AIBU for asking for emergency GP appointment for suspected ear infection?

[CobaltRose]

Hi everyone,

About a week ago I woke up deaf in my left ear. I'd had a cold a few days before so just assumed it was fluid build up. However, a week on and my hearing, if anything, is getting worse. I'm also getting a constant high pitched ringing in my left ear.

For the past couple of days I've been feeling a bit rough. Not horribly ill, but certainly not 100%. The ear itself doesn't hurt that much, but I've been getting headaches on the left side. I've also been getting bouts of nausea and loss of appetite, and I keep getting hot flushes/feeling sweaty. Also, today I noticed what looked to be puss/yellow fluid in my left ear (see attached picture).

The weird fluid was the trigger for me to suspect I might have an ear infection (never had one before in my whole 21 years of life) so I called my GP surgery. Unfortunately the next available non-urgent apppointment was NEXT Wednesday (21st), but I was told that if I felt I couldn't wait that long I could ring back tomorrow morning to get an emergency appointment.

Would you lovely people consider a suspected ear infection serious enough to warrant an emergency appointment? I certainly don't want to wait nine days to see my GP, but nor do I want to waste the doctor's precious emergency appointments.

Thanks!

It is not unknown to get sepsis and/or brain abscess with very bad ear infections. Best to get it looked at and see if it needs treatment, or just watching.

I had a double inner ear infection once. By the time I noticed it was too late for antibiotics to do any good (I noticed because I was deaf in both ears, couldn't stand up/walk due to vertigo and, couldn't lie down because it hurt. The doctor just said sorry, you will have to wait for it all to come out. And so it did

Oh god op I feel for you. I always end up on 2 weeks of abs as my infections get that bad my ears leak bloody liquid and pus. Defo push for an emergency app

Thanks again everyone! I think the worst thing about this is the horrible pressure in the side of my head. I feel like a balloon that's slowly being blown up and will eventually pop!

That bit is concerning...

You don't have to be on the brink of death to take an emergency appointment. You should take one if waiting for a non-emergency appointment is likely to make your condition worse (e.g. because you are likely to need prescription drugs now, you can't get them without an appointment/examination and your condition is deteriorating whilst you wait).

The system is fairly crap, but you didn't design it. I hope your GP sorts you out soon.

Haha Pringlecat, that is very true. I suppose if it were a true 'emergency' I'd be in A+E! But I don't want to risk leaving a possible ear infection to fester for nine days.

And you shouldn't wait 9 days. In an ideal world, you could have got a 'normal' appointment in a few days rather than having to agonise over taking an 'emergency' appointment. It's not really an 'emergency' appointment - it's a '9-days-is-clinically-too-damn-long' appointment.

Don't feel bad, take it, and get better soon!

My daughter gets this quite often it's caused by a little burst in her ear drum the fluid comes out and then she usually feels better 24ish hours later

Hope you get it sorted OP x

Just to echo everyone else - yes to the emergency appointment. I had an ear infection last year and it was taken very seriously by the GP - it probably depends a bit on the type of ear infection (mine was outer ear) but I was given strong painkillers and antibiotics. I had ignored a bit of a funny ear for a couple of weeks and ended up in horrible pain, loads of pus and deaf for weeks! I also felt generally unwell with high temp and loss of appetite - ear infections can be nasty!

Haha Miaow, I can't wait for my hearing to come back! I'll be like Aladdin. A whooole new woooorld....

I certainly remember the relief of being able to breathe properly again after a horrid six week long sinus infection. You really don't value your senses until you lose them

Hi everyone! Managed to get an emergency appointment for 9am. Verdict?

Labyrinthitis and a ruptured ear drum! Because it's a viral infection antibiotics will make no difference. He's recommended ibuprofen for the swelling/inflammation and plenty of rest and fluids.

Thanks everyone!

Good that you went. Don’t feel guilty about seeing the doctor when you are ill! Hope you are feeling better soon.

Hope you're better soon.

Ring the dr and tell them the pharmacist told you to go to your dr if it didn’t clear up.

Sorry missed your post - hope you feel better soon.

Hope you feel better soon.