Should I Cancel My Trip Abroad?

[Apocalypse77]

In two months I would have to travel abroad. I would have a 10 hour flight and then I would stay there for about one week. I am seriously considering that I may not go there, of course I would wear earplugs but my tinnitus & hyperacusis might get worse.

I know this is ridiculous, but I even saw a dream two days ago and in this dream I was travelling there and the plane was so loud that my tinnitus got so loud I couldn't even hear anyone talking anymore.

Do you think, I should cancel this trip? I will ask my doctor too, but I think he will say that "of course I can go, there is no way it can make damage."

PS. Sorry for all these threads I have been posting recently. There has just been so many things, that make me feel uncomfortable.

 

[NimQ]

Hey, I can so very well understand your fear. It's not like one can go on a plane, then decide it's too loud and leave. Therefore, it's a scary thing for me as well, but being someone who always dreamed of travelling... I really think we cannot let tinnitus destroy everything imporant to us. This trip, is it something that you would enjoy? If it is, here goes my advice...

If possible, book seats in the front of the plane. As far away from turbines as possible. This will greatly reduce the noise level. Another thing I would personally do would be to combine earplane plugs and high quality earmuffs (e.g. some Peltor model with highest NRR).

This is because normal plugs can in some (rare?) cases prevent ears from equalizing the pressure. So at least for take off and landing I would resort to earmuffs and earplanes (these give a little extra protection and help your ears with the pressure).

To ease your mind more, I'd also take magnesium, NAC, vitamin B complex etc. so you can feel you're helping your ears with the possible strain.

Furthermore, after landing and arriving to the hotel (or such) I'd just put masking sounds on, so that I would not obsess whether the flight had any effect. Tinnitus is prolly higher anyway due to stress and being tired, so measuring and worrying would prolly just confirm the fears of a worrying mind. While logically thinking; with that kind of protection your ears will be safe.

Do you think that by planning like this you could find courage and trust to take a flight?

 

[Apocalypse77]

It's not like one can go on a plane, then decide it's too loud and leave.

I am most scared about this thing. In the dream I wanted to leave the plane but I couldn't, it was so scary.

If possible, book seats in the front of the plane. As far away from turbines as possible.

I would sit at the comfort class, so I would be sitting at the same line as the engines.

Another thing I would personally do would be to combine earplane plugs and high quality earmuffs (e.g. some Peltor model with highest NRR).

Yes, I was thinking that I would buy earplanes (earplugs that are designed to planes) I could use these at the take-off and landing. At the cruising altitude I would use normal earplugs and my Bose noise cancelling headphones.

To ease your mind more, I'd also take magnesium, NAC, vitamin B complex etc. so you can feel you're helping your ears with the possible strain.

Thank you for the tip I will make sure I will take this if I go.

Do you think that by planning like this you could find courage and trust to take a flight?

Yes definitely, but I'm also worried about how loud the public will be.

 

[Rubenslash]

Don't worry about it. I have had two flights recently and it's not that loud, average around 77-78 db. With decent plugs it's less than 65 db. I was also scared by flights due to this forum but once on the plane I realized it's not that loud at all and nothing to be scared of with some protection (and even without it probably won't affect T but better be safe).

And my tinnitus is always the lowest while being on holiday, perhaps due to less stress. Just go, really. @NimQ gave some good advice with regard to seat position etc

 

[Julien87]

Don't worry about it. I have had two flights recently and it's not that loud, average around 77-78 db.

That really depends on the type of plane. In some planes I did not feel the need to put plugs, in other planes I found the noise really loud and was glad I brought my plugs. I'm pretty sure in one of them it was over 85 dB.

 

[Julien87]

What places of Japan are you going to, Apocalypse? I went to Tokyo in June, really loved it. Don't enter in Pachinko buildings, or be prepared, for those places are surprisingly VERY loud haha.

And know that the busiest streets of Tokyo are quite noisy, it's probably best to wear plugs when you visit them. A lot of stores use a speaker playing music on the street side; and the animated commercials on giant screens you can see on some buildings are accompanied by a quite loud music or promotional message.

 

[Starlord]

Tokyo is one of my dream places. I know so much of it from just spending hours on Google Earth and observing it in 3D. From Shibuya, to Shinjuku, to Minato, to Chiyoda, to Odaiba, etc.... Go for me. haha But you will enjoy yourself and be too fascinated with the surroundings instead of worrying about T.

 

[Krish230]

Don't worry about flying. I've had a total of 11 flights this summer and for all the flights I've worn in-ear plugs for most of the flight. My T didn't spike at all, as the plugs did a good enough job of blocking out the engine sounds. With some protection the noise levels will be absolutely fine.

In terms of the public being too loud, wear ear protection in places where you feel like the volume is too much. I also think that the psychological setback of missing out on new experiences that you'd face from not going on holiday may actually be worse than if you went and suffered a (most likely temporary) spike.

Go for it

 

[Rinz]

Hey.. I was in the same situation as you very recently. Also had to take flights (actually to and from Tokyo as I live there).. Indeed I recommend to sit as front as you can and possibly in the middle row so not near the window.. I used elacin 25 earplugs and nose qc headphones.. I was quite scared too for such long flights.. But luckily it did not get worse.. Hope it will be the same for you.. Good luck..

 

[billie48]

I agree with most of the posters above that you shouldn't worry too much about T putting limitation to your flying. I have flown many, many times since my T started, some across the Pacific and 13+ hours long. Sometimes I took flights while my T was spiking (even before the flights) that I would hear my T above the noise of the jet inside the plane. But I don't care and T was not affected nor made worse by my travels. Saying that, try to bring nasal sprays and chewing gums so you can balance the pressure change. If you happen to have congested sinus, it can block the eustachian tube making it hard to balance the changing pressure during landing and take off. So having a nasal spray will prevent that. Finally, perhaps this member's success story about his world travel after T will give you some hope about future travels. Take care. God bless.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...are-with-you-some-pictures-i-took-after.3268/

 

[Apocalypse77]

What places of Japan are you going to, Apocalypse?

We are going to stay at Tokyo. It is still two months until the trip, but we will go to Tokyo sky tree and to see my fathers old office.

Don't enter in Pachinko buildings, or be prepared, for those places are surprisingly VERY loud haha.

Yeah; I will be sure, I remember 3 years ago when I was at Tokyo and always Pachinko buildings sliding doors open, I quickly run off, it was so loud. haha

And know that the busiest streets of Tokyo are quite noisy, it's probably best to wear plugs when you visit them.

If I go to Tokyo, I will use earplugs everyday, I will maybe even buy ear muffs that I will carry around.

 

[Apocalypse77]

@Krish230 Allright, Thank you for your answer

 

[Apocalypse77]

I am now thinking that I might go to Japan.

So what would be the best hearing protection to airplane?

Are earmuffs or noise cancelling headphones better?

What about earplugs, are normal foam earplugs the best or should I buy some earplugs from shop (I will use earplanes in take-off and landing but I don't think they will give a good protection)?

 

[Sean]

I am most scared about this thing. In the dream I wanted to leave the plane but I couldn't, it was so scary.



View attachment 13537

I would sit at the comfort class, so I would be sitting at the same line as the engines.



Yes, I was thinking that I would buy earplanes (earplugs that are designed to planes) I could use these at the take-off and landing. At the cruising altitude I would use normal earplugs and my Bose noise cancelling headphones.



Thank you for the tip I will make sure I will take this if I go.



Yes definitely, but I'm also worried about how loud the public will be.

I took many 22 -24 hours flights after I got T..no issue with spikes.
Make sure you wear ear plugs and ear muffs on top. You will be ok with taking flight.

 

[Apocalypse77]

So basically I will have a 10 hour flight next month. Tomorrow I have to decide will I go or stay home.

Is the airplane as loud as a passing car?

My ears are pretty sensitive so when a car passes me I sometimes even plug my ears because it sounds too loud. I have had 4 hour car trips and I always use earplugs and my Bose noise cancelling headphones and still I hear the car noises and after these 4 hour trips my ears are ringing louder for few days. I have read somewhere that airplanes are 83 dB and inside a car it is only 73 dB, so this got me thinking that there is no way I could go to an airplane because it is 2 times louder than sitting in a car and also the trip is 2 times longer.

What about you guys, what do you think? My doctor said I should definitely go, well he said that I will be okay when I take the MRI and well my t is louder (hopefully not a permanent spike).

Sorry for my bad English it is pretty late now and I will go to bed soon.
Good night

 

[Santiago Biagi]

I went on a 10 hour flight 1 month ago after 2 weeks onset. Had a great time and forgot i had T actually. You should go and buy really good ear plugs.

 

[Julien87]

Go
If you keep your ears plugged, you'll be fine.

What protection did you wear during the MRI?

 

[Dmitriy]

Just came back from abroad. 10+ hour flights. Had bit of cotton in ear and Bose noise cancelling head phones, and laptop full of shows and movies. Flying does not make T worse. Planes are pressurised. Get a few drinks at airport - just enought to get u melllow but not drunk. This helps to control anxiety, which is really the primary thing thats makes T worse.

Do not cancel your trip. U willbe ok.

 

[Alue]

Take a good pair of earmuffs for your flight. You'll be fine.

 

[Mike82]

I just came back from 12-days in Japan. Couldn't have had more fun if I tried.

Weirdly enough, the whole time I was over there I barely noticed my tinnitus (and mine is loud).

 

[Lex]

It depends on your H. How's your H?

I have both H and T. My T isn't a hindrance to flying but my H can be a challenge. So again, how's your H? Can you describe how you feel in buses, cars and trains?

 

[Apocalypse77]

You should go and buy really good ear plugs.

If I would go I would buy earplanes and use them when the plane take-offs and also on the landing. I don't think that they will give a good protection so I would buy another earplugs when we are at cruising altitude. Do normal foam earplugs wotk good?

 

[Apocalypse77]

Go
If you keep your ears plugged, you'll be fine.

What protection did you wear during the MRI?

In the MRI I used earplugs and headphones that they had. They also put small pillows to the side of the headphones so the noises that the MRI made did not sound so loud.

 

[Apocalypse77]

Just came back from abroad. 10+ hour flights. Had bit of cotton in ear and Bose noise cancelling head phones, and laptop full of shows and movies. Flying does not make T worse. Planes are pressurised. Get a few drinks at airport - just enought to get u melllow but not drunk. This helps to control anxiety, which is really the primary thing thats makes T worse.

I am 16, so I can't buy any drinks

 

[Apocalypse77]

Take a good pair of earmuffs for your flight. You'll be fine.

Earmuffs or noise cancelling headphones? Which gives you better protection.

 

[Apocalypse77]

I just came back from 12-days in Japan. Couldn't have had more fun if I tried.

We will go to Japan too! Is the city noisy? Did you use earplugs while walking in the streets?

 

[Tinker Bell]

Earmuffs or noise cancelling headphones? Which gives you better protection.

From what I've read on TT, earmuffs do a good job of blocking out higher frequencies while noise canceling headphones block lower, bass noises.

I hope I'm not mixing that up! Maybe bring both along (if you have them) and decide while on the flight.

 

[Alue]

Earmuffs or noise cancelling headphones? Which gives you better protection.

I use the peltor x5a for flights.

 

[Apocalypse77]

It depends on your H. How's your H?

I have both H and T. My T isn't a hindrance to flying but my H can be a challenge. So again, how's your H? Can you describe how you feel in buses, cars and trains?

In buses I always use double protection earplugs and noise cancelling headphones. (I take 20 minutes trip to my school and back home everyday). I hear the engine noise through my hearing protection pretty well but it does not make me uncomfortable. But if the bus is full and there are people talking I get stressed that my T might spike.

When I am in a car on long trips I use double protection. And always after these long car trips my T spikes for couple of days.

 

[Apocalypse77]

I use the peltor x5a for flights.

And they work great?