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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Posting here for traffic Have a perforated eardrum am in excruciating pain what would they do at A&E?

146 replies

doubleshotespresso · 04/04/2019 19:38

As above really....

GP prescribed antibiotics for this two and a half days ago, area is so swollen and painful I am unable to put head on a pillow, pain is not of this earth....

Any wise folks here have any idea what they might do at A&E if I were to go? Will they be able to stop the pain?

Feel like they need to take a Dyson to my ear but suspect it's going to take far more than this....

My God this hurts

OP posts:
Steamedbadger · 04/04/2019 21:35

I would try to get seen by a doctor if it was me. It may be that the antibiotics aren't helping. It's an unlikely scenario but I know somebody who ended up completely deaf from an untreated ear infection so that may be why I'm more inclined to be cautious.

Steamedbadger · 04/04/2019 21:36

OP also Flowers Hope you feel better soon

Seniorcitizen1 · 04/04/2019 21:47

Go to the nhs web site for guidance on what health issues patients should visit A&E for. Far mire informative and knowledgeable than MN. If you are going to make the decision yourself why come on here. Lengthy waiting times are in part due to people going to A&E with non-A&E conditions

cunningartificer · 04/04/2019 22:01

People going to A&E with extreme pain are not wasting anyone’s time. A supposedly burst eardrum with this much pain should be checked out.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 04/04/2019 22:09

Seniorcitizen if I listened to the likes of you I'd probably be dead. I went to A & E with stomach ache and vomiting and it's a good job I did as I had pancreatitis. No doubt you'd have have told me not to waste their time.

OP, I would definitely get it checked out. I hope you're feeling better soon Flowers

roundligament · 04/04/2019 22:11

I would go up to a&e to get some IV pain relief sorted and potentially a Dose of IV anti biotics
Have you been getting sick

IHateUncleJamie · 04/04/2019 22:12

@Seniorcitizen1 are you Scarletbitch by any chance? Or are there two of you who trawl through threads telling people they shouldn’t go to A&E? Hmm

CarolDanvers · 04/04/2019 22:22

Stop being such an absolute dick @Seniorcitizen1

Ofalltheginjoints · 04/04/2019 22:25

Do you have swelling behind your ear OP? I recently had an inner ear infection and my eardrum perforated but my GP sent me to the emergency ENT clinic as I had symptoms of mastoiditis (thankfully didn’t have it)

Keep trying 111, as previous posters have said once it has perforated the pressure should have eased

Original poster
doubleshotespresso · 04/04/2019 22:25

Seniorcitizen I had already visited the NHS site, I came here asking not whether or not to attend A&E, but if anybody here could let me know_ if I did choose to go what if anything they might be likely to do-.... namely would the pain be relieved?
And to further reiterate the level of pain I have been in and the significant escalation led me to feel it would be a valid trip... and seeing as this is an internet forum and I have never met you I will repeat I think I am best placed to make that call or not this evening. Thanks again

Thanks too for all responses and good wishes what a lovely lot you are

OP posts:
MadameGazelleIsMyHomegirl · 04/04/2019 22:26

I had this, and ended up in a and e. I was prescribed some drops as well as oral antibiotics which helped as even tho my ear was totally swollen shut, I managed to trickle a bit in. I also paid to see an ENT consultant privately about a week after the infection had started to calm down. He did microsuction several times over the course of a few weeks to gently remove all the gunk. He said so many people get repeat infections as you need to clear all the old pus, dead skin cells etc out otherwise the infection will just flare up again. Not cheap but worth EVERY PENNY to stop that happening again. (Nhs waiting list was several months)

Original poster
doubleshotespresso · 04/04/2019 22:30

MadameGazelle This sounds exactly what I need. This is the fourth time but by far the worst pain ever. I had a tooth abscess previously which made me suicidal but this seriously takes the cake!

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 04/04/2019 22:36

Have you any anti histamines in , they can he,p reduce the fluid, relieving the pain.

CrotchetyQuaver · 04/04/2019 22:44

I'd persevere with 111 and try and get advice or a prescription for something else tonight
You have my full sympathies, ear infections are the worst.

When I was in real trouble and the antibiotics weren't touching it, my GP prescribed AB ear drops which worked brilliantly and I started to feel better soon after. I don't know if that's an option with a perforated ear drum though?

junecat · 04/04/2019 22:50

I had a perforated ear drum a few years ago. The pain was horrendous and I vomited constantly. I was given amoxicillin and co-codomal and it took 10 days before the pain went. The doctor told me to absolutely not put cotton wool etc in my ears while they were healing. Hope you feel better soon xx

Nacreous · 04/04/2019 22:50

I've been to out of hours (which in some areas is triaged from a and e) with excruciating pain before. I needed codeine in amounts higher than you can get OTC. The pain came on suddenly and was truly horrific. I knew what it was, because I have IBS, so it was just a worse than normal bout.

Huge amounts of pain are a totally reasonable reason to be seen by a doctor.

Fruitbatdancer · 04/04/2019 22:53

I’ve had this! Twice! It’s bloody painful and more likely to happen again if it’s happened before! Sorry!
Although doc says is burst, actually with all the fluid it can re-seal itself if you will, is it funky or bloody yet? That when the good/ bad stuff comes out! So hang in there it may ‘blow’ in a bit then pain will really subside!
Best you can do pain relief over counter meds is nurofen plus (ibuprofen with cocodamol) every 4 hours and paracetamol every 4 hours, but 2 hours apart so every 2 hours u take something as long as it’s short term it should get you through. It’s bloody awful but will pass soon.
First time happened to me it was mid flight 😫 horrendous ended up in a danish doctors surgery!

Nameisthegame · 04/04/2019 22:55

I had the same thing at Christmas I found a hot towel or nappy (keeps the heat really well) made alt of difference the swelling went down quicker and it relieved some of the pain

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 04/04/2019 22:59

I would've thought antibiotics would've kicked on by now.

I think you should at least speak to someone tonight and extreme pain is certainly a criteria for A and E.

I don't think anyone here can say A and E won't do anything. They might well give antibiotics by IV, prescribe drops, pain killers etc depending on severity.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 04/04/2019 23:00

Definitely don't put cotton will anywhere near your ear.

Merryoldgoat · 04/04/2019 23:00

A hot towel helps too as well as a hot water bottle.

I had terrible ear problems as a child and have memories of sleeping with my ear on a HWB.

SparklyLeprechaun · 04/04/2019 23:04

Go to A&E for stronger pain relief, if nothing else. They might also change your antibiotics. The downside is you'll be in a waiting room for hours, in horrible pain.

Much sympathy, I get ear infections at least twice a year but only had a perforated eardrum once. And really, really don't put anything in your ear, no water, no drops, nothing, just don't touch it.

TildaTurnip · 04/04/2019 23:06

I too am now wary of leaving ear pain too long after it ended up infecting behind it and started to swell. I had to have double antibiotics to stop it spreading into the bone. Despite the awful pain, I thought it was wrong to get help for ‘just’ earache! I was told I was very wrong to think that.

Hope you get sorted soon. It’s miserable.

EKGEMS · 04/04/2019 23:12

Go to A&E and be assessed-you could have an antibiotic resistant infection or an infection the Rx doesn't cover (RN for 20+ years)

Lozz22 · 04/04/2019 23:14

Mine hurt like fuck prior to it bursting, also had severe tonsillitis at the time and couldn't even enjoy my bbq. Went home and shoved a hot water bottle on my ear and then a freezing cold gel pack and felt this popping sensation in my left ear. As soon as it burst the pain eased right off. I did panic slightly the next morning when blood and pus was leaking out. Made a drs appointment and told the Dr my brain was leaking out of my ear! Strong antibiotics and hair washes over the bath for 6 weeks whilst plugging my ear with Vaseline soaked cotton wool. Flew out to Florida just after it healed and was advised to take decongestant tablets prior to take off and landing which helped tremendously. Only issue I have now is I'm left partially deaf in that ear