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 …

Oh I feel for you. I’ve had bad infections and the pain was unbearable. I remember bursting into tears as a twenty something at the GPs My first antibiotic hadn’t worked. My GP was prescribing a different one and told me to come back in 10 days if it wasn’t getting better. I cried and said “ do you really think I'll be like this for 10 days”

Waiting for triage

Good! I was worried about you.

Don't be fobbed off you need antibiotics.

It is not your fault that you have tried 4 chemists and there are none of the prescription you have been written.

You cannot wait five days like they told you at the chemist.

You are concerned about the mastoid process and risk of sepsis.

You poor thing

Hopefully you'll be seen soon 🍵

You should have gone yesterday morning, don't piss about when you're in that sort of pain.

Been moved through to ENT dept, they said someone will be through shortly to examine and stuff

They’re very fast tonight

Okay so that's fab things are moving along then, phew!

Not sure where that random bowl of green soup is from what I posted earlier, was supposed to be a brew!

excellent news. well done. it;s hard when you are trying all the right channels and it just isn't there, worried about making a fuss and then all the pain and all on little/no sleep.

Glad triage sent you to ENT.

Glad you’re being seen.

here, have two more

@beachtosunset

here, have two more

Thank you , hopefully someone comes through soon. Sitting in a wee examination room thing .

Have got a funny swelling below my ear now so that mastoid rhinf might not be far off, hopefully not

@severeearache you’re a trooper,ast time I had an ear infection I had to fly back from the states, it was the most writhingly agonising pain I’ve ever experienced, it finally burst on the descent into Heathrow, the relief was bliss. I hope you get sorted with some antibiotics soon xx

@severeearache

Have got a funny swelling below my ear now so that mastoid rhinf might not be far off, hopefully not

tell them the rate of the spread and that maximum painkillers and the ibuprofen have not touched the sides.

Mastoid Process infections really need to be examined asap. It is behind your ear. That hard bumpy bone behind your ear/on skull.

It may not be that though! but it may be it has spread to jaw and sinuses.

Hopefully they will X ray you to get a clearer picture of what's going on. ( I was one iof the youngest in 1980 small children to get their tonsils and adenoids out as ear drum used to burst once a month. Tiny tubes. Ear wax on ear drum. The pain was horrific).

I totally get it.

But my mum always said 'Teddy will help make you feel better'

Still waiting on a doctor. Nurses are saying not much longer now . Desperate for pain relief .

What an ordeal. Hopefully nearly there and will be back in bad soon, feeling a bit better.

Ah I am sorry to hear you are still waiting. Hope you get that pain relief soon.

Still ‘just’ a middle ear infection, they said a pretty nasty one, they’re off in search of pain killers and antibiotics apparently . Swelling is lymph glands . Tonsils up as well . Day in bed tomorrow I think .

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

I notice quite a few posters resorted to paying for private treatment from a GP or pharmacist. Unfortunately I feel this is the end game for our current government. Sadly it will be those who cannot afford the cost of private treatment who will suffer most under this regime.

Hope you are feeling better soon OP

Got naproxen and cocodamol (same dose as what I’ve got at home) . Said if still screaming agony at 8 to ask GP for plain dihydrocodeine . Unfortunately them sticking the ear thing in seems to have angered it further but they said naproxen should kick in by 4am .

Did you get your antibiotics? It's really the only thing that's going to make any difference to pain

@severeearache

Got naproxen and cocodamol (same dose as what I’ve got at home) . Said if still screaming agony at 8 to ask GP for plain dihydrocodeine . Unfortunately them sticking the ear thing in seems to have angered it further but they said naproxen should kick in by 4am .

Naproxen is a strong anti inflammatory.

Glad they're hunting down anti biotics. That's the game changer.

@severeearache what a saga for you.

I had a similar experience recently: consultant prescribed post op antibiotics on community prescription, but no local pharmacy could supply them without a special order & considerable delay. Immensely frustrating when the NHS does not join up at the expense of the patient.

If only I could teleport you a feel-better soon all-healing teddy bear.

Hope the meds kick in soon & you get some quality sleep.

what antibx did they give you Op.
hope you are feeling better.
take it easy.
don't be alone.
or if so, get peeps to call you to check.
good luck.