Perforated Ear Drum

[Mummymonster]

Hello there, sorry if this has been covered before but....
DS (3yrs) managed to jam a cotton bud in his ear on Saturday morning, cry a lot and made it bleed, cue a trip to A&E. As the follow up appointment did not materialise as advised it was down to the GP who said she could see dried blood, a white mass which may be cotton wool and a void and some small bones of the inner ear.
Anybody else had this experience with their DKs? What can I expect etc etc. Will it get better and what should I do?
Follow up appointment now scheduled for Tuesday morning. However, I'd appreciate advice from MNers rather than just the Doctors
Thanks in advance

Normally these heal well on their own.Normally all that is done is the GP or nurse will just keep an eye on it!

I had a perforated ear drum as an adult, although not from jam a cotton bud in my ear, I hasten to aid. Boy, was it painful, but it healed well on it's on. I was given anti-biotics but think they were for the infection that caused it to perforate rather than the performation itself iyswim.

DH perforated one drum and tore the other whilst diving. Hospital sent him home and told him to take paracetamol. 2 days later, he was in hospital for three nights due to the infection in his ear as a result of his drums rupturing. If the original doc had given him antibiotics, it would have been alright. The infection was bad because he had burst them while diving. Keep an eye on DS's temperature and if you're in any doubt, take him back to the GP. Drums can heal and at worst, can be replaced. DH doesn't have any problems hearing, other than the selective deafness that he and all other blokes have..
Give ds a big hug.

He got re-admitted because he needed morphine to control the pain. He was in agony. Pain subside drastically when the infection was sorted out.

So what did they do at A&E? I would have thought they'd have removed any cotton wool from inside the ear.

Mummy monster do a search on it to find out more,my ds got that from an infection, you have to keep it dry for about 6 weeks to avoid infection and also water hurts if it gets into an 'open' ear and also his hearing will be affected in that ear untill it heals, go back to another gp if you are not happy as surely they should not leave some cotton there inside and should have given you more information on how to care for it.

Thanks to all and thanks Jennylee. I have checked it out online and I got my GP's secretary to badger the hospiyal for the urgent follow up appointment (seems the referral from A&E got lost ) DS is seeing the ENT docs on Tuesday. I've also got some rubber plugs for his ear for baths etc.

Bit concerned as to how they'll get the cotton wool out. The internet suggested it may be sucked out. DS is very curious, very big and very strong, I can see them having to sedate or anaethetise him. oh joy.

I'll keep you posted if that's ok
Thanks and much love to all

Yes keep us posted and I hope your little one feels better soon

Just Bumping along

Afternoon all you MNers

Update on DH's ear...Despite chasing my local hospital for the follow up appointment and attempting to check the venue in advance, DH and I turn up at the wrong hospital at the right time and were instructed to go to another hospital in the trust some 10 miles away As non car owners my FIL came back to run us the extra distance but honestley, I see why people loose it with the NHS.
I digress.
So we turn up in the next town 45 mins late, hassled, see a lovely consultant who said DH was 'wonderfully precocious'() and perservered to get some ear related sense out of him. Audiology tests and peering down lugs and the outcome is DH has ruptured the back of his ear drum. It wil heal itself, keep it clean and dry and come back in a month.
Seems the white mass may have been expelled from the ear with a mass of wax or may have been the edge of the perforation. At least it's not serious.
So lessons learnt are a) lock up your cotton buds, b) don't be frightened to chase for appointments, c)demand the full low down before you set off and make it clear you did everything they told you so it's not your fault and d) never underestimate the comfort of a teddy bear and blanket.

Thanks and love to all