Ear infection agony please help

[Nakam]

I’’m in absolute agony with an ear infection, this is the second night of being woken from my sleep with horrendous pain.

My ear hurts so much it I touch it, it’s swollen, feels wet inside, leaking yellow liquid, is itchy and one of the worst pains I’ve experienced,

I was first given amoxicillin but no improvement after 4 days, yesterday nurse changed it to flucloxacillin. I asked about getting antibiotic or steroid ear drops and was told I can’t have any because my temp was 37.7 but everything I’m reading online says drops will work better than oral abs.

i feel like no one is listening to me and the pain is making me desperate. Please can someone help and give me some advice- shall I try GP again tomorrow or I’m even willing to pay online, I just need the pain to go!

Replying because I have only just recovered from an outer ear infection and it was absolute hell. It was at the point where I couldn't touch my ear, and I could also feel a lump.

After three days of it getting worse and worse and the pain being relentless (as well as the muffled hearing) I went to an ENT clinic and I was prescribed eardrops with an antibiotic and steroid. After 24 hours I could feel things were getting very slightly better, and after 72 hours the pain was much reduced. I was still getting the sharp stabbing pains, but nothing like the constant pain of before.

Long story short, having gone to the clinic last Thursday, today is the first day I feel normal, and my hearing is about 90% back.

I really hope the eardrops start to provide relief soon - during the worst of the pain it felt like my ear was never going to be normal again.

My deepest sympathy. I have lots of experience. I recall once mixing tramadol and diclofenac.

a whole garlic clove is the only thing I’ve found that works. And I’d suggest laying in the bad ear, with a towel sausaged up so your weight isn’t on it but allows it to drain the fluid.

I saw your update, don’t apply the ear drops straight down your ear canal, that’ll really hurt, dribble them down the side of it so they warm slightly.

I've has similar OP, outer and inner ear infection, the pain was horrendous. You have my sympathy. I hope the steroid drops are working and you are now getting some relief.

Have they swabbed it OP? I had a horrific ear infection last summer and it didn’t clear after 3 lots of ABs. Eventually they swabbed it and found it was a fungal infection and gave me the ear drop equivalent of canesten and it cleared up in a couple of days.

Another vote for making sure it isn't a fungal infection. I had a double antibacterial and fungal one last year, ended up at ent at hospital where they put a cotton wool widget in to keep drops down/make sure the drops went where they were needed. Prescribed cocodamol, cried at the three doctors in the room etc....it is absolutely awful and I hope you feel better soon.
Also cocodamol doesn't work on everyone! Who knew. Not me.

You said you've been seen and I hope it's ok, but if it happens again, can you afford a private doctor/ENT?
No, you shouldn't have to, but when you're in agony, who could blame you?

I feel for you earache is one of the worst pains. I had an ear infection recently I was trying everything to get rid of it couldn’t get an appointment so I went to the pharmacy who checked and prescribed me the antibiotic spray. Took a few goes but what a relief I got at bed with it. Xx

Pleased you have got thr spray.

Very surprised you didn't start out with them. I get a lot of ear infections (very narrow ear canal I have at leat 2 a year) and do not think I have had only oral antibiotics for it in 10 years. Last time I had one (in February) doctor gave me a spray and oral as she said it was so bocked in there she was not sure the spray would help to begin with. However in a few days it absolutely would.

Ouch to your perforated eardrum that is so miserable. As for comfort peronsally I find being more upright with the affected ear drooping downward towards a light pillow helps the most.

@menopausalmare i sympathize I had the same thing earlier this summer IN BOTH EARS Exactly the same except the fluid coming out of my right ea ear was clear. Right ear started off really itchy inside then really painful on a Wednesday morning followed by the left ear on the Saturday. Phoned NHS 111 on the Sat morning at 7am Took 13 and a half hours to call me back I didnt see the point of going to A&E waiting for HOURS into Sunday when i wouldnt be able to fill a prescription till Monday So thought i might as well wait until Monday morning and phone GP surgery. Luckily i changed surgeries two years ago to a really good one and got an app same day. I was prescribed Clarithromycin which worked.
GP told me it was due to the heat and humidity and now has the temperatures my flat gets up to on record.
Sorry you are suffering OP Its painful and shit and i hope it goes very soon

He wouldnt risk giving me ear drops because ear canal was so swollen on the right that he couldnt see my eardrum