Flying while congested

Richman said:
On another note, don't use lake water in your netti pot, lest your brain get eaten by brain-eating amoebas.
Yes, it's a thing...
Richman
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Lake water, hell, Rich. Neti Pots are placarded against city tap water, unless you run it through a very, very fine micron filter. Even for cleaning it, never mind making Neti Juice.

I don't know just how prevalent those nasty amoebas are, but this is biological Russian roulette. Why take ANY chance?
 
FloridaLarry said:
Lake water, hell, Rich. Neti Pots are placarded against city tap water, unless you run it through a very, very fine micron filter. Even for cleaning it, never mind making Neti Juice.

I don't know just how prevalent those nasty amoebas are, but this is biological Russian roulette. Why take ANY chance?
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The only thing I'll put through mine is distilled water and then it gets sterilized in the microwave.
 
Beefy McGee said:
1) You shouldn't fly congested. It sucks and we've all been there.

2) Here's what I do if it's not too bad. Not joking - a dab of Vick's Vaporub under each nostril helps a lot in an "in flight emergency" congested situation. Clears me right up.

Sudafed - real pseudoephedrine, not phenylephrine, for clearing up the congestion.

Maybe some Flonase or Nasacort if I still need some help getting cleared up for a flight.
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+ 1 for Vick's Vaporub. It opens my nose up like the Oroville dam!
 
As a pilot, (especially if you fly a pressurized aircraft) if you have a sinus blockage then you are, "truly sick."

If you're stuck in the unfortunate position of flying with a sinus blockage, and ATC asks for an expedited descent:

"Unable."


Just my 2 thoughts.
 
I will second others above. I used to have this problem fall and spring from allergies. I found that soon as feel it getting congested Flonase and sudafed work magic for me
 
bucksmith said:
I thought Afrin was on the no fly list?
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First result on Google says its approved, but then again when I consulted three different "professional" sources on a medical issue a year ago I got three different answers. So good luck ever getting anything set straight.
 
JordanD said:
First result on Google says its approved, but then again when I consulted three different "professional" sources on a medical issue a year ago I got three different answers. So good luck ever getting anything set straight.
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Afrin is not allowed- I still carry a bottle with me for emergency use though.
 
As a follow up, neti-pot with 7 drops of grapefruit seed extract + 2 bendaryl at night, then a 24 hour Claritin D (damn that's expensive stuff!) + a metric ton of water has got me on the road to recover. To clarify, I wasn't asking what to do to keep flying through it, but merely as a "you're already on the road and just need to make the go-home leg" kind of thing. I get the two are somewhat related, but when you don't have a way of replacing yourself while out, it's kind of all you're left with. Thanks for all the comments!
 
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