To feel really fed up with pregnancy tinnitus and Bell's palsy?!

[peachweach]

I'm 37+5 weeks pregnant and haven't been feeling too good for the last few weeks, generally under the weather with ear pain and tinnitus that's got progressively worse and is keeping me up at night - all I can hear is my heartbeat and I feel absolutely knackered before the baby is even here!

Yesterday I was sent to the hospital by my GP after going to see him about the above and also as I had woken up with a swollen/not responding left side of my face and a numb left side of my tongue yesterday. Turns out an ear infection possibly from around the end of July has brought on the pain/tinnitus and has now developed into Bell's palsy. The left side of my face has little movement so I've got eye patches, I can't smile properly and have a numb left side of my tongue and lips, making it hard to eat and drink now too!

My heart rate was up with my blood pressure yesterday but after additional monitoring today they've both gone back down, though I have to go for extra monitoring each week now in case the Bell's palsy is pregnancy related as apparently it's quite commonly linked with high blood pressure/pre eclampsia in pregnancy, but thankfully the baby is fine, and luckily up until now we've not had to go into hospital for anything else. The hospital have been so good and thorough with checking baby and I over, which is really reassuring.

The doctors have given me antibiotics for the ear infection and steroids for the Bell's palsy (prescribed as I'm full term now so early labour isn't such an issue) which hopefully will all kick in soon.
Anyone have any idea of how long it might take for the medication to help the ear issues that are driving me up the wall?!?

Sorry to rant, I know there are people who have it a lot worse, just getting fed up of having literally 3 hours sleep a night with the ear pain and noise when I want to be stocking up on sleep before baby arrives!

I know I probably am BU in feeling so tired and fed up and just not what I want to be feeling at this point along.. but please be gentle with me! Any help or tips appreciated!

Whenever I've had antibiotics for ear infections it has helped pretty quickly (within 24 hours) for the pain and swelling to reduce- sometimes you can be deaf for a little while longer because it takes a while for the gunk to clear.

I used to be told to inhale steam to help unblock my ears- you could check if it is safe for you to do it?

Ohhh that sucks. Feel free to wallow as much as you want. The abs should help with the pain, but the steroids will take a bit longer to work. Make sure you take it realllly easy. You will need your strength for the birth. Get as much support as you can muster in place and put your feet up and sleep as much as possible.