Ear infection ...please help!!!!

[Sandybeaches2020]

Please give me your ear ache remedies. Doctor gave me otomize ear spray but it was still getting worse and I developed a temperature etc so has given me oral antibiotics for a week (outer ear infection) as I am also immuno compromised. She said my ear canal is very swollen. It’s hurting infront of it around the tragus and round the back of my ear a bit too and when I lean on the back of my ear on that side etc.

Think I’m going to have to sleep in the chair tonight as even lying on my back puts too much pressure on it.

Been using co-codamol and ibuprofen but don’t think either have helped much. Using a cold flannel on my head to try and help cool
me down.

If anyone has any suggestions of what I can do, please let me know as I don’t know what to do and can’t seem to settle to anything .

Do not hesitate if it gets worse to go up a&e . I had an ear infection very similar . Got prescribed antibiotics and nothing was touching it . My ear was oozing and was fully blocked ended up with a really bad temperature , having convulsions and extreme pain in my head , went to a&e I was screaming in pain they kept me in and put me on morphine and ENT looked into it and put a gauze in my ear and IV antibiotics

Sorry - I know that it's hellish. I am just coming out of an ear infection myself. I get them regularly... they are horrible!

Otomize has worked for me this time around.

Silly question- but is it definitely a bacterial infection? The previous ear infection I had wasn't cured by any antibiotics because it turns out it was fungal. It took me going to a specialist ear clinic to get that diagnosis.... Once they had resolved what was causing it (and cleaned out my ear and prescribed antifungal medication) then the infection cleared up ASAP.

If the above doesn't apply then sorry for the waffle.

I would definitely recommend sleeping upright and staying regular on the painkillers.

Oh you have my sympathy. Bad ear infections are terrible. Neurofen Plus with Codeine was the only thing to help me with the pain and allowed me to sleep - I certainly knew when they wore off! The otomize spray I found to be a big help but if it's that far gone I don't think anything will help immediately. Make sure dr sends off a swab to make sure you're on the right antibiotics - last time I was on the wrong type and found out only after a weekend of suffering (without any painkillers as I was pregnant that time and determined not to even touch paracetamol!), by which time my body had done most of the work anyway. Good luck with the next couple of nights, I hope you are able to get the neurofen plus and it gives you some relief!

Thank you! They didn’t take a swab as no gunk or fluid coming out of my ear, the ear canal is just very swollen. The antibiotics they have given me are broad spectrum through so should cover a variety of things.

I don’t have any neurofen plus and won’t be able to get any tonight. I have regular ibuprofen and co-codamol. I also have some zapain but think they’re similar to co-codamol! Doe anyone know?

if cold doesn't work try heat.

Yep. A hot water bottle wrapped in a towel is your friend. Much sympathy OP - ear infections are really horrible.

I get this type of ear infection a lot and can say otomize has always worked a treat. You know when you first squirt down as you get a horrific stinging sensation and then it generally gets better.
I would definitely recommend seeing your gp again though as outer ear infections should generally be cleared up by this and sometimes antibiotics if really bad

@Basilandparsleyandmint

I get this type of ear infection a lot and can say otomize has always worked a treat. You know when you first squirt down as you get a horrific stinging sensation and then it generally gets better. I would definitely recommend seeing your gp again though as outer ear infections should generally be cleared up by this and sometimes antibiotics if really bad

I’ve been on the otomize for almost 2 days. Do you lie down after you spray it in to make sure it doesn’t come out? How quickly do you usually notice an improvement?

I have been put on oral antibiotics today too :)

Yes for a really bad one I do lie down for a few minutes and massage the under earlobe area. After a few days when the canal swelling has gone down you will feel the spray actually deep down if that makes sense.
Please though see a go if you are still in a lot of pain after a few day

Hope your pain has eased somewhat today OP. I usually find there's 1 or 2 really bad days before it starts to improve. You might need to lie on your side to get the otomize to stay in while it's still really swollen, less so as the swelling starts to subside (hopefully soon!).

I hope your ear got better quickly@Sandybeaches2020 ... I am experiencing exactly this today. I am going crazy with the pain. Sharp stabbing pains in my ears as well as clicking and swooshing sounds when I yawn etc. I have been given Otomize but it feels like I’m pouring liquid fire into my ear! Is this normal?

Try a hot ribena or orange squash. Some thing about the warm, acidic drink can help with ears.

Yy to a warm hot water bottle. And have you tried a Sudafed?

Thanks @DonLewis I have a hot water bottle, it does help a little. I’ll try a hot ribena, the doctor just suggested similar. I finally got a phone appointment with a dr and my husband is currently picking up a prescription for anti Biotics. ... it feels like I have a hot poker in my ear.

I sympathise..I've had this pain before which painkillers didn't touch.
The only thing they helped was a hot water bottle.

Zapain is just a branded version of co codamol but they might both be different strengths if you check the boxes.

He came back with co codamol which apparently I can have... I wasn’t sure as I’m pregnant. But apparently what I have is safe. Praying for sleep now. Thanks folks

So grateful to see this advice. I’m now in hospital with intravenous antibiotics too. Had Covid and first symptom was sore throat and tender throbbing ear but my ear improved and other Covid symptoms of nose congestion soon passed too. I felt ok but still positive and then boom at day 7 the most painful ear infection ever started, couldn’t sleep by that night and took every pain killer I could. Next morning called GP but couldn’t be seen as positive. Got Otomize ear spray with antibiotics and steroids in but it wasn’t touching it and my face was starting to swell next to ear and on my neck. Felt like I’d got a balloon full of liquid in my ear and the most excruciating pain. Wasn’t sure whether to persevere with Otomize or what but decided to call my GP in tears that afternoon before they closed for the evening. Got some 500mg Amoxicillin x 3 a day prescribed but again they couldn’t see me as positive. By the next day I was negative but the swelling and pain were even worse and could only open my mouth about an inch. It was absolute agony. Still wondered if I needed to persevere with antibiotics but my sister called and I was crying and she said I’m taking you to A&E. They said I needed urgent antibiotics infusion. Just had 3 different intravenous ones and one in the ear. Getting the plastic gauze in to open it up was the very worst pain but I knew needed. Had some pain relief and now ready for my first night in hospital. So please listen to your body and go to A&E if you need!