any ear infection remedies?

[elliejjtiny]

Poor DS1 has an ear infection but the gp can't see him until tomorrow. Any tips to manage the pain? He's on the max dose of paracetamol and ibuprofen but still in agony and groaning. He's also got yellow gunk coming out of his ear. I feel so sorry for him. He's 16 (but still my baby).

Is there a dispensing pharmacist near you? Our local 24/7 pharmacy has one for such emergencies and can prescribe antibiotics

Oh my god the pain of it...I used a hot water bottle against my ear which helped a bit. I hope he gets better soon!

I know it is hot but warmth on the ear can really help. I have a lifetime’s experience of ear infections and find a warm hot water bottle with a towel on it can be very soothing. Also, when he is next due painkillers, paracetamol with codeine is much stronger and sometimes necessary when the pain is as bad as this. I hope he is soon feeling much better.

I got them frequently at his age. I remember the pain well. A hot water bottle. Stagger the paracetamol and ibuprofen so you're alternating it every 2 hours. Mine always 'popped' at some point which hugely reduced the pain.

I'd take him to urgent care of he's seriously on that much pain and it's weeping.

Out of hours, definitely, heneeds antibiotics ASAP. Take hot water bottle and as a PP suggested oaracetamol with codeine, and brufen. Good luck

Thankyou. The hot water bottle is helping. I'm reluctant to go to out of hours because the gp receptionist said to only go there if he develops sepsis. Unfortunately the chemists round here close at 5:30.

Has he got a high temp? I think it's important to treat ear infections asap. Don't wait for sepsis. What ridiculous advice.

I think you need to write to the oractice manager about the receptionists advice.

If yellow gunk is coming out it's probably a slow perforation and wham one would have peaked to excruciating pain and then bang and a sodden yellow pillow.

Get him to the Dr tomorrow; there is no guarantee they will give AB's if he doesn't have a temp.

DS had shocking ears as a baby, infection after infection and then grommets did the trick for 8 years. Privately BTW- not available on the NHS.

Aged 9ish he had a perforated ear drum. It was horrific. NHS response "oh great, it's burst that will deal with the pain. It wept and hurts for days. Gp very reluctantly prescribed ABs and said an ENT referral was not necessary.

A few months later it burst again, when he was ski-ing in Austria. His housemaster took home straight to the Dr who referred immediately to an ENT specialist. His ear was cleaned and he was prescribed antibiotics with a follow up appointment after 24 hours.

Compare and Contrast.

When he got home I had him referred privately. The GP didn't think it was necessary but humoured me. The ENT specialist diagnosed him with a condition called choleastosis (sp) where there is a build up bone in the ear canal which causes the drum to grow back on the wonk. Every time it goes a bit more bone/calcification is laid down. It took a little grommet to make the drum grow straight. A couple of.more perforations and real damage would have occurred and his hearing may have been impacted long term. His paternal great grandad went stone deaf in his late 20s.

Don't be fobbed off op. Get the ABS and insist on a referral.

There should be a duty pharmacist open somewhere near you. There is a rota that is usually in pharmacy widows.
You'll be able to Google it.

You need to buy co-codamol OTC

Ear ache is bloody painful poor thing

Then antibiotics hopefully tomorrow and stronger pain killers

Use 2 pillows to raise his head. Just got over a 4 week long ear infection. The receptionists treated it as nothing. The pain was intense. Cocodimal 32/500g didn't really help either. I just used to lay propped up, take the painkillers and listen to Audible to distract me from the pain. I had 3 different lots of antibiotics. They did take a swab after the first lot had not worked, but by that time the infection was not showing up in the fluid anymore. So try to get a f2f appt and get a swab taken. Hope he feels better soon, so painful x

Thankyou. Waiting on a call back from the practice nurse now.

Been prescribed antibiotics, hope he will start to feel better soon.

Do you know the symptoms of sepsis?
It can be subtle and rapid.
I echo Lolly's post. Dangerous advice.

Thankyou. I know the signs of sepsis and I've had it before. DS is now on his 2nd day of antibiotics so hopefully we will see an improvement soon.

DD used to get ear infections every winter when she was younger, I did the salt sock remedy and it did seem to offer temporary relief (of course, I took her to the doctor for antibiotics too but they take a couple of days to kick in properly).

www.farmersalmanac.com/salt-sock-36032

is he a swimmer?
if yes and this infection is down to that he needs fpecial protective ear plugs in the future.

I've had so many ear infections and they are miserable. Two things that helped: First one not so pleasant but cut an onion in half, stick in a plastic cup and microwave till hot. Then hold cup suctiony tight over the ear and allow the hot onion vapour to soothe and clean the ear. It stinks but its anti viral and very soothing. The other thing to do for relief is use a hairdrye and blow lovely warm air over the ear. That was amazing
Ear ache is hideous. Your poor son.