Long term earache - questions to put to the GP

[MEgirl]

During the last week of October I was really unwell for a few days. High temperature, sore throat and general cold symptoms. I tested for Covid twice, both times were negative.

Since then I've had earache in both ears. Just as I thought it was getting better it seems to have taken a turn for worse. To the point that it is either preventing me from falling asleep or waking me up during the night and hurting all day long.

After the original cold symptoms subsided, I continued to hear strange sounds. I even thought that there were decorators next door as I kept hearing banging. I did a bit of googling and worked out that it may have been Pulsatile Tinnitus. Those symptoms have gone but I still have pain and pressure in both ears. I think I also might have some hearing loss as my kids keep telling me that I'm talking too loudly.

I have a GP telephone appointment on Monday afternoon. How it goes is going to depend on which doctor calls. Anyway, I don't want to just be fobbed of with antiobiotics. I'm hoping that they call me in to the surgery to physically check my ears.

I think I'll ask for a hearing test, but other than relating the history and symptoms to the GP, are there any other questions I should be asking?

If you’ve got pain, pressure and hearing loss then you definitely need to be seen in person, ASAP. You would have to be referred to ENT (audiology) for a hearing test though. It’s possible you could have a burst eardrum, I’ve had one before and not known about it until I had an ENT consultant look in my ear, so they don’t always cause intense pain when they happen. If you’ve had a bad cold though it’s more likely to be be fluid build up that hasn’t yet drained. Either way I hope you are able to get it resolved, I’ve had a lifetime of serious issues with my ears and it’s just awful not being able to hear properly 😫 Good luck!

Could you have had a build up of excess wax that hasn't drained away properly? See if anyone does microsuction near you eg Boots, Specsavers, pharmacy. They will also be able to see if there's any infection or inflammation.

My daughter had the same symptoms as you and got one of hers done for £35 at a pharmacy.

Thanks. The GP did actually call me in and checked my ears. They seem fine, no burst eardrum, no sign of wax. GP recommended a decongestant for a while and if there is no progress within a couple of weeks I can go back for an ENT referal.