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In agony with ear infection

10 replies

Motherhippo · 09/11/2021 22:21

I'm sure that there's nothing I can do but...
I've had an ear infection for like 2 weeks I'm in absolute agony with the pain. I can only try and manage with paracetamol as I'm pregnant.

I damaged my ear by itching inside of it. After a few days I contacted my GP surgery (26th October) and was booked for a telephone appointment(27th October). I was diagnosed over the phone with an ear infection by the nurse and prescribed ear-drops. I didn't get my ear-drops for a further 3 days due to delays at my pharmacy. By the time I had finally got the ear-drops the pain was beginning to improve.
I therefore only administered them twice a day for like a week and then stopped taking them because my ear was absolutely fine. However the pain has returned with a vengeance. I started the drops again as soon as pain started. However I'm on day 3 and in absolute agony. I think the ear may now be blocked as the ear-drops run out of my ear as soon as my head is upright irregardless of how long I've kept my head horizontal. I have hardly any hearing in the affected ear and the pain is radiating in my jaw, teeth, head and neck. The paracetamol is mildly effective against the pain where it becomes more tolerable rather than agony. However this only lasts for a couple of hours before I'm back to being in utter agony.
I'm going to call my gp surgery tomorrow but does anyone have any suggestions for pain relief.
Like I said I'm pregnant so I can't take co-codemol or ibruptofen. I've tried hot and cold compresses and they've made no difference. I've got a toddler at home to add insult to injury and I'm barely able to function the pain is so bad. My day is spent just counting down until I can take paracetamol again just to relieve the pain.
If I didn't think it would make it worse I would cry because of the level of pain I am in

OP posts:
BoneWithTheWind · 09/11/2021 22:26

I really feel for you - I've been there. My pain was so bad that I felt a weird urge to put my head on the floor and just lie there.. Something to do with lessening gravity perhaps.. Anyway, the ear pain is excruciating.

Could you not be prescribed antibiotics..? That's what I was given straightaway.. Hope you feel better soon xx

Motherhippo · 09/11/2021 22:30

@BoneWithTheWind I believe they are antibiotic eardrops. But like I said I think my ear is blocked so they aren't doing anything but pooling in my ear.
I hope I can get an appointment tomorrow. My GP surgery is so rubbish and I can't imagine going even more days with this pain 😭

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minipie · 09/11/2021 22:36

For tonight: Something hot (obvs not burning hot) placed against the ear opening

I was stuck on a small remote island with an ear infection and putting a torch against my ear helped (it was an old fashioned bulb that gets hot, not led)

Tomorrow: GP emergency appt

TheGirlWithGlassFeet · 09/11/2021 22:36

How awful. I've had ear infections like that and the only thing to really help was codine unfortunately. Hot water bottle on my ear helped a bit but hasn't for you. Sounds like you definitely need oral antibiotics. They should kick in quickly.

sayithow · 09/11/2021 22:45

I don't know if it will help but when DS got ear infections having something tightly pressed against it helped (like wrap a warm compress firmly against your ear with a headband or bandage or something)

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 09/11/2021 22:56

I had a raging ear infection when about 34 weeks pregnant. It was so bad i didn’t sleep at all that night and next morning drove (cautiously) to a hospital walk-in clinic and waited 3 hours to get oral antibiotics. Even with pregnancy it was better than the unbearable pain.

Motherhippo · 10/11/2021 08:43

Thanks for all the support and advice. Called my GP surgery today and am awaiting a call back.
That's after being awake since 2:30am despite taking paracetamol. Although my ear "popped" about 4 times last night and I'm sure I could feel fluid in my ear. Although no matter how much I turned my head nothing came out of my ear.
I do not know if this is a good or bad thing

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RubaiyatOfAnyone · 10/11/2021 08:54

Oh good luck, it is one of the worst pains ever (fx: putting childbirth into perspective Grin)

I forgot to add that DC2 is now two and perfect, so all the stressing i did about antibiotics during pregnancy probably wasn’t worth it compared to no sleep and agony.

Bouledeneige · 10/11/2021 10:33

I'd go to a walk in clinic now. I've had ear infections before and they're agony and you just can't sleep at all - I really feel for you.

Motherhippo · 11/11/2021 17:18

Just a quick update. I got an appointment with the GP and got some oral antibiotics which I am day on 2 of taking. Still in pain but hoping that will start getting better soon. Thanks for all the advice and well wishes I hope to be pain free soon 🤞🤞🤞

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