Ear pain so bad I’m in floods of tears - what can I do?

[severeearache]

I’m sobbing with it, I’m a grown adult for God sake but never felt pain like it, I could scream - it’s absolute agony, throbbing and feels like it’s going to burst inside or something . I’ve taken ibuprofen and paramol (the dihydrocodeine one) and tried a heat pad . It’s all I can think about is how much agony I’m in .

I can’t swallow or talk - can’t open my mouth fully - it’s so sore .

Tried 111 and got a message saying they’re closed for maintenance until 5.30, I don’t know if I can cope until then, stupid as it sounds .

I’ve even tried blocking the ear with ear plugs to see if that helps in case it was the air getting in making it worse but that’s not helping at all .

I’m even dithering over going to A&E but that seems ridiculous for a sore ear surely they’ll laugh me out of the building, and I’m due to go on uni placement at 9 anyway …

If you are in that much pain you can't go to uni so call in sick, hope pain eases for you soon. Try and get a GP appointment or go to a walk in centre if you have one so someone can have a look.

I would listen to the doctor above!

Also a little warmed olive oil in your ear can soothe pain and it's anti-microbial? Or anti-bacterial or something like that!

Have you tried putting something ice cold under your jaw line to help numb the pain? The nerves are all connected so might work. If heat isn't working this would be what I'd do next.
When I had an abscess and felt like my tooth was going to explode this is the only thing that helped. I used a bottle of water frozen and wrapped in a tea towel.

I had an ear infection a few years ago, the pain was so incredible I was ready to saw my head off. Literally never known pain like it. It didn’t help that the pain started at night so I sat up for about 9 hours on my own rocking and crying in agony. I got an early appointment at the dr the next day (thank god) and went straight to the pharmacy where they let me jump the queue because they said I looked like I need it! 😂😂. I didn’t get any relief until my ear drum burst later that day and that was the sweetest relief in the world.

Hot water bottle on ear helps me. It is horrendous but hopefully will burst soon!

A&E for sure!!!

111 are saying nothing they can do, no fever so doubt there’s an infection

How do they know without looking at it?

I had a really bad ear infection several years ago, but didn't have a temperature. The GP had to give me oral and topical antibiotics it was so bad. I ended up with a perforated eardrum as well.

Ring your GP and insist that you get seen. I hope you feel better soon

I had exactly this a few years ago and the pain is like nothing on earth. If someone could have shot me in the head I would of welcomed it. It will be an ear infection behind the drum and the pressure comes in waves of excruciating pain. When it bursts there will be instant pain relief (and possibly also pus and blood as in my case). You need antibiotics ASAP. Please go to a&e or call your gp surgery ASAP.

You have my sympathy - I had an ear infection and was horrified at how painful it was. However, it did pass fairly quickly even without antibiotics. Good luck!

You need to be seen my a medical professional OP. A telephone algorithm doesn’t cut the mustard in situations like this. You need to be seen in person and properly checked out.

I’ve just had this this week- I’m still unwell. Lifetime of ear issues so am an unfortunate expert on this. I had exactly what you described Friday/Saturday last week until the eardrum burst early hours of Sunday morning. The relief was immediate although it did mean I then needed antibiotics. Despite me knowing exactly what it was and how it needed treating (not my first perforated eardrum) because it was the weekend my medical options were limited and I too ended up on the phone to 111 who are a useless shower of shite.

As PP said I’ve had hundreds of ear infections in my life, even the worst ones don’t always come with a fever. There will be posters who will say that I’m wrong for what I’m about to say, but I stand by this: to get help with something like this from 111 add a couple of days to how long you’ve been suffering and say you’ve got a fever of about 38.1/2. The fever is the magic word that will get you antibiotics. It will also mean you don’t have to physically go to A&E which is no place to be sat in the level of pain you’re in. Also that amount of pain will be an infection in your ear, especially with the pressure. Just phone back and say you’ve now got a fever and feel even worse.

Once you’ve got antibiotics and have had a day on them you can get a GP appointment or OOH and have someone look at it, but you need to cut to the chase on this one.

Meanwhile if there’s someone else in the house get them to go and get some solphadene max (over the counter) and some sudafed pressure and pain (also OTC). Use a warm hot water bottle to soothe the pain and put the telly on; this is no time to be alone with your thoughts. If the eardrum bursts you’ll know, don’t stick anything in your ear, put a clean towel down to soak up what comes out.

You have my absolute sympathy, it’s fucking terrible. Hope it eases soon.

Placement phoned me before I phoned them and said need to switch to teams so that’s fine, and not until 10 so can lie down for another hour or so . Pain settled slightly at 6ish, snd then felt a pop in my ear and since then it’s been discharging clear fluid, have now got vertigo too but a wee bit less painful.

Yup I agree, I was at the point of hitting my head just to try and get relief. Never felt pain like it, I’ve had broken bones and all sorts but bloody hell that was sore a couple of hours ago . Definitely not dental pain, it’s all in my ear and feels very swollen/hot to touch - swallowing hurts as it’s like causing the tubes to move iyswim . Can’t open jaw fully either unfortunately .

GP appt line opens at half 8 so will try ringing them, and will nip to pharmacy later on for more cocodamol . Taken last two just now and will take another ibuprofen at 10 ish .

@Wrenflutter

My husband is currently waiting to see an ear specialist because of bad ear pain that led to deafness in one ear. See a Doctor straight away or try specsavers if you can't see a doctor anytime soon. Try heat. Do you have a hand warmer\ hot water bottle you can put up against it? Put your head over a bowl of steam and take deep breaths.

Do not put hot on it!

Ice or cool pack only or you could pop the ear drum

Oh mate, I feel you, I used to get the worst earaches ever, felt like I'd happily hit my head against a wall to distract me from the pain in my ear. I would say the only things were helped was loads of pain killers, and a hot water bottle on the ear in q. If you start to feel better, still follow up with a doctors appt, you might have an infection or wax buildup that needs checking.

Seeing GP at 3.40 . He (GP) cracked up on phone as he said, ‘how’s your hearing’ and genuinely didn’t hear him and said, ‘sorry I missed that?’ … could hear him still laughing away to himself as I hung up . Said probably infection that burst the drum and will need antibiotic cover and cocodamol for a few days .

I’m getting difficulty opening my mouth now and swelling in my jaw, starting to think it’s worth nipping to A&E instead

Go to a&e now !

Phone your GP back - situation has changed

I wouldn't waste your time at A&E unless you know you'll be seen faster than your booked appointment at the GP. You may be sitting waiting for an hour or two just for assessment, which brings you to your in person appointment anyway.

Maybe ring back the GP surgery and ask if you can come in any earlier?

What is going on with our medical system that you have to suffer in agony until your bloody eardrum bursts.

I would go to hospital, hope you feel better soon.

@RedCarsGoFaster

I wouldn't waste your time at A&E unless you know you'll be seen faster than your booked appointment at the GP. You may be sitting waiting for an hour or two just for assessment, which brings you to your in person appointment anyway.

Maybe ring back the GP surgery and ask if you can come in any earlier?

Yes this, you will probably be seen sooner if you wait for the GP, and actually your GP will be more qualified than the person who see at ED unless you are seen by a specialised consultant which is highly unlikely. I absolutely sympathise though as I spent a week in hospital on IV antibiotics with ear pain, it was horrendous. Hope you get sorted soon.

Spoke to 111 again, they said hold on til GP as yep, likely to be waiting much longer in A&E . GP in an hour and a half . She said facial swelling probably actually a nerve that’s irritated causing a bit of tingling (facial nerve or something, I dunno, I’m a traineee speech therapist so I should know) and swallowing is eustschian tubes . I’m not feverish or anything thankfully just in incredible pain and dizzy wirh pain . Think I can probably have more ibuprofen at least . It’s just pressure in my head, it went away at 7ish but now back a hundred times worse and feels like head is going to explode .

Oh it sounds absolutely dreadful
Hope you get some relief soon

A and e not ear related but they were fantastic when I walked in to a and W at the end of my tether.