Very painful stubborn ear infection

[gg321]

Went to the doctor last week, started antibiotics for he said was a really bad ear infection, still agony after 3 days, went back gave me some different ones 3 days of those still agony, 6 days in total on antibiotics and not improving, what should I do, go back again tomorrow or grin and bear the pain and finish 4 more days of the current antibiotics then go back if no better. Pain is just about manageable on high doses of pain killers but wow when they wear off it’s agony!! Any idea what they will do if infection does t go with antibiotics? They’ve tried two so far, would they try a third or is there something else they can do? I kind of want my ear drum to burst (feels like it needs to!) to relieve the pain!
Thanks in advance

[gg321]

Btw it’s a ‘middle ear’ infection if that helps with responses

[Theoriginalinvisiblewoman]

Hope you’re starting to feel better @gg321 since you posted this.

If you start to get any swelling at the back of your ear, then call 111 immediately. This would likely mean the infection has spread to the mastoid bones and this is when it becomes serious and you’re at risk of hearing loss. Unfortunately for me, this happened in both my ears and the only solution is an operation where they cut around the back of your ear before drilling the infection out 🤢 I’m currently waiting for my third mastoidectomy operation 😫 Thankfully I don’t have constant discharge coming out of my ear this time but it still took 6 months of endless ENT appointments for them to say I needed another operation (I’ve had ear problems all my life so I’m used to it).

Don't hesitate to speak to your GP again if things aren’t clearing up. My GP dithered too long last time, trying all the different ear drops/sprays/oral antibiotics before I was seen in the ENT department and told I needed a second operation 😫

[alexdgr8]

might be worth ringing 111.
or if you can wait, try GP in morning.
good luck.
ear infections can turn serious, so if in doubt, don't leave it, seek medical advice.