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 …

The specific on I got on Amazon isn’t there anymore because I’ve had it for years. If you just look for digital otoscope you get a bunch of hits and price points. They make much better ones today than my old one.

I just wish my old one would break so I could justify buying a new one with a better camera.

yes but what is it like an oxometer goes on your finger and measures your oyxgen levels etc.

@Naughtynovembertree it's a camera that goes inside the ear to look for infections

Wow ok, and it specifically looks for them or do you need to know how to interpret photos

Poking around inside your ear without training or knowing what you are looking for is not recommended, you can cause infection or perforated your eardrum

Hope you're feeling better OP. I'm also in similar pain, and having perforated my eardrum a few years ago, I have a horrible feeling it's happening again . Fingers crossed my GP will see me tomorrow

I accidentally ruptured my own eardrum once by holding my nose and blowing. The room turned upside down but it was instant relief. My hearing in that ear isn't very good now so I don't think I'd recommend it.

Couldn’t get the drops for love nor money, went to five pharmacies each of which shook their head and said don’t stock and be a week to order in (dexamethasone and ciprofloxacin) . So in same boat again . Fell asleep and then young sister kindly rang me at 10 and woke me up, so feeling a bit back to square 1 just now .

By the time I’d gone to pharmacy 5 it was past 6, so thought as well as go home and try sleep it off …

I feel so sorry op . I used to get infections and the building up to the drum perforation was horrible. After that it generally calmed down but had stuff leaking for days. As an adult it rarely bursts but is agony. Hope you're better soon

i'm so sorry i wish you better. Here's a to hug to sleep. Phone dispensary in the morning and ask them if you can get the meds through them as a matter of priority. This is serious.

Waiting on GP ringing to see if they can give me oral antibiotics and stronger analgesia . NHS24 said a bit concerned about mastoiditis now as I said whole left side of my face is in agony . Hopefully GP phones before too long .

Well done. You have all my sympathy. Any pain connected with your head is inescapable.

Something this close to your brain must be treated immediately. If the GP doesn't call back.

Ring 999.

Just being told nothing anyone can do, they said because I’ve had full dose of pain relief I can’t have any more - they don’t prescribe opiates without paracetomal, and they won’t prescribe oral antibiotics - said to try more chemists tomorrow . Told nurse practitioner I’ve been crying in pain now for 24 hours and can’t swallow for it - she said to try gargling cooled boiled water . I’m dithering over just going to A&E (which is just across the street) and telling them I’m desperate but I’m worried they’ll think I’m drug seeking .

Go to A & E.

You have tried every other reasonable avenue. You need help with this now. The pus/mastoid is concerning.

You need antibiotics now. The hospital has a pharmacy.

Go to A and E. Just go. If I were near if pop you in my car myself. Can anyone go with you? Always helps to have an advocate / witness.

This level of pain doesn't sound normal, and as I understand it, you've not received antibiotics and steroids yet due to the ear drops not being available, which means that if it is bacterial, then its continuing unchecked right now. Go go go.

The pain relief won;t touch the sides if you don;t have the anitbiotics. When I had my sinus/dental jaw lock pain the anaesthetic was at the legal limit I could feel everything. They told me at the surgery it's because the infection needs to be treated with antibiotics. At that point I had taken 88 ibuprofen which is terrible and the dentist was worried I would rupture my stomach. GP gave me Omeprazole.

It was the antibiotics that worked. You must tell them everything you have spoken about and the fact that it is growing.

This is not about pain relief this is about infection control.

Once you get the antibiotics the pain will reduce you will get sleep and relief.

My ears drums have burst three times from infections and not once did I have a temperature. Is there also a chance you pushed some wax into your ear? Did you use a cotton bud recently? I stuck my finger in my ear during a shower when the wax had softened and accidently pushed it against my ear drum and had to get it removed before the pain went.

Oh I hope you can get seen, this sounds awful for you.

So sorry OP, when my Mum died I started grinding my teeth (bruxism) and if I've had a bad night of it I have similar excruciating ear and jaw pain.

A warm hot water bottle used to help. I hope you get the pain relief you need soon you poor thing.

You must go to a and e. I had a Quinsy and the dr and nurse told me I was very lucky that I came in when I did after nhs told me I didn't need to and my OH thought I was being dramatic. A perforated eardrum is aging, please go, the pain is effecting your decision making here!

For the love, just go to A&E!!

You're not getting better, and you're getting worse, you're not getting the treatment you need and the treatment you do have isn't covering the pain: I think you should go to A&E. Take your phone charger/a warm jumper in case you're waiting for a bit.

Just waiting on an Uber now