5 weeks ago, I got some water trapped in my ear whilst swimming (in a normal swimming pool). I have never had any ear problems before, but I suppose my ear had a fair amount of wax in them and the water was trapped behind it. I couldn't shift it, my ear was blocked and I went to the doctor 3 days later.
At this point, I knew nothing about ears and the doctor gave me some ear wax softening drops to put into my ears twice a day, with the idea that it would soften the wax, the wax would come out and the water would follow. Needless to say, that didn't happen. I am not sure why they did not irrigate it, instead of giving drops, because all the while I was taking drops, there was dirty water festering in my ear. From what I've subsequently read online, there is only one outcome when swimming pool water stays in the ear for a long time: a nasty infection.
Anyway over a week later, they irrigated it (I went back as the drops didn't help). As soon as they'd irrigated it, the blockage went and I could hear clearly again. But also, immediately, I knew that my ear wasn't right. The outer cartilidgey piece hurt.
So I went back another week later and was given some steriod/antibac drops.
After using these, my ear just got even worse.
Another week/10 days later, I have to go back again (the pain was terrible, at one time, I screamed, only at home!). This time, the person I saw says there is a nasty infection, gave me oral erythromycin and swabbed the infection.
I have taken 6 days of the erythromycin. The pain has decreased but not vanished and the ear is still not right. It isn't blocked at all, it is achey. The swab came back as pseudomonas.
I am starting to lose trust in the people I have seen (different one each time). I can't understand why they didn't unblock my ear, knowing that swimming pool water was festering. Would I look a fool if I asked for an ENT referral? (DH has private health ins with work, although we have not ever used it). Every time I go to the doc, I get a prescription for another thing that doesn't solve the problem and it is getting frustrating (and expensive!).
Thanks for any help and sorry for the essay.