Narrative:

I experienced an occupational injury during a flight from mexico in may. I went to a medical facility paid for by my air carrier. Because of nature of his job I feel that the doctor should be well aware of the risks and liabilities involved in meeting the standards and the ability to perform the duties required by the FAA. I feel he was not. First of all the office was clearly understaffed. After waiting for almost 2 hours I was told the 'day' doctor (singular) was behind and was asked if I could I come back another day? I said I was in pain and had been waiting for some time and needed to see the doctor and that it was an occupational injury. They said I would have to wait for the 'night' doctor. His staff administered the test. He said it showed my ear was ok to fly. He said I should take a decongestant which should prevent my ear from blocking and that I did not need a prescription. I had already done that in the first place. I had stated that in my initial report to by my air carrier that I had taken a 24-hour decongestant in the morning the day it occurred as I often do when I am flying a lot. It was also stated that on the medical forms I filled out for the doctor who I guess missed that information? He said that he would take me off for the day and that I was able to fly tomorrow. I was in disbelief. My mind was racing (what about my ear pain?) but I could hardly speak. I was only able to repeat what he said; 'so you think I am fine to fly?' he said 'yes; I was fine to fly but I could come back if I still felt ill?' does that make any sense? If I am not ill how can I still feel ill? I was leaving when they called me back and handed me a note stating I had an acute upper respiratory infection but was cleared to fly the next day. I don't know how he determined that nor had he bothered to mention that part to me. I was raised by a physician and I think I know what should have taken place during an examine and it did not. I left not knowing what to do? I thought of going to visit a specialist but decided to see how I felt the next day. I awoke to find my ear was still blocked and was told by the occupational department (in truthfulness) that it would not matter what another doctor said because any claim made would be denied. I was also told by someone else at work (in confidentiality) not to go back to that facility. Since I can be discharged from my job by being ill according to my air carrier's policy and to comply with the doctor who said it was fine to fly. I went to work under duress. I wrote 2 reports clearly stating my concerns. At my air carrier we are told we must comply and grieve later. I don't know how that can fix an eardrum but I complied. I feel that by going to work ill it puts everyone at risk! I don't feel that my air carrier should be allowed to put me in that position. I feel it shows a complete disregard for safety on my air carrier's part. Before the trip I had spent a couple of days resting and hoping my ear would be fine to work. I called a doctor and specialist to ask for advice. She stated that my ear should not be crackling and my symptoms indicated that I had an imbalance in my eustachian tube. I told her I was afraid of being in trouble with my air carrier. She suggested that I use a nasal spay and that it 'may' help me to make it though the flight. I did everything asked of me. I took only enough decongestant to take on the way there because I was not given the necessary prescription required by customs in sydney! I used a nasal spray and an expectorant and an and ibuprofen to reduce pain and inflammation. My ears still blocked. I was not in pain this time and was able to perform my duties. It was however a major distraction; which I believe; is the number one cause of slide deployment. I don't how I could have pain in my ear if there was no problem? Or how I was told to go to work with an acute upper respiratory problem. I was told to take claritin-D and it would stop my ears from blocking when it clearly had not worked in the first place. My next flight was to sydney. It's a long and fatiguing flight for which we are not given adequate rest. My air carrier knows I am unable to bring decongestants into many countries including sydney. Why is their doctor so ill informed? Also on all international flights the purser is required to report any illnesses observed? Isn't an acute upper respiratory infection an illnesses and contagious? Since the doctor said I had an infection isn't it clearly irresponsible to have me fly around the world? I had just come from mexico! The president himself said to stay home. I am told I am responsible for being aware of what medication I cannot take while on duty including many common over the counter medications. Shouldn't I be able to expect the same requirements from the doctors that my air carrier recommends and employs. What is the FAA stance on what my responsibility is to the customs policies in australia? I was unfortunately put into the position of having to answer to a customs officer in sydney who did indeed ask me if I was ill? Should I have showed her my air carriers doctor's note that states that I am ill but that it's ok? Ultimately I spoke from the heart. I told her what my body tells me and what I told to my flying partners and what I told to my air carrier! I have an ear problem! I hope this is helpful in resolving future problems. My ear is slowly improving but I still have blockage in my right ear! I do not feel that my air carrier is concerned at all and do still fear repercussions from them for being ill.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Flight Attendant is dissatisfied with her company's requirement to visit a designated Doctor and with his diagnosis that it is OK to fly with an ear blockage.

Narrative: I experienced an occupational injury during a flight from Mexico in May. I went to a medical facility paid for by my air carrier. Because of nature of his job I feel that the Doctor should be well aware of the risks and liabilities involved in meeting the standards and the ability to perform the duties required by the FAA. I feel he was not. First of all the office was clearly understaffed. After waiting for almost 2 hours I was told the 'Day' Doctor (singular) was behind and was asked if I could I come back another day? I said I was in pain and had been waiting for some time and needed to see the Doctor and that it was an occupational injury. They said I would have to wait for the 'Night' Doctor. His staff administered the test. He said it showed my ear was ok to fly. He said I should take a decongestant which should prevent my ear from blocking and that I did not need a prescription. I had already done that in the first place. I had stated that in my initial report to by my air carrier that I had taken a 24-hour decongestant in the morning the day it occurred as I often do when I am flying a lot. It was also stated that on the medical forms I filled out for the Doctor who I guess missed that information? He said that he would take me off for the day and that I was able to fly tomorrow. I was in disbelief. My mind was racing (what about my ear pain?) but I could hardly speak. I was only able to repeat what he said; 'So you think I am fine to fly?' He said 'Yes; I was fine to fly but I could come back if I still felt ill?' Does that make any sense? If I am not ill how can I still feel ill? I was leaving when they called me back and handed me a note stating I had an acute upper respiratory infection but was cleared to fly the next day. I don't know how he determined that nor had he bothered to mention that part to me. I was raised by a physician and I think I know what should have taken place during an examine and it did not. I left not knowing what to do? I thought of going to visit a Specialist but decided to see how I felt the next day. I awoke to find my ear was still blocked and was told by the occupational department (in truthfulness) that it would not matter what another doctor said because any claim made would be denied. I was also told by someone else at work (in confidentiality) not to go back to that facility. Since I can be discharged from my job by being ill according to my air carrier's policy and to comply with the doctor who said it was fine to fly. I went to work under duress. I wrote 2 reports clearly stating my concerns. At my air carrier we are told we must comply and grieve later. I don't know how that can fix an eardrum but I complied. I feel that by going to work ill it puts everyone at risk! I don't feel that my air carrier should be allowed to put me in that position. I feel it shows a complete disregard for safety on my air carrier's part. Before the trip I had spent a couple of days resting and hoping my ear would be fine to work. I called a Doctor and Specialist to ask for advice. She stated that my ear should not be crackling and my symptoms indicated that I had an imbalance in my eustachian tube. I told her I was afraid of being in trouble with my air carrier. She suggested that I use a nasal spay and that it 'may' help me to make it though the flight. I did everything asked of me. I took only enough decongestant to take on the way there because I was not given the necessary prescription required by customs in Sydney! I used a nasal spray and an expectorant and an and ibuprofen to reduce pain and inflammation. My ears still blocked. I was not in pain this time and was able to perform my duties. It was however a major distraction; which I believe; is the number one cause of slide deployment. I don't how I could have pain in my ear if there was no problem? Or how I was told to go to work with an acute upper respiratory problem. I was told to take Claritin-D and it would stop my ears from blocking when it clearly had not worked in the first place. My next flight was to Sydney. It's a long and fatiguing flight for which we are not given adequate rest. My air carrier knows I am unable to bring decongestants into many countries including Sydney. Why is their Doctor so ill informed? Also on all international flights the Purser is required to report any illnesses observed? Isn't an acute upper respiratory infection an illnesses and contagious? Since the Doctor said I had an infection isn't it clearly irresponsible to have me fly around the world? I had just come from Mexico! The President himself said to stay home. I am told I am responsible for being aware of what medication I cannot take while on duty including many common over the counter medications. Shouldn't I be able to expect the same requirements from the Doctors that my air carrier recommends and employs. What is the FAA stance on what my responsibility is to the Customs policies in Australia? I was unfortunately put into the position of having to answer to a customs officer in Sydney who did indeed ask me if I was ill? Should I have showed her my air carriers Doctor's note that states that I am ill but that it's ok? Ultimately I spoke from the heart. I told her what my body tells me and what I told to my flying partners and what I told to my air carrier! I have an ear problem! I hope this is helpful in resolving future problems. My ear is slowly improving but I still have blockage in my right ear! I do not feel that my air carrier is concerned at all and do still fear repercussions from them for being ill.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.