June 18, 2024

by Dr. Plastic Picker

I can’t describe it any other way. There was a thunder storm of mucus in my left ear on both legs of our flight to Oregon. We are back on the farm after a year and a half. We own a large tree farm almost ranch up near the Cascades. I caught one of the worst colds of my life last week and had to call in sick for two days. It only equated to one day of sick leave, as I was only half days those days. But after working extra PE clinics and a Sunday call and just being around sick kids, at some point we all get sick. And I got sick. I thought I was better, and I certainly am from the fever and the body aches. But the mucus was intense in my left ear. And then on the ascent and descent from the airplane, the mucus decided to obey the laws of physics and responded to the ambient pressure changes. I had the most intense ear pain (otalgia) I had ever had on my plane trip. And then upon landing and not being able to hear out of my left ear, the mucus finally partially cleared and I could hear again. But honestly, the only way I can describe it – was it sounded like a thunder storm in my left ear. Twice I heard the thunder storm in my left ear, and suddenly I was able to hear again. It was such an odd experience.