Blood and ear infection

[Cobblersandhogwash]

Soz about grimness but I'm on antibiotics for an ear infection.

I got a load of sea water trapped in my left ear on holiday.

Started antibiotics yesterday to treat the beautiful infection that's now lodged in there.

But whilst my ear doesn't feel quite like it's going to explode, it's now seeping blood. Bright red fresh blood.

Should I be concerned?

It feels like the infection has started to recede as I don't have a temperature anymore and it doesn't hurt quite as much.

I would phone GP

I would also phone GP, or speak to 111.

I would phone 111...

As a first aider blood from ears would be a 999 after an accident...but you haven't had an accident so would call 111 for advice as blood from ear isn't a good sign in any case.

I had this and it was a perforated eardrum caused by the infection. Speak to GP or practice nurse.

How are you, Cobblers?

Hallo. After a terrible night I went back to GP this am. It was a different doctor to the last.

She said my ear was a "mess" inside and a nasty infection.

She prescribed different antibiotics, said I must take painkillers to help reduce the inflammation.

She said the last antibiotics wouldn't have dealt with the inner ear infection. They were more for the swelling in the outer ear.

That doesn't make sense to me. Why would a GP prescribe a drug that wouldn't clear the inner ear of infection?

I'm really hoping this new drug kicks the infection to the kerb. I can't hear anything in that ear and and I feel dreadful.

Thank you all so much for your advice.

Two days later. Still on the second course of antibiotics and still feeling really unwell. No relief of pressure in the ear and only a trickle of fluid and blood coming out.

If the abs haven't started to work by now you might need something stronger. I had a bastard of an ear infection last year that took three different abs to shift it. I also had a doc prescribe the wrong type at first. Make sure you're not using hot compresses too, you can use cold ones though which can help with the pain.

Yes. It's been 48 hours and dh says inside my ear looks as swollen and full of gunk as before.

This is boring.

Ask them for drops instead. I had recurrent ear infections for years, one lasted 8 months. My ENT consultant said oral antibiotics are useless for an outer ear infection. I always get prescribed Sofradex drops and they work a treat. If it doesn't clear with drops then request a referral to get your ear microsuctioned at ENT clinic.