Not sure who to ask...

Well let me clear up again that when I say "pressure" I do in fact have
no idea what Im talking about. Im not a scientist, Im not a pilot nor
have I significantly studied either. So I am just saying "pressure"
because I don't know what else to really call it all.

To answer Marks questions, when it does happen, it happens about 1
minute after the wheels leave the ground. There is a period in flight
(again, don't know what its called but I can feel it) about a minute
after take off when the plane feels like its dipping down and yet
flying up at the same time and its that time which causes the issue.
It feel a little like a negative-G feeling.

As to G's questions, when I say I can't see straight, I don't see
blackness, I see the same way I see as if you've just been spun around
a lot, meaning I can see everything, no bluriness, but nothing is
really staying put, kind of bouncing all over the place. The same thing
you'd see if you were squirming around...

I have never gotten a migraine before so I doubt its a migraine issue
(especially if it only comes out during the take off of a flight).

I totally do not blame you for thinking its a panic response, I know
anxiety (my father is a psychiatrist) and I've been aorund people with
psychological disorders. I also would know when I was suffrering from
one, and I too am very quick to dismiss most things as psychological,
but I can assure you this particular issue isn't for me. Within 4
months of 9/11 I took 16 flights, 4 in one day alone! Im telling you,
when it comes to flying, Im not anxious. Also, I am very familiar with
anxiety symptoms, they are much more general, they usually start
pre-boarding and last throughout the flight. Ive never heard of a
panic disorder thats lasts specifically 10 seconds, nothing longer
nothing shorter, and is immediately gone. No panic disorder can go
away that quickly without meds. Plus, and I know this is hard to
portray (nor do you have to believe me) butu when it happens, I
literally feel an outside force as oppose to anxiety which is way more
internal.

"reykjavik" wrote

There is a period in flight
(again, don't know what its called but I can feel it) about a minute
after take off when the plane feels like its dipping down and yet
flying up at the same time and its that time which causes the issue.
It feel a little like a negative-G feeling.

Sounds like the feeling when the flaps finish fully retracting, and the
plane momentarily dips, as it accelerates, and settles on a new angle of
attack. That is about when that occurs, and it is a bit of a strange
feeling, and could cause a bit of vertigo.

Also, it is about then that the cabin starts buildin pressure, to keep you
from feeling like you are way high in the atmosphere.

As to G's questions, when I say I can't see straight, I don't see
blackness, I see the same way I see as if you've just been spun around
a lot, meaning I can see everything, no bluriness, but nothing is
really staying put, kind of bouncing all over the place. The same thing
you'd see if you were squirming around...

The plane at some point changes its climb, from very steep to get the noise
away from the ground, to gaining speed, and climbing at a little slower
rate. If you get used to the very steep angle of climb, then all of a
sudden, it is not as steep, your mind may try to tell you that you are not
climbing, but your eyes are telling you that you are.

It always seems strange to me, when you look up the tube (the fuselage
inside) and try to figure out how steep the angle really is. It is hard to
resolve this factor to me. Perhaps that is part of your strange feeling,
but I really think the flaps retracting, and the following dip is the main
thing that is getting to you.
--
Jim in NC

I think thats what it is as well. What really surprises me is why Im
the only one who seems to have this problem....I look around the cabin
after this happens to me and I just see people lounging back....

oh well, I guess Im unique

Thnaks everyone for writing in!

Have you gotten laid lately.
Just a thought.
Seriously I would see a doctor and explain this to him. You can never be to
save.
"reykjavik" wrote in message
oups.com...
...but I figured this may be a good place to start. I've noticed
recently that during take-off I feel such an immense pressure against
my head and chest area that I literally can't even see straight. (its a

very strange feeling of helplessness that lasts maybe 10 seconds after
take off) I know it sounds crazy, but thats really the only way I can
describe.

I can assure you its not anxiety as I have flown literally hundreds of
times from big planes to small and have been all over the world. So
flying does not worry me. I also noticed that this symptom doesn't
occurr at all if I sit behind the wings so Im thinking it must have to
do with some sort of pressure issue.

My question is, why, after 25 years, did this pressure issue become an
issue now? Why is it better if I sit behind the wings? What is it?
Is it a dangerous issue? Why do I seem to be the only one with this
problem (I look around the cabin after I regain compsure and no one
looks like they were feeling the same effects)...

"reykjavik" wrote in message
ps.com...
I think thats what it is as well. What really surprises me is why Im
the only one who seems to have this problem....I look around the cabin
after this happens to me and I just see people lounging back....

oh well, I guess Im unique

Thnaks everyone for writing in!

Perhaps everyone else feels it, but expects to feel wierd stuff, so they
just ignore it?
--
Jim in NC

In article , says...


Sounds like the feeling when the flaps finish fully retracting, and the
plane momentarily dips, as it accelerates, and settles on a new angle of
attack. That is about when that occurs, and it is a bit of a strange
feeling, and could cause a bit of vertigo.

Also, it is about then that the cabin starts building pressure, to keep you
from feeling like you are way high in the atmosphere.

Good suggestion - however, the flap retraction is usually several minutes
into a flight - if the OP's suggestion that this event happens within the
first two minutes of flight is accurate, this would usually be a bit too early
for flap retraction. Also, retraction of the flaps is so well compensated in
today's airliners that it is not usually associated with a perceptible change
in attitude (though I admit you can feel "something" at this time). Finally,
while it is true that the pressurization cycle starts at this time, the
pressurization only compensates for the loss in pressure due to the climb. At
no point does the cabin pressure exceed the initial, ground-level pressure.

The visual perception of the tube "pointing upward" is an excellent
suggestion, and could be related to the OP's observation that his experience
is different if he is in the back of the tube.

As to G's questions, when I say I can't see straight, I don't see
blackness, I see the same way I see as if you've just been spun around
a lot, meaning I can see everything, no bluriness, but nothing is
really staying put, kind of bouncing all over the place. The same thing
you'd see if you were squirming around...

Well, I don't want to beat a dead horse. If you do not have headaches, I
suppose it is very uinlikely you are suffering from migraine. It's the visual
disturbances that made me wonder about that - migraine sufferers call this
"aura".
http://www.migraine-aura.org/EN/Clas...turbances.html


In ther end, it's probably some sort of vertigo or spatial disorientation, as
others here have suggested. It would certainly be worth visiting a doctor, if
only to rule out anything serious. And don't even think about getting a PPL!!
:-)

On 21 Jan 2006 20:17:58 -0800, "reykjavik"
wrote:

yeah see the issue is, I never have vertigo in any other instance. Ive
never had a problem with balance or dizziness, in fact I have rather
good balance. So this is either a vertigo issue that my inner ear is
sensitive to under extreme pressure instances, or something entirely
else, because outside of this very specific plane scenario, I never
have gotten that feeling before, or even a vertigo of a much milder
form. I can turn my head quickly a million times, get out of bed
quickly, stand up quickly etc... and I never get dizzy or have any
symptoms of anything else.

Its leading me to belive that after 25 years of major sinus infections
and awful allergies, my inner ear area may have gotten sensitive (or
possibly even scarred) and is now hyper sensitive to the pressure and
thus causes vertigo, or its a cardiac thing which is unlikely being
that I have no other symptoms and im 25, but hey, I've seen more
surprising things in my life (lets hope I don't tack this on to the
list).


Good Lord, you gave me vertigo just reading this.

Get your head up straight, focus on infinity, and go with the flow.

Mike Dweller