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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Ear ache - ever an emergency GP appt?

30 replies

RiverRunsRogue · 06/08/2017 20:08

Identifying, so name changed.

Three weeks ago I had head injury - night in hospital, told to go back if anything became worse. Went back 48 hours later with bleeding ear. Diagnosed with inner ear infection. A and E were lovely. Given antibiotics, and ear drops to take. Bleeding stopped and had dull ear pain. Has been coming and going and I've been feeling utterly miserable.
Have also had swollen glands, been unable to swallow, high temperature coming and going.

Pain tonight has become much worse - 8/10. I'm hot and one side of my head is banging. I'm wondering if it's spread.

AIBU to get an emergency GP appointment tomorrow? I feel pretty shit doing this bearing in mind I've already wrongly ended up in A and E (even though the staff told me it was the right thing to do). No more drops, antibiotic course finished, have been taken vitamins etc. and have had paracetamol and ibruprofen this evening.

OP posts:
VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 06/08/2017 20:12

Definitely an emergency. Your hearing is precious.

I've done an emergency appointment for an ear infection as my balance was all over the place and I kept vomiting.

Can you put an ice pack or bag of frozen peas etc where you have the pain?

notapizzaeater · 06/08/2017 20:14

Def see a doctor urgently - ear ache is terrible :-(

Seniorcitizen1 · 06/08/2017 20:14

Gp not A&E

PurpleDaisies · 06/08/2017 20:14

Ear pain is like no other. Definitely try an emergency appointment.

Moanyoldcow · 06/08/2017 20:16

Definitely emergency appointment at the doctor. Good luck - earache is awful :(

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 06/08/2017 20:16

Can you swallow now? Inability to swallow would be an A&E visit. I would be more inclined to go to A&E sooner rather than later given this appears to be linked to a head injury....

friedegs · 06/08/2017 20:17

Yes! Sympathies to you, ear pain is awful.

ALLthedinosaurs · 06/08/2017 20:19

Can you contact 111 and explain all to them? Get an out of hours appointment? It wouldn't surprise me if they want you to be seen. It sounds like you need go be.

TippyTinkleTrousers · 06/08/2017 20:21

Go.

My brother had an ear infection that was so deep inside that it nearly went into his brain. If it had, they said it could have caused meningitis.

They had to operate to sort it out, they had to remove the bones in his ears etc.

this was a long term infection, my point in telling you is that 'just' an ear infection can become serious so go and get it seen before it does.

It also seems strange that it's so closely linked with your head injury...

Original poster
RiverRunsRogue · 06/08/2017 20:22

Ok, thanks - have had ear ache before but it usually clears up by itself and doesnt land me in bed sobbing.
Ill try the GP in the morning.
Just feel like a massive dick as it's already on my notes that I went to A and E with something that turned out to be an ear infection.

OP posts:
Original poster
RiverRunsRogue · 06/08/2017 20:22

tippy sorry cross post. Thanks. I will go.

It's not linked to the head injury - it was just awful timing if that makes sense.

OP posts:
Tulipvase · 06/08/2017 20:23

I'm not a Dr and I helpfully can't remember the name but isn't there a potentially quite serious condition that can seem like ear ache/jaw pain?

Apologies if I'm talking rubbish. Why do these things always happen on the weekend? Do you have an OOH were you can see a Dr?

mineofuselessinformation · 06/08/2017 20:25

You shouldn't feel bad about going to A&E - I've had a chronic sinus infection and, later, glue ear which were incredibly painful at times.

Findingthisdifficult1234 · 06/08/2017 20:27

I would phone 111 and explain what has happened. Ear infections can be very serious and I expect you will be advised to go to A&E or be seen by an out of hours doctor asap.
I know someone who had an ear infection as a child which developed into Encephalitis. You need to be seen as soon as possible.
All the best OP.

babyinthacorner · 06/08/2017 20:27

OP don't ever worry about going to seek medical advice for an ear infection. I had an outer ear infection - so not even IN my ear! -a few months ago and it was horrendous. I ended up at the emergency out of hours dr and had 4 lots of antibiotics in total.
A friend also told me without going into too much detail that a friend of hers actually died from an outer ear infection, and it's true they can be fatal.
Bottom line - take your ears seriously and don't feel silly for going to get it checked out.
Get well soon x

Findingthisdifficult1234 · 06/08/2017 20:28

If you phone 111 it will make you feel more confident going to the hospital if they do advise you be seen. It will also be reassuring for you if you get to speak to a doctor on the phone.

Schroedingerscatagain · 06/08/2017 20:33

As a retired theatre nurse called in previously for acute mastoiditis patients I would say if this feels bad get seen urgently

It's rare but can go horribly wrong and become life endangering from a simple ear infection. Please at the very least ring nhs direct for assessment

Callmecordelia · 06/08/2017 20:37

See if you can get an emergency Drs appointment through 111. I had an ear infection a few years ago that was so severe it burst my ear drum from the inside. The blood spatters hit a wall several feet away. Horrific.

Hope you get it sorted OP, you're not wasting anyone's time. Flowers

ALLthedinosaurs · 06/08/2017 20:38

I'm not a Dr and I helpfully can't remember the name but isn't there a potentially quite serious condition that can seem like ear ache/jaw pain?

Do you mean mastoiditis? That's what I would be concerned about. Have you phoned 111 OP?

Original poster
RiverRunsRogue · 06/08/2017 20:42

Not called 111 yet, hadn't actually thought of that as it's Sunday night and it's only been the last two hours it's been really bad.

I may call or just give it another hour and then call. Just got a hot water bottle under a quilt on the worse side of my head now.

Thanks for all the posts and replies. I can actually book a GP appt online for first thing tomorrow rather than risk the walk in clinic so I am going to do that now.

OP posts:
Newmumtobabyno1 · 06/08/2017 20:43

100%. I always think of them as 'urgent' instead of emergency. So if you're unwell you book an urgent appointment... If you need a new lot of the pill/eczema cream/other non urgent treatment, you book a prebookable 'routine' appointment and usually get told the first available appt is 4 weeks away Hmm.

PeppaPigObsession · 06/08/2017 20:45

Please see your GP tomorrow.

A few months ago I ended up at OOH GP with really bad ear pain that I'd had for 10 days+ I got a telling off for not seeing the GP sooner. And it ended up taking three lots of Antibiotics to clear.

Please go, your GP will not think you're wasting their time.

ASDismynormality · 06/08/2017 20:47

Get an out of hours appointment tonight if poss. Sounds really painful and I doubt you will sleep tonight Flowers

Tulipvase · 06/08/2017 21:00

Thanks, Allthedinosaurs - that was what I was thinking of.

Hope you feel much better soon OP.

SoPassRemarkable · 06/08/2017 21:02

Yes.

I've had mastoiditis before and it was taken very seriously. Admitted, IV abx.