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 …

They said they want that abs specifically as said it’s swelling is the problem more than anything; said canal is all swollen which was putting pressure on drum and tubes to throat /nose too .

Slept an hour snd then woke up to alarm - but pain free just now at least . Going back to bed til 9 .

To be honest, I doubt drops would have touched it if it’s that bad. Oral antibiotics will definitely help. What have they given? Hopefully within a day or two things will begin to settle. But gosh you’ve been through the mill and I’m sorry primary care is so broken that it’s come to this.

Don’t put drops in if it’s burst! Hope you are feeling better soon.

Hope you are feeling better ear pain is so debilitating

How awful. Hope it eases today x

Are you taking ibuprofen? Anti inflammatories will take down the swelling (lifetime of ear infections, tinnitus and everything ENT related here)

@Beetlewing

Are you taking ibuprofen? Anti inflammatories will take down the swelling (lifetime of ear infections, tinnitus and everything ENT related here)

Naproxen is anti inflammatory which is what the OP has been given.

Naproxen helped to the point I slept for 4 hours, first time I’ve slept properly since Sunday night . GP surgery said they’re trying to find an alternative drops that chemist should actually stock . Pain down to about 4/10 this morning - ie I can open my mouth and bite down again. Hopefully worst of it is over now !!

Good news op, hope you're feeling 100% soon

Been prescribed otomize drops to pick up tomorrow morning (only reason for delay is I also need my repeat prescription, but they’re saying they won’t be able to do that tonight and will have to wait until tomorrow) . Ear is still throbbing away nicely … still not eating and drinking good . Hopefully the Otomize does the trick .

Why can't you pick up the prescriptions separately?

I've had optimise before. It worked really well. I've a history of ear infections too. The pain is horrendous and like you they couldn't see into my ears as they were so swollen. I was sent to ent as an emergency straight from the gp surgery and they ended up filling my ears with antibiotic cream and putting a wick in to slowly release whatever the medication was. As the swelling reduced the wick fell out. Apparently oral antibiotics are not effective for ear infections. It was a horrendous experience that I never want to repeat and I feel so sorry for you now. I felt such a baby crying over earache but the pain was immense. Hope you are the mend very soon.

That should have said otomize. Stupid autocorrect

@severeearache I've got the exact same thing at the moment, GP initially refused to see me, A&E wouldn't see me, eventually GP backed down. Had the same swelling etc, it's agony! If you can get the spray rather then drops it'll kick in really quick, I'm 2 days using them & the swelling is going down. Make sure you get plenty of rest, I found sleeping at an angle rally helpful for the pressure pain. Wishing you well.

I had this recently. Worse pain than miscarriage contractions and my Caesarean section. Couldn't believe how painful it was.

I got antibiotics quickly and the pain started to subside within about 10 hours. Thank god - I had my grandmother's funeral to attend that morning.

Utterly miserable 24 hours.

@severeearache I really feel for you but Otomize is brilliant stuff, although bizarrely it's actually eye drops. I had flu at the beginning of 2020 and following that I had 5 ear infections between March 20 - March 21. I've had Otomize every time and it starts working within 24 hours.

With my first ear infection, my ear was swollen shut so I was misdiagnosed and given oral antibiotics. They did bugger all and I woke up during the night in so much pain my body went into shock and I was shaking uncontrollably for hours. The relief when the Otomize starts to work is amazing. I hope you're feeling better soon.

I am sorry you are still suffering. I went deaf for several months and the consultant told me my ear was very inflamed.

I had to do a three parts hot/one part cold 6 drop lavender oil inhalation with a towel over my head for 15 minutes twice a day, to reduce the inflammation. Have you got any in the house? Might be worth a try.

Ear pain is the worst, hope you are on the mend soon.

Once you are feeling better, it might be a good idea to see an audiologist for micro suction, just google and put your postcode.

Otomize is fab stuff , anti inflammatory and steriod iirc. Works fast too.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor

Otomize is fab stuff , anti inflammatory and steriod iirc. Works fast too.

Fingers crossed - at the moment I’d happily cut the entire thing if I thought it would help . It’s bloody miserable . I’m stuck in a loop of taking painkillers at stupid times as well and naproxen not doing a thing, I’m even at the stage of wishing I could pop the eardrum myself as GP said that would get rid of the pain . Wondering if I put olive oil drops in if that would just soothe it a bit, it’s a horrendous sharp stabbing feeling that’s taking my breath away .

Only reason I couldn’t go up earlier is surgery is four miles away and no chemist in easy distance of surgery, so ends up costing a fortune in taxis … couodnt really afford to do the same run three times in as many days.

This is really grim op. You poor thing.

Poor OP this sounds dreadful

This is giving me horrible flashbacks, I had very similar a few years ago, remember just sitting in a cafe opposite the doctor crying with pain while I waited for it to open! Two lots of oral antibiotics didn't make a difference but got the spray one and it worked almost instantly. Apparently I have funny shaped ear canals which are prone to infection, had issues for years with wax blocking. Stopped going swimming and it improved! Anyway I hope you get the spray in the morning and it helps. Poor you.

Oh please don't put anything into your ear, if the eardrum is or does perforate the damage will be awful.

I am a veteran of ear infections, I had 11 before turning 1. My GP told me to phone for a script if I so much as get a cold.

I've woken up to dried blood all over my face from ear drums bursting, I've had the going insane with pain thing, all of it.

It's deeply unpleasant with the pain, the intensity, the deafness and the sense of imbalance. You will likely fully recover though.

But please don't put anything in your ear, don't even let shower water get in while washing your hair etc.

I don't know if you swim but I have always been told not to for four months following an infection.

That sharp strapping pain is what I had,it made me weep constantly for hours on end,it was relentless.

DO NOT USE OLIVE OIL it won't help and could possibly make it much worse.

It's painful because of the infection, infection needs spray and antibiotics not cooking ingredients.

Otomize is magic,have had to use it lots of times. I have bought some privately ,it's about £18 on line and I keep it just in case as the last infection was like yours and I can't stand the thought of that pain again and not being able to see a GP.