Ear infection causing deafness

[Zazzleza]

Woke up at midnight on Monday in agony in my left ear. I was convinced that I’d burst my ear drum but hadn’t any fluid.
I couldn’t get an appointment at my Drs so went to the walk in who said I have an ear infection and my ear drum is bulging and may well burst but hasn’t yet. The Nurse reluctantly gave me a prescription for 5 days of amoxicillin.
I am 11 weeks pregnant so can only take paracetamol which is barely touching the sides.
I can’t hear at all out of this ear either. I am finding this quite scary. I tried to drive earlier and had to turn back as just didn’t feel with it. I have a 16month old daughter and don’t like not being able to hear what she is up to.
The pain is slightly less today, so hopefully the ABs are working but the deafness has not changed.
Has anyone experienced this? Got any advice as to how long this will last? Is there anything I should be doing to help?

I had an ear infection at Christmas. Was first prescribed amoxicillin with an added ingredient, which made me really dizzy and ill. They swapped the abs and it didn't really improve much, although it stopped hurting. I was deaf and had a high pitch whine in my ear. It drove me mad!

I had to go back and get ear drops, which then cleared the infection. But I was still deaf in that ear. And it was only a month later that I could finally hear properly again.

Same as the above poster - I had an ear infection before Christmas, it was agony. So painful. My ear was completely blocked and I had a constant ringing. It took a course of antibiotic, prescription strength codeine and a full two weeks to stop hurting and then a whole month more to feel completely unblocked with no weird noises. One thing that helped a bit was lying down with the sore ear pressed on as hot a hot water bottle that you can cope with.

Speak to your GP but I've been allowed to take cocodamol for bad back pain and migraines whilst pregnant.

I had this last month and it was weeping constantly. The tablets worked and I also had an ear spray to use. My hearing took 3 weeks to return and can still block a bit in the cold. Its an awful feeling.

I am currently (temporarily) deaf on one side from a burst eardrum following infection, I sympathise @Zazzleza.

Agree with pp suggestion of hot water bottle pressed against the ear, it really does help. Even a very hot wrung out flannel (you can microwave for a few seconds too, just be careful).

When it bursts, the pressure-pain will also lessen massively too.

I had an ear infection after a bad cold just after Christmas. I thought it was wax to begin with and used some drops I bought from the chemist. This irritated my ear canal and I ended up at the GP's with an both an inner and outer ear infection.

I had two weeks of anti-biotics and no hearing at all in that ear for 6 weeks. It was infuriating not being able to hear, I could hear my own breathing and voice from inside my head and it drove me loopy.

It eventually improved and is now back to normal. The only plus was when I slept on the other ear I couldn't hear the kids!