GP or just a virus?

[Persianpuss]

I've had mild earache for 2 weeks. Tried using some ear drops for ear wax from the pharmacy in case it was caused by wax build up but doesn't seem to have done anything.

Then for the past couple of days I've felt generally unwell, with a headache and sinus pressure, slightly sore throat, slightly nauseous and really tired. No temperature and tested negative for covid.

I assume it's just some kind of virus and I just need to wait it out? Wondering if I should see the GP to get my ears checked but I'm pretty sure they won't give antibiotics unless I have a raging infection (unlikely).

Is it worth joining the long phone queue at 8am to try to get a GP appointment?

Me personally, I wouldn’t. If there is no treatment they are likely to offer (and there probably isn’t), it wouldn’t be worth my time and energy.

I'd try something to help with sinuses and congestion. Nasal spray for colds or hayfever like Otrivine, steam inhalation with Vicks/ Olbas Oil, Sinus Rinse bottle with saline. All easily available from supermarket, pharmacy or Amazon.

My son had really bad ear with a virus, and the nasal spray relived it.

Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks, the weird thing is that I don't have any nasal congestion at all, my nose is clear and not running. Just have a frontal headache and pressure feeling around the sinuses.

Off to the GP, DH has just had this. Unfortunately no one can tell you if its infected until they look in your ear and the only person who will do that is the GP (DH did ask the pharmacy). He was also not sure to start with so left it a while to see if it would clear up on it's own. He left it as last time he'd had raging pain so it was more obvious.

He's had oral antibiotics, antibiotic drops and now antifungal drops to clear it up (we are another 3 weeks later). Ask them to take swab when you go as they didn't the first time as it turned out to be fungal not bacteria. But it's been making him miserable for weeks.

Thanks, did your DH have it in one ear or both? I assume if it's both ears it's more likely to be viral.

@Persianpuss his main symptoms was one ear, but he did have like you, headache, nasal congestion and sinuses pain. He initially thought it was part of whatever bug the kids had brought home. But as it didn't clear up and I got fed up of his complaining, he asked the pharmacy who said the GP was the only one who could check inside his ear canal.

He was also thinking initially ear wax problems as he's had them before. I do think it's worth getting checked out if it's been a couple of weeks though.

You don't get hay fever do you? Mines making me feel horrendous this year

I do but I get it mainly from Jan to April (tree pollen).