Page 2 | To drive myself to A&e in now? Ear infection

Giveitarestlove · 2020-09-28T00:35:01+00:00

I've had a ear infection since Wednesday doctor prescribed me amoxicillin. My ear has got worse tonight has been the first night I can't sleep my ear and jaw is pulsating. I start my new job Tuesday I need it sorting i can't function with no sleep. I'm in so much pain [sad]

Suzi888 · 28/09/2020 03:01

I went with an ear infection and it was mastoiditis, infection can spread to the bone behind your ear which can result in that bone being cut out. I passed out from the pain. I was on intravenous antibiotics and morphine for 5 days. My ear drum burst and I was deaf in that ear for months...

Don’t listen to idiots on the internet with zero medical knowledge!

mxjones · 28/09/2020 03:02

Nobody is doubting that the op is in pain or that she should see somebody, they are correctly pointing out that a and e is not the right place but an OOH is.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 28/09/2020 03:03

@PatsyJStone

As others have said, it’s not an A or E issue, no matter how much pain you are in. Wait for your appointment in the morning.

It might be an A&E matter. I went to the out of hours GP with an ear infection and ended up being admitted for 4 days with pneumonia. The ear wasn’t healing as my body had bigger fish to fry.

BusterGonad · 28/09/2020 03:04

Don't the poster suggesting the Op to take pain killers think that the Op has already tried that! State the obvious! I would ignore the posters suggesting to wait until the morning, I've had loads of ear infections and if the whole side of your face is pulsating in pain I'd say you need stronger antibiotics and your infection is far worse than originally thought. I wouldn't risk my ear drum bursting just because half of mumsnet would rather visit the GP even if their head was hanging off.

Candodad · 28/09/2020 03:04

Really could be an A&E issue. Infections can cross to the blood stream and cause a little thing called sepsis.

WhatWouldYouDoWhatWouldJesusDo · 28/09/2020 03:07

Dp ended up with a massive, abscess in his ear as a result of an ear infection and him not wanting to bother the doctor with something that could wait. he's lucky he's still here.

If you're in agony and the pain is throbbing you've every right to go. But I'd ring first and make an appointment with out of hours.

Dancingwithdaftness · 28/09/2020 03:08

I'd definitely go to A&E. Pain is there for a reason. It's purpose is to alert us when something is wrong. They might give you oromorph or something strong for the pain. Obviously need different antibiotics soon too.

lovelilies · 28/09/2020 03:10

I'm an A and E nurse (sat waiting for patients right now!)
You're already on treatment and it's getting worse, you need seeing now if the pain is bad. That's what we are here for. Don't listen to the 'only if your head is hanging off' brigade.
Just go. Let us know how it goes (I'm here til 8am!)

blubberball · 28/09/2020 03:10

Hope you can get seen and get better OP. Ear infections are the worst.

lovelilies · 28/09/2020 03:14

And for the idiots saying it's not an A&E issue, no matter how much pain, wtf?
Of course severe pain is a reason to come.
It's an indication that something has gone wrong.
A sore knee you've had for 4 months and isn't getting worse or better, is not a reason to come (although plenty do).

caughtalightsneeze · 28/09/2020 03:15

I ended up in A&E a few months ago and one of my symptoms was severe pain (that wasn't the sole reason I went, there were other more scary issues) and I was told A&E don't give pain relief, I would have to book an appointment with my GP. They had even diagnosed me with something that the doctor said was one of the most painful conditions that they are aware of, but they wouldn't budge. It was horrific.

caughtalightsneeze · 28/09/2020 03:16

But personally I think being in unbearable pain is an emergency.

BusterGonad · 28/09/2020 03:26

Exactly Lovelillies

Yummymummy2020 · 28/09/2020 03:38

I agree, bad pain that pain killers won’t touch is an emergency and you would not be unreasonable to go to a and e for this. I don’t go to a and e lightly but from this description I would feel it was justified.

Lifeisabeach09 · 28/09/2020 03:56

Exactly what Lovelilies said.

Boomerwang · 28/09/2020 03:59

What do you imagine A&E will do?

I have a raging infection right this minute in my ear and I'm especially worried since I had a cholesteatoma removed early this year, followed by surgery to rebuild the destroyed area and plastic surgery to rebuild the bits they carved off my ear to fill in the hole. My surgeons did an amazing job and I don't want it ruined by another infection (which I got directly after an ear cleaning by my surgeon this thursday gone)

I'd never dream of walking into A&E where they'd have to source a doctor for me who in all likelihood would be quite annoyed that all I was there for was a prescription.

I've got to suck it up and wait until the phone lines open and try to get an appointment today.

Lifeisabeach09 · 28/09/2020 04:02

What do you imagine A&E will do?

Examination, strong pain relief, possibly scan and bloods if needed.

Boomerwang · 28/09/2020 04:05

I've just remembered when I was in my late teens I went to something called a Badger Clinic in Birmingham because I had a raging temperature of 40 degrees for three days in a row, and it was a Sunday. I thought that was grounds for seeking help. I was treated like an oddity and sent home with nothing. I felt like a right berk so I won't make that mistake again.

mxjones · 28/09/2020 04:05

@Suzi888

I went with an ear infection and it was mastoiditis, infection can spread to the bone behind your ear which can result in that bone being cut out. I passed out from the pain. I was on intravenous antibiotics and morphine for 5 days. My ear drum burst and I was deaf in that ear for months...

Don’t listen to idiots on the internet with zero medical knowledge!

Yet you could also be an idiot with no medical knowledge, that's why the op should phone 111

BigBreastedMumma · 28/09/2020 04:07

I agree. If the ear drum burst, the worst that can happen is your ear bleeds. Dont panic. Get a docs apt this morning.

Ch0colatecake · 28/09/2020 04:24

Giveitarestlove You’ve probably perforated your ear drum, their is nothing you can take for that, it normally heal by itself.

SD1978 · 28/09/2020 04:28

Perforated ear drums are not an A&E issue- it's common with ear infections. But if the pain is severe, it may be reasonable to be seen overnight in OOH for stronger pain relief.

rorosemary · 28/09/2020 04:35

@Boomerwang

What do you imagine A&E will do?

I have a raging infection right this minute in my ear and I'm especially worried since I had a cholesteatoma removed early this year, followed by surgery to rebuild the destroyed area and plastic surgery to rebuild the bits they carved off my ear to fill in the hole. My surgeons did an amazing job and I don't want it ruined by another infection (which I got directly after an ear cleaning by my surgeon this thursday gone)

I'd never dream of walking into A&E where they'd have to source a doctor for me who in all likelihood would be quite annoyed that all I was there for was a prescription.

I've got to suck it up and wait until the phone lines open and try to get an appointment today.

Have a look if it's serious. Although rare, ear infections can turn serious. My uncle had one that burst into his brain. Almost killed the man.

Doginabandana · 28/09/2020 05:27

chOcolateCake. I don’t know if it’s usual but when my eardrum burst the relief from the searing pain was instantaneous. It was the night of pain leading up to it bursting that was the grim bit.

oopsiedaisy2 · 28/09/2020 05:46

I started with pain like this on 2nd sept and after 8 days of agony a doc finally saw me and took swabs , 8 days later for results and lots of pain relief /hot water bottles and tears and I finally got the right treatment. Ear pain is horrific and mastoiditis is also a concern. If it's that bad ring out of hours and if no joy then yes a and e .