To think I should get antibiotics ffs

[MarcieBluebell]

I never insist on antibiotics but this time I don't trust the doctors.

Over four months I've spoken to four different doctors all saying different things and none of them listen.

I got labrynthitis end of May. My ear was red and sore and first doc said it was viral. Fair enough. After two months I go to another doctor who's disinterested. Then symptoms get worse again. One doc says it's my ear crystals. Another says it's eustacian tube dysfunction.

The thing is I'm bulimic of 15 years and now the pressure of vomiting makes me gets very bad sinuses. My eyes pour with water and my nose burns and pours. In the summer I was trying to get vit D so spent a while sunbathing in the 30 degree heat plus I would sweat copious amounts during vomiting. I also wore ill fitting earplugs. My sinuses became blocked and I also injured my ear and then I get labrythitus.

Surely this could be bacterial if there was fluid and heat and ear damage. I'm scared I've done permanent damage by seeing docs who say it's just inflamed and not infected. How can they tell though? On google it says they can't? !

Aibu to just want antibiotics and not care about my resistance as it's ruining my life!

If they thought antibiotics would help i'm sure doctor's would prescribe them it's more about them not making a difference and building resistance unnecessarily. Are you getting help and support for your bulimia?

is labyrinthitis still a problem? That would not be treated with antibiotics.
What are your current symptoms?
I am afraid you have not explained them very clearly and if that’s also the case when you see the doctor that makes the consultation tricky.
I am sorry you have not felt well for months.

Doctors are quite good at prescribing antibiotics when they're needed but that doesn't mean there is nothing else you can request.

I would to back to your gp and say that you're still worried. Ask for a referral to the ENT (ear, nose and throat) department. I had issues with my voice for years that I was told was persistent laryngitis. It wasn't, I just needed a piece of scar tissue removed from my throat which they only saw when they stuck a camera down to see.

Also it's normal to sweat in 30 degree heat and it's normal to sweat when you're being sick for about to be sick. Are you receiving bulimia support?

If the doctor says it isn’t bacterial then it probably isn’t. But you aren’t giving enough information even if there were a gp kn this thread. I think you should focus on getting some support for your bulimia. It sounds as if this may resolve if you could get some help for that. You sound anxious.

*abeitlost
Symptoms are vertigo, nausea, spinning walls, ringing in ears, feeling like moving when still, fullness in ears

*blackcat yes I will push for a referal. I mentioned about heat and sweating as sinuses can get worse in extreme heat and bacteria can grow.

Think I need to see a specialist. Right typing not helping. I thought could but arrrrrr!

I agree with the other poster, ask for an ENT referral. Antibiotics is not the answer for four months of inflammed tissue. You might need some steroid ear drops BUT we don't know if your ear drums are perforated.

I hope you're getting help with your bulimia

The extreme heat and bacterial thing - drop that thought you're incorrect - very limited bacteria grows in heat it's more likely to die, BUT not like that as your body regulates its temp anyway .... please drop that idea it's skewed and extreme prolonged sun heat would damage your skin

It sounds more like inflammation - are you still vomiting? Perhaps some support to help with the bulimia would be more appropriate as it can have strong negative effects on your body

Vitamin D - yes sunshine, but you don't need to bask in huge heat either, this can be more damaging than good - exposed skin, such as face, arms etc most days if possible for around 20 mins if I recall from May to Sept in the U.K. will fill your vitamin D stores for winter

I’ve had similar symptoms to you, starting in July, going away for a bit then coming back in October and still going on now. I’m still waiting for my ENT specialist appointment. It’d be good for you to request this ASAP as you might have a bit of a wait. I think Labyrinthitis/ vestibular neuritis can last for ages unfortunately . I have an anti-dizziness medicine which helps a lot so you could ask your gp if that would be appropriate for you.

I think if you had a bacterial infection there would probably be other signs of your body fighting off an infection. Have you had a full blood test too?

If you suspect in infection In your ear you could ask the GP to swab it.

First step, get it swabbed.

Great minds

I would say it's not your sinuses that need attention but your eating disorder. Have you spoken to doctors regarding this? Your ears/sinuses will never improve if you keep vomiting which creates these problems.

BPPV has pretty much the same symptoms as you describe and that's definitely physical not infection so it could be that.
It can be brought on by a fall or other sudden movement which causes debris in your ear to dislodge (so possibly could be triggered by regular vomiting?)

I found this self-help exercise much more useful than the anti-sickness meds the GP gave me !

www.pennine-gp-training.co.uk/res/BPPV%20self%20rx%20PIL.pdf)

I’m very sorry to hear you’ve been unwell for so long. Sometimes it’s a good idea to write down your symptoms, duration of issues too. Ask for ENT referral as there could also be more damage to other areas such as throat/esophagus too. Please do talk with them about your bulimia in case anything could also be tied to that. Additionally, how are you with taking medication and the bulimia (ie, would you be throwing it up?) doctors will need to know so whatever medication can be given in a form that would be able to work. Wishing you well

Aibu to just want antibiotics and not care about my resistance as it's ruining my life!

FWIW, it's not you getting resistant - it's the bacteria getting resistant

I’ve got what you describe, and it’s Eustachian tube dysfunction and I’m attending ENT. Defo ask for a referral ASAP, I’ve been on waiting list since last December and only saw consultant a few weeks ago.

I agree on the heat thing - 30 degrees isn't extreme heat anyway (only to brits!) it's the normal summer temperature plenty of places.

Is there a way you can see the same doctor again, so they really do know how long the problem's been going on?

I agree that what you need is a referral, not anti-biotics.

My DH had episodes of labyrinthitis - unfortunately the viral infection can damage the sensory equipment in the vestibular system. This means that even after the viral infection has passed, the damage is still there. The vestibular system never recovers, but your brain learns to compensate. DH is still wobbly in the dark as his vision has helped to compensate for the sense of balance. If you have had the symptoms for months, you should be able to be referred for specialist physiotherapy, which will help to reduce them. Good luck!

Sounds like your ear problems are caused by the bulimia and won't get better until you can stop vomiting. Are you getting help with your bulimia at the moment? If not that might be a good place to start

I have Meniere's disease, which gives symptoms (tinnitus, spinning rooms etc) like those you describe.

There's no actual treatment, but I get betahistine for relief of the symptoms. It works a treat, and it might be worth asking if there's something like that you can have prescribed for you.

I feel for you though, I've had this for years and still get disorientated when I suddenly feel as though I'm on a small boat in a rough sea AND on a whirly fairground ride. I

You need to eat at least a clove of raw garlic a day for a week. It's a natural antiobotic and brilliant for sinus/ ear issues. Chop it up and swallow it down with water ! The stinky after effects a small price to pay for health. Steam Inhalations with Tea tree oil is also a natural antiobiotic. I get chronic sinusitis and these remedies work !

Symptoms are vertigo, nausea, spinning walls, ringing in ears, feeling like moving when still, fullness in ears

Are you taking any other medication? They could be side effects.

I had labrynthritis earlier this year and had to have a month off work due to the vertigo / nausea / other symptoms.
Antibiotics won’t help with those symptoms. Have they prescribed you anything else to help? I had cinnarizine (not sure on spelling) prescribed, it’s usually used for travel sickness but it helped alleviate my symptoms.

Antibiotics won’t do anything because it is likely it was a virus which triggered it.
Also heat doesn’t cause bacteria to grow. Heat kills certain bacteria which cause infection, that’s why your body develops a fever when you’re ill.
And you can have inflammation without an infection. I would ask to be referred to a specialist.

You've been bulimic for 15 years?? I'm fairly sure whatever is wrong must be partly related. The pressure of being sick when I'm ill always makes my eyes and ears feel sore and water so are you sure it's somehow not a by product of this? as above I really hope the GP is aware of your ED and you're getting help.