have a compromised immune system? Colds never seemed to be such a problem before. I was thinking the other day that my body actually feels "different" in a way that I cannot describe - but I attribute the change to MC, definitely. Today is Day 24 since the onset of the cold, and my energy is really coming back. I believe in sticking to the GF diet, and taking D3 and Magnesium for sure!

Post by **tex** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:52 am

cinemom wrote:Does this mean I have a compromised immune system?

It could mean that your immune system is overloaded, and devoting much of it's energies elsewhere. It could mean that not enough vitamin D is available to keep the immune system functioning at optimum efficiency. It could also be the result of taking a corticosteroid, but if my memory is correct, you haven't been taking budesonide.

Some of these viruses just last longer than others. There was one going around here in Texas a couple of months ago that seemed to take forever to get rid of. Fortunately I didn't catch it, but several family members did, and they don't have MC.

Tex

cinemom · Post by **cinemom** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 8:10 am

Good memory, Tex! True, I have not taken any prescription meds at all since diagnosis, including to treat MC. I only take Imodium on an as-needed basis. Several persons have gotten this virus that I know of, who do not have MC, and I'm watching to see how they respond and how long the symptoms last.

Thanks for reminding me of the D3 connection; I need to take my supplements with more regularity.

Have a great day!