Different advice from pharmacist v 111 site - what to follow?

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

I have had some hearing loss and a feeling of blockage in one ear for some time now - probably about 12-18 mos. Periodically, I try olive oil or an otc remedy. Nothing really works. I try leaving it for a bit, etc. It's pretty constant and a nuisance but not painful.

A few days I thought this is silly, I need to sort this out. I'll ring the GP in the New Year. But I know they will ask me if I have tried an OTC remedy so I'll just give that one more go.

I started Otex drops 3 days ago. Previously they haven't done much one way or t'other, but this time, I woke up with earache today. This has got worse during the course of the day. It is not really bad I can engage with the children and do stuff - but it's making me feel uncomfortable and ratty.

I went to the pharmacy earlier and the pharmacist said I needed someone to look in my ear and I should ring 111. 111 line is jammed and it's dinner and bedtime so I did the online symptom checker that they direct you to instead. It says it is fine to take care of myself and not to seek further advice.

Does that sound right or should I persist? Could do without going to OOH on Christmas Eve......!

You've tried etc drops that havent worked. You've got earache. You need a doctor to examine your ear.

Yes but tonight, or can it wait till NY?

I know I should be asking 111 but cannot get thru!

Tbh I'd leave it and take some painkillers. If no fever or discharge then not much out of hours can do. Make a routine appointment with your doctor or nurse

Otex can be very irritating to the ear canal so stop using this, hopefully the soreness will quickly subside. The pharmacist is correct in that you do need someone to look in your ear, more so for the original problem but this does not sound urgent. If you have hearing loss, dizziness, discharge etc then yes you need reviewing sooner.

Go to see the nurse practitioner or GP in the new year to check your ears, it's likely just wax but someone needs to examine it and takes further information from you.
If your sure it's wax then the best thing is olive oil twice daily, it can take up to 6weeks to clear on its own, or you can buy an ear bulb for a few pounds and use after using oil for a couple of weeks but you do need to confirm it is just wax before you do this. No professional would mind doing this as you can't see inside your own ear!
Doesn't sound concerning though (I deal with ears all the time)

Thanks everyone and partic SIB ! So sorry to come back, but to be clear, I do have hearing loss. I cannot hear out of my right ear, hardly at all. The soreness feels like something is swollen or trapped in the ear, rather than "skin soreness" iyswim. I am worried it is infected but if no fever or discharge then no?

That is good news!

I have done olive oil for about a fortnight at a time more than once but if it needs 6w then maybe I will try that before seeing a nurse.

I used those drops and they made my ears hurt. Turns out I had a ton of wax. It all cleared up after I had them cleaned. I would still with olive oil

You have hearing loss, you need to see a doctor. I can’t believe you have let this go in unchecked for so long.

You should probably try for an appointment in urgent care to rule out the need for antibiotics.

Thanks. It has settled somewhat so unless it gets worse, I will leave till after Xmas.

Booboo, I know, but to be fair, it is almost impossible to get an appt at my GP and I have 3 small dc and work ft, and the weeks just pass by and there you go! I have tried ringing a couple of times for an appt but you get put on hold for so long, then it cuts out etc, and the "window" for appts exactly coincides with the school run so difficult. Will try in NY though!

If you've got hearing loss you need to see a doctor to see if you need antibiotics. If you can't get an appointment at your doctors then I would call 111. It's really hard to get an appointment at our doctors, often 4 weeks and that's no use if you have an infection. My DH had this and left with permanent hearing loss, he eventually saw a doctor in France (he's French) who gave him antibiotics and symptoms went but can't get back hearing he's lost.

If you put up with it for 12-18 months then another week isn't going to make much difference is it?

anxioussue, the point is that it had suddenly become painful where it wasn't before.

Anyhow it is a moot point now as 111 jammed still and that is the only way to access OOH appt, so there you are! I will try after xmas.