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Original poster

Severe ear pain-what should I do

20 replies

QueenLagertha · 04/05/2022 20:52

I've had problems with my ears for 5 weeks following a couple of colds. Right ear resolved quickly however left ear hasn't. It's been blocked. Last week mild pain started so went to GP. Gave me otomize ear spray. She stated that ear looked very sore and infected and mentioned swimmers ear.

Pain has worsened this week and I am completely deaf left side. Went to a different GP today who said it looks red and irritated. She did a swab. Prescribed gentamicin 0.3 %/ hydrocortisone acetate 1% ear drops.

This evening I am in agony. Pain much worse. I think the pain has got really bad about an hour after using the drops (have used twice) and then subsides a bit.

I can only take paracetamol and it doesn't touch the pain.

What should I do? Wait until the morning and ring GP again? Stop using the drops?

OP posts:
Seaoftroubles · 04/05/2022 21:20

I can't believe you were not prescribed antibiotics, especially if an infection was diagnosed! Also sometimes you can have a reaction to the steroid drops which sounds likely. l would stop the drops and insist on an an appointment ASAP. Press for antibiotics as this sounds miserable and ear infections should never be ignored. Good luck!

Original poster
QueenLagertha · 04/05/2022 22:08

Thank you @Seaoftroubles the pain is awful. It's going to be a long night

OP posts:
Seaoftroubles · 04/05/2022 22:27

I really feel for you as ear pain is awful.You might find it helps to put a hot bag ( if you have one) against your ear. Also you can take paracetamol and ibuprofen together to help with pain, or co codamol if you have any.

Yourinmyspot · 04/05/2022 22:33

It does sound like you need to see your GP again for oral antibiotics. I had an ear infection a couple of years ago and it was horrible. I was feverish, sick and the pain was awful. The only thing that helped was a hot water bottle against my ear. After a couple of days my ear drum burst and all this green puss came out. It was a lot less painful after that.

I hope you get some relief soon.

Sh05 · 04/05/2022 22:37

You need to call your out of hours doctors service.
When you say you can only take paracetamol is that because of other health issues or is that the only thing you have in?
You need antibiotics and a stronger pain killer.
If it hadn't been going on for so long I'd recommend some olive oil heated with crushed garlic in it but 5 weeks in it won't tough the Infection and may do more harm than good

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 04/05/2022 22:45

My last ear infection took two rounds of antibiotic drops and three courses of oral antibiotics to shift. You have my sympathy. (I also bought one of those cameras for looking in ears - mine were horrifying!).

Original poster
QueenLagertha · 04/05/2022 23:00

@Sh05 can't take ibuprofen doesn't agree with my stomach. Can't take codeine as I'm breastfeeding my 3 week old. DH has filled a hot water bottle to try now. Pain has eased a bit again. I suspect the drops are partly responsible.
Unless it gets unbearable again I'll wait and ring GP first thing. Hopefully they will give me oral antibiotics and check culture swab when it comes back. Thanks all

OP posts:
Catcrazy83 · 04/05/2022 23:03

My ds used to suffer terribly with them. Antibiotics were the only thing that shifted the pain. In the mean time a hot water bottle. He used to have to sleep half way up, as a certain position used to ease the pain. Fingers crossed you can get an appointment in the morning

Lou98 · 04/05/2022 23:07

Gentamicin is an antibiotic, it's just in drop form. I've had issues with my ears since birth which causes recurring ear infections, all the ENT consultant's I've had give them before oral antibiotics as they say they're more effective as they're targeting the specific area.
I would say as you've only started them today you need to give them more time to work. I always found they took a few days to clear the infection although it should get slightly better each day.

It should never have taken 5 weeks for you to get an antibiotic though!

There's no harm in talking to the GP tomorrow to ask about oral antibiotics and see if there is any other painkillers they can give, although if you're breastfeeding I'm not sure what options there are but there may be something!

girlfromtheloch · 04/05/2022 23:13

OP has been prescribed antibiotics. Otomize has gentamicin in which is an antibiotic and topical antibiotics work better for otitis externa (ear canal infection) than oral as they get to the correct location better. If the pain is severe OP I would speak to your GP again.

Seaoftroubles · 04/05/2022 23:22

Definitely see your G.P tomorrow as a matter of urgency O.P. As the pain worsened after the ear drops you may have had a reaction to the hydrocortisone component, this happened to me in the past and l needed a course of oral antibiotics.

Original poster
QueenLagertha · 06/05/2022 11:34

So GP prescribed a course of amoxicillin yesterday morning. Pain still awful most of yesterday. This morning the pain reached a new level and then bloody pus started to come out of my ear. I'm assuming this means the ear drum has burst? The relief

OP posts:
JuneOsborne · 06/05/2022 11:39

There is no pain like an eardrum about to burst.

Try drinking warm squash. The citric acid helps. As will warm compresses and rest. Your body is fighting a nasty infection.

Hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
QueenLagertha · 06/05/2022 12:22

Thanks @JuneOsbornen I had a hot orange squash last night so maybe that helped. Will try another. It's still quite painful though the pressure is gone. A horrible experience. I was feeding baby this morning whilst biting down on my fist!

OP posts:
Original poster
QueenLagertha · 06/05/2022 14:08

Anyone any tips for how I can wash my hair without getting water in ear??

OP posts:
JuneOsborne · 06/05/2022 14:20

I wouldn't! Can you just tie it up/use some dry shampoo and hold off? I wouldn't risk making it worse.

Original poster
QueenLagertha · 06/05/2022 14:26

@JuneOsborne how long will I have to do that for? It's pretty much stuck to my head 😬 have been using dry shampoo last few days already

OP posts:
tootsierubs · 06/05/2022 15:04

QueenLagertha · 06/05/2022 14:08

Anyone any tips for how I can wash my hair without getting water in ear??

Break up some cotton wool and coat in Vaseline push in to outer ear to protect your ear from the water but really try not to get it wet at all. If you can, wash it over the bath or sink so the water can't run in.

Lou98 · 06/05/2022 20:58

QueenLagertha · 06/05/2022 14:08

Anyone any tips for how I can wash my hair without getting water in ear??

My ENT consultant always told me to coat a cotton wool ball in Vaseline and put that in your ear to "plug" it. It works a treat! I do it every shower and if I'm going swimming because water in the ear can also cause infections and with me being prone to them anyway it's a great preventative.

Also obviously be as careful as you can, I always take the shower head off and tend to kind of move my head to the side a little so the water isn't running down the side of my face if that makes sense

Original poster
QueenLagertha · 06/05/2022 21:10

Thanks all. Will have to try that and get DH to help me wash my hair over the bath or sink tomorrow. DS (4) asked me this evening "why's your hair all wet mummy?" 😂🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
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