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Original poster

How can I ease ear infection pain?

15 replies

bran · 18/09/2006 15:20

I have an ear infection which I suspect will need antibiotics, but the earliest I could get a GP appointment is tomorrow afternoon. I'm alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen but it's only reducing the pain a little. Is there anything else I can do? I would really like to get a good night's sleep tonight as I could barely sleep at all last night.

OP posts:

sallyrosie · 18/09/2006 15:24

Make sure you're taking max dose of paracetamol and ibuprofen, add in some codeine if you can get to a chemist. Hot pad held over ear might help?

Holidaymum · 18/09/2006 15:43

You can take Ibuprofen and paracetamol at the same time, but would definately work better still with codeine in the mix! Chat to a pharmacist its a horrid pain .Feeling for you!

Original poster

bran · 18/09/2006 15:55

I did go to the chemist and I got the strongest paracetamol and ibuprofen, but I didn't think of codine. I'll ask dh to stop off at a chemists on the way home. Thanks.

It'll be good for my figure though as the swelling means I can't close my molars together on my left side so I'm not eating much atm.

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marthamoo · 18/09/2006 15:55

It's worse when you lie down - hence the increased discomfort when you try and sleep. When ds1 had a dreadful ear infection I propped him up against me and we both slept sitting up (well, he slept...). Don't know if you can sleep propped up on pillows? A hot water bottle will help too (not too hot). If your ear-drum ruptures (ds1's did) it will stop hurting so much - though hopefully your appointment will come first.

PrettyCandles · 18/09/2006 16:01

Take a little olive oil in an eggcup (or similar) and stand that in a bowl of hot water to warm. Twist a ball of cotton wool into a cone and dip it in the olive oil (doesnt' need to be wringing wet).

Very important: Put the oily cotton wool against your cheek to make sure it's not unpleasantly hot, but comfortably hot or very warm, then pop it in your ear.

This may sound weird, but it is very soothing.

Sleep with a thick folded towel on your pillow - it's easier to wash oil out of the towel than the pillow.

HOpe you feel better soon.

Original poster

bran · 18/09/2006 17:01

I did end up sleeping sitting up last night, after I'd been awake until 3am and noticed that it hurt less when I got up to get some paracetamol. I'm just about to try the heat pad/olive oil thing, so hopefully that'll make a difference.

I've hardly managed to get any work done today as I couldn't concentrate very well, so hopefully the pain will have eased up a bit tomorrow. It's my first ever ear infection and hopefully my last.

OP posts:

3littlefrogs · 18/09/2006 17:08

Anything with a decongestant in it can help as it dries everything out. Lemsip or sinutab, for example. However, both contain paracetamol, so you mustn't take anything else containing paracetamol at the same time, or you will end up taking too much, which is dangerous.

Coolmama · 19/09/2006 15:44

Try to get some Oil of Camphor or Sweet Oil - warm it gently by running the bottle under some hot water for a few minutes - 2 drops in the painful ear every 4 to 6 hours should ease the pain.
Also - heat application - either a heating pad or a wrapped hot water bottle will also help.

Original poster

bran · 19/09/2006 22:20

Thanks all, I don't think I can do the oil thing as my ear is swollen shut. The heat pad definitely helps though. I got antibiotics today so hopefully it will be a bit better tomorrow. The gp made me smile, he looked at my ear and made a kind of queasy, yeuch noise. It made me wonder if he was really cut out for the job, surely he sees much more revolting things than my ear on a weekly basis. He was very nice and sympathetic though.

OP posts:

marrrrrrtharrrrrrmoo · 20/09/2006 09:51

Are you feeling better yet, bran?

PrettyCandles · 20/09/2006 10:02

Oh dear,that sounds nasty. Hope it goes down soon.

Original poster

bran · 20/09/2006 12:14

Thanks for asking PC and MM, it's quite a bit better today. I still haven't gone back into the office though as once the swelling started to go down there was a steady trickle of bloody pus which I think others in the office can do without seeing. I on the upside a leaking ear would have guaranteed me plenty of personal space on the rush-hour tube.

On the plus side I have found out that there is an NHS walk-in clinic near to where I live so if this happens again and I can't get a same-day appointment at least I can go there. It's a pity the receptionist didn't mention it to me on Monday though.

Why are you rolling your rrr's MM? Have you gone all French?

OP posts:

PrettyCandles · 20/09/2006 13:05

Urgh. I think a bloody trickle of pus from your ear rather merits a bit of sick-leave!

marthamoo · 20/09/2006 13:15

I was being a pirate (of course!)

Glad you're feeling better but uuuurrrgh at bloody pus, far TMI

Original poster

bran · 20/09/2006 13:59

Shiver me timbers MM, I don't know how I got that wrong.

I'm not exactly on sick leave, I'm working from home. Actually I usually don't work on a Wednesday, but since I did next to nothing except whimper on Monday and Tuesday I need to catch up.

Bloody pus is great! Loads of people have been emailing wanting to know when they'll get their stuff, but an in depth description of the infection is making them back off in a hurry. That, and constant reminders that if they had given me what I needed on time then most of them would have had what they needed before I came down with the infection.

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