Suspected ear infection, what can I do until I get a doc appt?

[BumPotato]

The right side of my face is swollen. When I swallow I have pain on the right side of my throat and right ear. The ear feels blocked. My nose isn't blocked though. I have difficulty controlling my temperature. Joint pain, bone pain and skin is sensitive. I didn't sleep the night before last, when the symptoms started. I've been up since 4 am, taken a very hot cup of tea and two nurofen...what else can I do?

Poor you!

You could try lying with the afflicted side on a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel. You can take paracetamol and aspirin in addition to nurofen, bu do take a careful note of wht yo took when so you don't get doses and safe timings wrong. Lemsip type hot drinks probably worth a shot (do check which painkillers are in them - thy're usually a full paracetamol dose).

Thanks. I'm going to try to sleep again now. If I don't manage I'll go downstairs for the hot water bottle and aspirin/paracetamol capsules I have.

I've woken up feeling much better, I might not bother with a doc appt now.

Glad you're feeling better. But I'm pretty sure you shouldn't take aspirin and ibuprofen/nurofen at the same time as they are all NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories). Paracetamol is okay, as it's a different type of drug.

I haven't mixed aspirin/nurofen. But have mixed nurofen/ibruprofen and paracetamol.

My ear still feels blocked but the pain has almost gone.

Neurofen and ibuprofen are the same thing so do to take more than 1600mg in a day.
Mose ear infections are viral, therefore don't need antibiotics. Most are also worse at night. Warm drinks too and lemsip (contains paracetamol) is good too.

Please still go to your GP. At least make the appointment. What will happen when the pain killers wear off and you are still suffering? An untreated ear infection can have long term consequences on your hearing.

I know about nurofen and ibruprofen. I haven't mixed them but I have taken both, just not at the same time.

I don't know the differences physically between a virus and an infection. I have swollen, tender glands under my ears/jaw though. I'm a real bundle of laughs

Sounds horrible. It's not really possible to tell whether it's a virus or bacterial infection without sending samples off to be tested at a lab.

But as poorly as you sound I'd personally be making a GP appointment asap.