Fucking ear infection - again!

[Workyticket]

Horrendous ear infection on holiday a couple of years ago - cost me a bomb and a hospital visit

Niggles since and I nipped to see the practice nurse who couldn't see anything wrong

5 weeks ago it came back - ragingly painful and I went to the walk in. The nurse said I shouldn't have gone for a minor infection and told me to buy OTC stuff. I was mortified

It did get less painful but has niggled since. The other ear was painful so I used the spray in that too.

Last night it's hit back with a vengeance. Kept me awake and I can barely hear a thing.

I get married on Friday and desperately need to relieve it by then.

Any suggestions please?

Go and speak to a pharmacist, they can help with ear issues (& UTI’s btw)

www.nhs.uk/conditions/ear-infections/

I spoke to 1 today - showed her the spray I used rhe other week and asked for another.

She said it waa prescription only (nurse in the walk in said it was otc - cashed the prescription because it had my BP meds on too)

It's unbelievably painful tonight - my face is swollen and I feel like I have water bubbling in a tube right down the side of my face.

Can't sleep - it's worse than toothache!

Use a hot water bottle on the bad ear, sleep with the bad ear facing the pillow, thus will help the ear drum stay in shape, use stuff like sudofed to drain your sinuses. Get yourself some nose spray for allergies. Brown glass bottle, green lid. I'll have a Google for the name.

Generic Flonase (fluticasone propionate).
I often get Eustachian tube dysfunction where the tube from my ear to nose gets blocked, which sucks my ear drum out of shape causing pain and deafness, I know you've not mentioned that but it may well help. At the first sign of sore ears I do all of the above to stop it in its tracks.

Go back to see a doctor today. Ignore that nurse , we have all met someone like that. She was wrong and can’t see inside your head and is not a doctor.
Go somewhere else if you need to. All the best.

Absolutely go to see a doctor and explain you’re getting married too. Can you pay for a private gp if you need to be seen more quickly?

Go to your GP. You shouldn’t have to put up with so much pain.

Nurse is talking shit. I usually see gp for ear infections and get prescribed a spray. Recently it wasn’t working, had the massive swollen ear and got a week’s worth of oral antibiotics. This cleared it up in a couple of days. Go back to someone who can give you a prescription! OTC stuff is useless.

I had erythromycin I think - worked like a charm. You need to tell them the spray hasn’t made it totally go away. Was it otomize you were given?

I've struggled with ear infections since a trip to Center Parcs some years ago.

Ring your GP and there should be an out of hours contact. Get a prescription for something that works.

In the UK a pharmacist can't help with an ear infection. You need a doctor so 111 if it can't wait until tomorrow, and it sounds very much like it can't wait.

Thanks everyone. I drifted off for a couple of hours

It's crackling like mad now, swallowing hurts and I can't touch my teeth together on that side with lots of pain

Not sure i can hold off till the gp opens tomorrow but I'm really put off going back to the Walk in Centre

Phone 111 and ask to see an out of hours GP or go to your local urgent care centre.

Go to the walk in, it's what they're for. Chances are it will be someone different who won't be such an arse. Hope you get sorted.

Go today. Do not be fobbed off by anyone. Even if the nurse tries to physically push you out, sit on the floor until a doctor sees you. An ear infection is extremely painful. Good luck.

Go to the walk in centre. It sounds horrible

@3luckystars

Go today. Do not be fobbed off by anyone. Even if the nurse tries to physically push you out, sit on the floor until a doctor sees you. An ear infection is extremely painful. Good luck.

That made me laugh - which hurt

I have an egg shaped lump on the side of my face - in front of my ear. Juat abandoned my rice crispies as eating hurt

I usually have a really high pain threshold

I had a horrific infection a few years ago. I saw the nurse 3 times, went to A & E on the advice of 111 ( so embarrassed) saw useless doctors there. Eventually saw my GP who diagnosed correct TYPE of infection ( it was green ) and antibiotics- cured in days. Insist on seeing a doctor.

You’ll end up in the hospital if you don’t see a doctor urgently, get up and go now. draw an angry face on the lump for that nurse and if she owns her mouth, turn it towards her. I have a feeling they will have a different attitude towards you today. Good luck.

The lump is a serious sign that the infection is travelling. Go to A&E if possible so that the on call ENT can see you.
(Veteran ear infection patient here).

If you have an egg sized lump on the side of your face , I change my advice. I would head to A&E. You may need ENT review and IV antibiotics

"I have an egg shaped lump on the side of my face - in front of my ear. Juat abandoned my rice crispies as eating hurt"

It sounds like parotiditis - inflammation of the parotid gland. This can be serious if not treated.

Please take yourself to A & E NOW.

The lump is egg shaped, not egg sized

It's about the size and shape of my thumb. Looks like another trip to the walk in is sensible but not looking forward to it

Won't be for a couple of hours as I need to get ds looked after.

You could have mastoiditis, you must go and get seen.