Ruptured eardrum - time off work

[Teebies]

I’ve got a perforated eardrum which is agony and has been leaking since Saturday. Need to keep on top of painkiller schedule to not feel like am being drilled in head. I took Friday off work when pain started, shit weekend spent in agony. I’ve got muffled hearing, pain when I don’t take meds and buzzing. How long is “usual” to take off work sick with this? I don’t want to go in when I am partially deaf, in pain and with cotton wool in ear to absorb gross leaking. But equally I don’t want work to think I’m malingering. I have an office job and the sort of boss who expects you back ASAP. Ha me anyone else had this and what was recovery like?

You have 7 days to self certify. A ruptured ear drum is no joke. Rest up

Ouch you poor thing. Mine perforated in February and I felt awful - in lots of pain, extremely high temp, leaking ear, felt weak and sick, very muffled hearing. Mine perforated on the Sunday, I took 3 days off and returned to work on Thursday, once the antibiotics were starting to kick in and (TMI) the drainage stopped. I probably could've done with an extra day and didn't feel totally better until about a week later. Full hearing returned within a month.

I hope you feel better soon.

It’s the general feeling of nausea I’m struggling with. I can also hear it when drainage starts to leak out. Very bizarre. I think mine went on friday at 3AM and I’m still feeling really shit. I know I’m not malingering but it’s just that macho bull shit environment that’s got me a bit worried.

Ugh, poor you - it’s a horrible thing to endure. I was off for 3 days with mine but it doesn’t sound as bad as yours. Stay at home until the leaking and pain stops - the muffled hearing will probably last a few weeks but you shouldn’t go in if you’re still in loads of pain. Get well soon

As you said in your OP, if you're in pain, feeling sick and can't hear, how useful and productive are you realistically going to be at work? Much better to rest up and heal and get back to normal quicker.

It's rubbish and you have my sympathy!

My husband had this. He was in agony. You have my sympathies op.

I've had this and it's just horrible. Muffled hearing, pain, voice in head. It's awful

Antibiotics from gp didn't clear mine. I paid to see a specialist and the drops he prescribed cleared up the discharge. But I still needed an op to repair rupture.

To be fair mine was prob a bad case. I'd say you'd prob need a week off if you don't have complications.

You have my empathy x

You’re unwell, your boss can be as annoyed as s/he likes, it’s totally reasonable to stay home when you’re feeling sick, dizzy and have fluid leaking from your ear! X

I had this last year and my gp automatically signed me off for 2 weeks. I worked in a noisy environment though. I have so much sympathy for you. It is a horrible thing and the pain is absolutely horrendous.

Thanks for these. Might go back to doc for a note to bolster my confidence in taking time to recover