Any earxperts around?

[PotOfYoghurt]

Like my joke?

I've had a middle ear infection for a week. Started amoxicillin on Wednesday night. Still got progressively worse- hearing loss, pus, fullness and pain all down neck and in front and behind ear. Friday night went to walk in, given double the dose of amoxicillin and told to go to a particular hospital that's close to me (which has a walk in) as they have a special ENT department if it gets worse again.

It hasn't improved at all since Friday, during the night it's been so bad that it wakes me up and I'm up for several hours crying and getting to the point where your pain-addled Brian considers doing something irrational and stupid like sticking a knitting needle in your ear just to get some relief from the pressure. The pressure is relentless.

This morning I've woken up and my ear seems to have swollen nearly completely shut. More pus managed to get out during the night though so it can't be completely closed.

I'm alternating paracetamol and nurofen + codeine for the pain, although the codeine doesn't seem to be doing anything and it feels like I'm just taking normal nurofen

Anyway, if anybody has any experience in this department would you recommend waiting to see if there's an improvement by tonight (when it would have been 48 hours since starting stronger a.bs) or go to the walk in clinic at the hospital today?

AmberGreyson, did you even read the thread ? Your 'advice' is dangerous.

Update:

So I toddled along back to UCC at about 1pm, I just had a feeling that they weren't going to call. Was seen by triage doctor and he called ENT department again who:

Said they had no record of me needing a call
That I should not have been put on amoxicillin and co amoxiclav at the same time.
Didn't have access to any suction machine today

However the ENT doctor came down and had a look and said it's an outer ear infection, not a middle one. I said that the first person I saw on Wednesday at the walk-in clinic said it was a middle infection and there wasn't any sign of an outer one, and asked if an outer one could still cause all of the pain behind, under and around the ear and neck.

Apparently yes, and that's why it's continued to get worse as the oral tablets wouldn't be able to help and I've just left it for a week for the infection to spread.

So I'm to stop taking my oral antibiotics immediately and have a script for antibiotic ear drops instead. I'm not entirely sure how to get them in since my ear canal has swollen shut but I'll give it a go.

Apparently it might take 3-4 weeks to clear and they're going to call me in 1-2weeks to check up on me, but we'll see if that phone call ever materialises.

PotOfYogurt, it's not very reassuring to get different medical opinions is it ? Did today's lot tell you any warning signs to be aware of ? At least you're not too far from the hospital. Hope you feel better very soon.

I know, I'm not sure who is right. I would imagine the ENT department but it's just strange that the nurse I saw on Wednesday was very sure it was a middle one. I wonder if one could have both?

But I'm just going to follow their directions for the drops and hope it starts to clear up soon and I get my hearing back. It's quite an odd sensation because I couldn't even hear his fingers moving bear my bad ear but everything sounds amplified in my good one, and it's almost overwhelming like my good ear can't process the sound properly and I'm having trouble differentiating people's voices in a large group.

I'm to go back to my GP or the UCC if it continues to get worse.

When I had my bad ear I got the drops as well as my oral antibiotics and the drops were great. Really seemed to make a difference. My ear swelled shut as well.

Footle, i said that it's important to consult with a doctor

How are you op? Hope it's earsing up

Slightly better actually, thanks! Each morning I wake up with slightly more fetid discharge on my pillow (and cheek and ear and neck) so each day the pressure is easing slightly.

The painkillers are switch between making me feel like I should hike up something really tall or have a nap.

Still no improvement on hearing. It's actually a bit discombobulating to only hear through one side, I kept having to triple check the road before I crossed because I couldn't hear if anything started to come from the deaf side. I didn't realise how much I took dual-hearing for granted.