Intense headache, earache and tinnitus

[user143677433]

For over a week now I have had an intense headache/earache but it is coming and going. It happens several times a day, for hours at a time, but then will just disappear. The pain is on one side of my head, from above my eye into and behind my ear and into my upper jaw. It’s accompanied by loud throbbing tinnitus like a squeaky bicycle wheel inside my head, loud enough to make other things hard to hear, and perfectly in time with my pulse.

It is completely debilitating, and nurofen doesn’t touch it, but then it disappears again and I feel fine.

I’m assuming it’s an ear infection. Is there anything I can do other than wait it out? I don’t want to bother the Dr. I saw the pharmacist when it started and she suggested Sudafed which I have been taking, and olive oil drops for ear wax. (I confess I haven’t tried the drops because when DH had an ear infection they made it worse)

If it is an infection then will most likely need to contact the gp for antibiotics. I currently have a blocked ear (muffled hearing and constant popping noises but no pain) so I read the nhs page and if you have pain then it recommends seeking the help of your gp.

That sounds miserable OP.

Could be an ear infection as you say, but given your other symptoms the ear might be a red herring. Have you had any changes to your vision at all?

Speak to your GP as soon as you can to rule out temporal arteritis.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/temporal-arteritis/

Thanks both. I contacted the GP today so will see what they come back with.

GO ASAP. They tend to minimise hearing issues. Do not let them and don’t do it yourself. I have permanent hearing loss and tinnitus since May- please don’t waste time as ear issues need to be treated quickly to avoid permanent damage.

Hope it gets sorted OP. May not be linked, but these are also covid/post covid symptoms - do you have covid/had covid recently?

Seek medical advice asap.

Thanks. I am waiting for a callback from the GP. I’ve been told previously that I probably have long covid due to other symptoms so that makes sense.

What did the GP say in the end OP?

Saw the Dr. and they looked in ears etc. Had antibiotics which seemed to work to start off with, but didn’t quite clear it. Back to Dr again and agreed to just wait it out to see if it got better, which it eventually did.

Totally fine now - no tinnitus, no pain, no hearing issues, but it’s only really in the last week that it’s been better so that was about 6 weeks in all.

I feel for you, I have had the same but mine is shingles in the nerve of the ear. / on my face. It's horrible. I've had antivirals and some meds for vertigo and pain meds. Hoping it improves soon.

That sounds awful @Orangesandlemons77

I’m fortunate that mine is better now. I really hope yours improves soon.

Thanks, it has improved a bit. Glad yours has got better.

Can I ask what can they actually do for hearing issues? Thanks

Just stumbled on this thread looking for advice about ear infections. Hoping OP sees this but I would recommend looking up OUCH UK for symptoms of Cluster Headache. Aside from the tinnitus, some of the symptoms are a close match. Just a thought. @user143677433