GP - is this OK?

[WoodenClock]

I have earache. It's not agony, but it's been an annoying nagging pain for several weeks now.

First I went for an ear exam with the nurse - lots of dried wax use olive oil for 2 weeks and come back.

2nd appointment wax was no better, carry on with drops 2 more weeks

3rd appointment - it needs clearing manually, you'll have to arrange irrigation privately. Which I did. Lots of wax removed, very painful at the time, but they could see no sign of infection. Wax fully cleared.

However, I still have the same pain.

I filled in the econsult thing for GP explaining as above and got a call from a receptionist "so do you think you've got an ear infection? I can arrange antibiotics"

1. I don't know. How would I know? I've never had an ear infection, my understanding is that they're really very painful indeed, if so, that's not what I have.

1. I thought antibiotics were supposed to be used sparingly, but apparently they were to be prescribed to me without anyone, let alone a doctor, knowing if I had an infection or not.

So now I have a telephone appointment with a nurse practitioner in a week's time. Is there anything she can do by telephone?

Is this how things are now, or is something wrong here.

I'm no expert, but I would be unwilling to take antibiotics unless someone had actually looked in my damn ears and found definite signs of a problem. Do you have any other symptoms, eg temperature?
I had the opposite problem a few years ago when I had agonising earache that the Dr would not prescribe anything for, told me it would resolve itself. Sympathies for you because it is awful.

Buy some EarCalm spray and see if that helps.

If no discharge, fever or hearing loss it’s unlikely to be a bacterial infection requiring antibiotics.

Worth trying the spray until you speak to the nurse.

I would want to see you to examine you. Do you have any other symptoms like hearing reduction or ringing in your ear? Any itchiness in the ear or discharge? Any pain behind the ear? Any glands up? Any pain in your teeth or dental issues? (Sometimes ear pain can be referred pain from dental causes)
It’s most likely just some local inflammation in the ear canal you might need some topical treatment for it.

The only other "symptom" is more frequent dizzy spells, that feeling of having stood up too quickly, but I've always had very low blood pressure and been a bit prone to dizziness so that's probably unrelated.

Yes, I'd expect to be examined, but the receptionist was going to arrange medication without anyone doing that and now I have a telephone appointment, which seems a bit pointless if they can't look at my ear

Could it be your tooth? Sounds unlikely I know but my partner was in agony with what he said was his ear for weeks in a very similar situation. Same as you, was told wax, got drops, got the wax removed and the pain was still there. Turned out to be a cracked wisdom tooth coming through wrong

The pain is at the base of my ear, that sort of hollow spot where your fingers sit if you press behind your ear iyswim

I don't think it's tooth related, I had a check up not long ago.

For what it's worth - I don't think earwax removal is usually painful on its own, so that seems odd to me.

I had it done once due to hearing loss and quite a bit of wax came out but it was not at all painful, perhaps a bit tickly but not painful.

If I didn't feel I was getting anywhere with my GP I would be tempted to phone 111 at this point because at least then you'll get a further opinion on it.

I know what you mean it does seem like it is something that needs actually looking at not just prescribing antibiotics without any consultation first

I would not be willing to take antibiotics without someone examining my ear and my throat. Your symptoms also sound a bit protracted for an ear infection.

I’d have a chat with a pharmacist in the meantime they can probably give you some drops/spray for it. It’s unlikely you’ll need oral antibiotics for this unless it worsens. Then when you speak to someone if you’ve tried something topical and it hasn’t worked hopefully they’ll arrange to examine you. Acetic acid (‘ear calm’ as mentioned above) is a good one to try first

So I spoke to the nurse practitioner, apparently it's common to need antibiotics after irrigation, so that's what I have without anyone examining me.