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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:
AIBUtopickanyoldname · 05/04/2019 12:16

I’ve seen three or four threads on MN over the years where posters described having unusually heavy periods that were making them feel terrible yet they weren’t sure whether they should go to A&E or not.

In each of those threads the poster was eventually persuaded to go to A&E, either directly or via 111 advice, and in each case the poster had sepsis.

Telling people they shouldn’t go to A&E for sever pain that’s lasted several days is just massively irresponsible. Way more irresponsible than turning up at A&E for a stubbed toe.

QuestionableMouse · 05/04/2019 12:24

@Seniorcitizen1 you are so wrong I don't even know where to start. Severe, unexplained pain is a medical emergency. Those are the exact words an emergency consultant said to me last week.

iMatter · 05/04/2019 12:27

SeniorCitizen - it's not just about "targets" ffs.

The OP has been in pain for some considerable time and will be going to A&E later whether you keep banging on about the dictionary definition of A&E and repeating your son's comments about targets or not.

Please try and have some compassion for the poor OP.

There are many of us on this thread who wish her well and understand her need to get some help as a matter of urgency.

It's a shame you feel the need to berate someone in agony and who is clearly unwell.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 05/04/2019 12:38

There are many threads on MN that ask if they should go to A&E - they should go to nhs web site first for advice ir 111 not MN

I suppose at least that way they'll avoid people like you dishing out irresponsible 'advice'

AdmiralJaneway · 05/04/2019 14:29

For those suggesting that this is a waste of A&E time and resources - there have been known cases of untreated ear infections leading to death.

Besides such severe pain should always be seen to - go to A&E if it’s that bad.

SabineUndine · 05/04/2019 15:36

Hope you're doing a bit better, OP or at least seeing someone in A&E.

Comefromaway · 05/04/2019 15:41

Usually when it perforates you get releif from the pain.

I had a burst ear drum last November (it never really healed.) Antiobiotics didn't work and the Dr took a swab. It turned out that it was a fungal infection which is quite difficult to treat as antibiotics don't work. You have to use canestan drops but drops irritate a burst ear drum. Total nightmare and I have been left with tinnitus and the oss of some frequencies.

For the pain before mine burst I alternated paracetamol and ibopfofen (you can take twice as many painkillers this way)

mrsm43s · 05/04/2019 16:13

I had a burst eardrum and it was excruciating... until the point it actually burst, and the pain instantly subsided. It was the pressure behind the eardrum that was the problem, and once all the pus could escape, it felt fine. Lost my hearing in that ear until the eardrum repaired itself, which took several weeks. Thankfully no long term issues, though.

Original poster
doubleshotespresso · 05/04/2019 21:47

Hello, well apologies to Seniorcitizen! I guess I messed up your sons' targets this afternoon/evening, I have just returned from A&E!

Doctor could not have been kinder and commented I SHOULD HAVE COME EARLIER, that pain and infection such as this does indeed warrant an emergency. Hope that clears things up nicely for you....

I have spent since 1.30 on a drip, had painkiller injections, steroid ear drops, had a "wick" inserted etc and it appears the infection and subsequent inflammation had reached levels so high my ear had almost sealed itself and further perforation had occurred, leading to the "pressure" problem and pain.

Got home with a referral to the ENT, and a combo of much stronger antibiotics, drops and monster painkillers. I am hopeful of sleep this evening.

Thanks so much to all who responded and your lovely kind wishes. I am beginning to feel slightly more human and less hot ;-)

Off to bed with my beloved sock filled with epsom salts soon....

OP posts:
RedPanda2 · 05/04/2019 21:56

How awful!! I hope you sleep tonight.

QuestionableMouse · 05/04/2019 22:01

So glad you've been seen! Hopefully it'll clear up quickly now.

nespressowoo · 05/04/2019 22:05

@Seniorcitizen1 fuck off will you. Severe pain IS an emergency! Speaking as an ex-A&E sister thank you very fucking much. We always triage them as need to be seen ASAP. Stop spouting nonsense.

OP - glad you're better. Sounds absolutely horrific you poor thing! Make sure you take the pain killers even if you don't think you need them - you will, trust me Thanks

YesQueen · 05/04/2019 22:13

Glad you got seen

I went to a&e three times with severe back pain. I had taken paracetamol, naproxen, diazepam and dihydrocodiene and had a pain score of 10/10. What else was I meant to do? I was right to go every time

RedDogsBeg · 05/04/2019 22:16

I'm guessing OP will wait 'till the twelfth of never for an apology from**@Seniorcitizen1**

Original poster
doubleshotespresso · 05/04/2019 22:22

Yes I'm glad I got seen don't think I had another night like that in me to be honest.

Went straight from school meeting and was lucky they didn't make me wait long at all....

Reddogs there's always one eh? I won't hold my breath!

OP posts:
mrsm43s · 05/04/2019 22:22

@doubleshotespresso

Don't be alarmed if you significantly lose hearing in that ear for a bit.

I did, but once the perforation had healed the hearing improved. Was practically fully deaf to start with, but hearing back up to +/- normal in a month/6 weeks ish.

RedDogsBeg · 05/04/2019 22:28

Indeed there is doubleshotespressoGrin. Anyhow, glad you went and were seen, hope that you have a much better night tonight and your recovery is swift. I am intrigued by the healing properties of the Epsom Salts sock though!

Ifartglitterybaubles · 05/04/2019 22:28

Feck off Seniorcitizen1, unless you* are a qualified HCP, with the OP in front of you to examine and diagnose you really should refrain from brainfarting all over the thread.

Handy tip, giving birth to a son who becomes a medic doesn't qualify you to advise anyone

@doublehotexpresso - glad you went back and had an actual Dr examine you, fingers crossed the infection subsides quickly.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/04/2019 22:30

I'm so glad you went, next time (hopefully there won't be one!) don't leave it so long Wink How long do they expect it to be until you see ENT?

NCBabyBoy · 05/04/2019 22:41

Love it, by seniorcitizen's logic you could be in labour but shouldn't go to A&E, as it isn't an accident and not a life-or-death situation as she'll no doubt point out women have been giving birth without medical support for thousands of years

aweedropofsancerre · 05/04/2019 22:46

Good call OP. My DD has a perforated ear drum and she was in agony however when it actually perforated the pain ceased and she just had fluid coming out and yellow gunk. All she needed was antibiotics . If she ended up in your situation we would have sought medical help too.... hope you start feeling better soon

LaPopie · 05/04/2019 22:48

No wonder it was so sore, sounds hideous (although am a bit of a sporner so intrigued by the 'wick').

Normally pain like that is your body telling you something really is wrong so I don't believe when it's that severe with your other symptoms you would every not go to A&E.

Hope you manage a decent sleep tonight and wake up with the medicine having helped settle it down

IHateUncleJamie · 05/04/2019 22:52

Phew! So glad you went, doubleshot. Flowers Well done. Hope you sleep and feel better soon. xx

Ilovemypantry · 06/04/2019 01:24

Seniorcitizen1
You Sir or Madam, don’t know what you are talking about.

doubleshotespresso
You absolutely did the right thing going to A&E. Hope you get better very soon 💐

BoreOfWhabylon · 06/04/2019 01:46

Glad you finally have got some treatment OP and hope you will soon be feeling better.

I'm a Triage Nurse Consultant and if I'd read your post earlier I, like other HCPs on the thread, would have had no hesitation in urging you to go to A&E.

Seniorcitizen1 your 'advice' is dangerous. You don't know enough to know what you don't know.