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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To amputate my own ear with a sushi knife?

47 replies

Welshmaenad · 27/07/2016 23:37

I have ear ache. Actually, no, I've had ear ache for five days, this is now beyond ear ache and is now ear burning pits of hell.

I've been trying to get a dr's spot for 2 days but all the emergency ones go before I can even get through. Apparently a nurse cannot look in my ear. Well they can but not for that reason, so I can't see a nurse.

WIBU to take a nice sharp knife to myself and just remove it. It would probably hurt less than lying here crying.

OP posts:
MooPointCowsOpinion · 27/07/2016 23:38

Call 111 and explain, and they will tell you your nearest out of hours clinic.

I feel for you, earache is horrible.

buckingfrolicks · 27/07/2016 23:40

oh you poor thing - ear ache is hell.

Assuming you've taken every pain killer in the house, and rested your ear in warm water, and it is still agony, then I have to say I'd go to A and E.

Original poster
Welshmaenad · 27/07/2016 23:41

I can't get to OOH, on my own with 2 kids in bed and to be honest doubt I'm safe to drive (may have overlapped my doses of rather strong co codamol)

Fucking ears. What are they even for?

OP posts:
ArmySal · 27/07/2016 23:44

Earache is frickin grim, sympathies.

CurbsideProphet · 27/07/2016 23:45

You poor thing. Ear ache is vile. Don't you have nurse practitioners at your GP surgery? I wouldn't go to A+E but I would call 111, as they might be able to offer you an appointment first thing ie. 7am, if you explain that you have been unable to get a GP appointment.

buckingfrolicks · 27/07/2016 23:45

hot water bottle up against your ear?

notquitegrownup2 · 27/07/2016 23:46

They are for holding spectacles in the right place so that you can see properly Smile

You poor soul. Try sleeping with the bad ear on a hot water bottle (wrapped in an old pillow case). It can be soothing and you may, with luck, find the heat helps some of the gunk escape.

Can you take your kids round to the GP at opening time tomorrow to grab one of the emergency appointments?

Just5minswithDacre · 27/07/2016 23:47

I had this last month. Pharmacist wouldn't sell me anything topical while I waited for hens teeth GP appt but did share the invaluable gem that ibuprofen can be taken alongside co-codamol quite safely.

That and hot flannels held on the ear stopped me from biting through my tongue.

stayathomegardener · 27/07/2016 23:53

Warm olive oil in the ear canal and sleep with ear on a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel.
Ear ache is misery, worse I think than toothache.
And ears are for nice earring displays obvs.

Bettercallsaul1 · 27/07/2016 23:55

You sound as if you have a severe ear infection, OP, which has been brewing for five days. It is obviously at the stage where painkillers are not controlling it and you sound in urgent need of antibiotics. I would phone your GP promptly tomorrow morning and ask for an emergency appointment. If you can't arrange an appointment anywhere, I wouldn't hesitate to go to A and E - just bundle up the children and get yourself there. Ear infections are not only agonising but it is possible for an infection in that area to spread to other parts of the head if not treated so don't feel guilty at going to A and E if all else fails - get help, in some form tomorrow!

Original poster
Welshmaenad · 27/07/2016 23:55

You lot are great. Adult sympathy, this is what I craved. Though my ten year old got up for a wee an hour or so ago and came and snuggled me for a bit whilst patting me gently and whispering "my poor Mummy" which basically crystallised for me why I had kids in the first place, love her heart.

Done hot flannel but impractical in bed. Cannot find hot water bottle for love or money. Have basically OD'd on script strength cocodamol and naproxen and hoping either sleep or death comes swiftly. Will be informing receptionist tomorrow that she gets me in front of a dr or I will perforate my own eardrum and wipe the pus on her computer screen. Not really. But it's tempting.

OP posts:
Enoughisenough9 · 28/07/2016 00:01

A flask of hot water and a bowl. A plastic bag under a towel on your pillow. And then the hot flannel.

Hope you get sorted in the morning, it's a dreadful pain.

pinotnoirismyjam · 28/07/2016 00:07

I used to suffer horribly with earaches as child (including perforated eardrum) and some warmed olive oil down the ear stoppered with a ball of cotton wool worked wonders.

TheDailyWail · 28/07/2016 00:08

Yes, good luck. Lots of sympathy from me. Earache and toothache are the worst pains ever!

Haudyerwheesht · 28/07/2016 00:09

Be careful with cocodamol. Paracetamol can be dangerous in even quite small amounts over the limits.

Earache is awful. Ive had success with a garlic clove in my ear before - no idea why and I'd probably not shove it right in like I did and dh had to fish it out.

Haudyerwheesht · 28/07/2016 00:10

Oh but I'm presuming it hasn't perforated - if it has don't put anything in

Just5minswithDacre · 28/07/2016 00:11

Earache is awful. Ive had success with a garlic clove in my ear before - no idea why and I'd probably not shove it right in like I did and dh had to fish it out.

Shock
WorraLiberty · 28/07/2016 00:12

Poor thing, sounds awful Sad

The only way I can get an emergency appointment here, is to stand outside the surgery and wait for it to open, because they normally deal with patients queueing first.

Is that possible?

cantthinkofabloodyname · 28/07/2016 00:14

I have used, in the past when no hot water bottle is available. Any refillable plastic bottle that can hold hot water, such as a fizzy drinks bottle will take the place of a hot water bottle

candykane25 · 28/07/2016 00:15

Earache is just awful. Does massage help?!open jaw wide, put finger behind ear and find spot where jaw meets skull and do little cross motions like an X and repeat all the way up behind the earlobe and open and shut jaw.
Do you have any of those useless hand warmers that are gel filled? Put one in a face cloth or a glove and sleep on it?

MsPavlichenko · 28/07/2016 00:18

When I was wee my dad used to fill a sock with salt then heat it (radiator then I suppose), maybe microwave now (slowly!). It retained heat for hours and he claimed was antiseptic too. Worth a try?

notapizzaeater · 28/07/2016 00:21

Id add an anti histamine to the pot, can help reduce the fluid taking some of the pressure off.

Italiangreyhound · 28/07/2016 00:22

You poor thing. How awful. Call 111, explain, go to emergency or whatever or go to surgery tomorrow and wait (noisily complaining) until seen. Earache is awfu.

Italiangreyhound · 28/07/2016 00:22

awful...

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 28/07/2016 00:23

Heat will help.
Warm up half a mug of salt in a pan (on it's own) and pour it into a thick sock, tie it up, then put this salt bag in a cloth or something to adjust the heat of it.
Now put it on your ear, it should be nice and warm/comfortably hot, not burning.

Where do you live? Surrey any chance? Maybe I could come look after your kids and u go to A&E? Could help u in the morning as well but will have to bring my 3 youngesr with me.
Ear ache is vile. I had loads when I was a kid, had mine syringed a dozen times and now have a tiny hearing loss and hyperacusis due to nerve damage as a result.
Really really sympathetising with you.

Let me know if I should jump in the car.