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Original poster

Severe ear infection

48 replies

anonxc · 18/03/2023 19:46

I feel so let down by doctors, I had a previous post but just wanted to rant. I had Covid a week and a half ago and suddenly lost my hearing in my right ear, saw an out of hours gp who looked at my ear with a torch for about two seconds and said nope - blocked ears no infection. Pain gets worse so I contacted my doctor over the phone on Monday who said probably not infected but we will prescribe an ear spray, today I started vomiting with a high fever and severe ear pain that it hurts to even eat, see out of hours gp and they've said my ear drum is perforated, very red and inflamed - they've started me on anti biotics tonight but I'm concerned as the pain is so bad and I keep feeling like I'm going to vomit, they told me as long as no swelling redness or blood in ear I don't need to go a&e and anti biotics should do the trick but I really lack faith now, I've never had so much pain in my ear ever. I have took ibuprofen but what else can I do to ease my symptoms? How long will anti biotics take to work aswell? I did ask but she just bluntly replied saying they will work stop worrying. :/

OP posts:
Suzi888 · 19/03/2023 07:19

Lizzy1328 · 19/03/2023 01:52

@Suzi888 mastoiditis is an infection leading to inflammation, like I said bones definitely DO NOT swell!

There’s a honey bomb like structure in the mastoid bone, if you develop mastoiditis the hospital will operate and remove the bone. It’s a very serious condition, that can develop after an untreated ear infection.

If you have some specialist bone knowledge and I’ve used the incorrect terminology then I do apologise. However this is the term my consultant used. “Swelling of the mastoid bone, if left untreated the bone can break down”.

Original poster
anonxc · 19/03/2023 11:29

Dinopawus · 18/03/2023 22:56

Ask for Otimise ear drops instead. It has pain relief in it and is recommended by NICE

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng91

I was taking this but it didn't work, that's why I've been put on anti biotics plus my ear drum is perforated so it's not even recommended to take this with that, so annoyed as doctor didn't even see me just prescribed over phone initially and this probably made it worse

OP posts:
Original poster
anonxc · 19/03/2023 11:32

Thank you for all the advice, I still don't feel amazing but I think I need to give the anti biotics a few days to work as I only took the second this morning.

OP posts:
Original poster
anonxc · 20/03/2023 18:53

Can anyone tell me how long it takes for the ear pain to go? Fever and nausea have gone but the ear pain is still so bad, I have 5 days of anti biotics left

OP posts:
BorgQueen · 20/03/2023 19:33

My daughter had a perforated drum a few weeks back and it took 2 lots of antibiotics till the pain went, which was after taking the 2nd lot for almost a week,
sorry.

DefinitelyRizzo · 20/03/2023 19:33

For my worst ear infection I did 3 days of co-codamol so that's when the antibiotics worked enough for me to stop pain medication. Others I feel were probably similar length, at least I have in my head a mantra of just getting to day 3.

Always4Brenner · 20/03/2023 19:38

Suzi888 · 18/03/2023 23:47

@Lizzy1328 can always rely on one lol

here you are…

Mastoiditis is a serious bacterial infection that affects the mastoid bone behind the ear. It's usually more common in children, although adults can also sometimes be affected.

Dreadful operation a 100 years ago to relieve it now much better treatments with antibiotics surgery less traumatic now I think as well.

Tellyaddict123 · 20/03/2023 19:39

The pharmacy dose of ibuprofen is 800mg, you can increase the ibuprofen dose if needed, speak to a pharmacist and they can advise. Try to alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen so it never wears off, set an alarm for the nights.

Ear pain was one of the worst things I’ve ever experienced, hot flannels also helped slightly but it was mainly pumping myself full of painkillers

BorgQueen · 20/03/2023 21:01

Heat definitely helps, a lavender wheat bag especially.

Original poster
anonxc · 20/03/2023 21:18

Thanks for the tips, I just have a bit of anxiety as the pain has not changed since starting anti biotics Sunday night, still feel so much pressure and throbbing pain inside my ear, I was also doing a bit of google as I never heard of a perforated ear drum before I've never had an ear infection and it says discharge is the main symptom which I do not and didn't have, just hearing loss and severe pain. Doc said it's perforated though.

OP posts:
DefinitelyRizzo · 21/03/2023 09:41

That's only one full day of antibiotics so it's not going to have changed much for a severe infection. Hopefully you'll start to feel some change by tonight or in the morning. If you Google how long it takes for antibiotics to work it's 2-3 days.

I've had years of ear infections (turned out I had a dairy allergy and I've been infection free since giving it up). And most have been itching or discharge, but some have been nothing then the intense throbbing pain.

Iwantcollarbones · 21/03/2023 09:50

My last ear infection required a full month of antibiotics. After I finished the first dose I went back to the GP because it was still painful. When they checked it was still infected. I would suggest not waiting until the end of your current dose though. I was away and couldn’t get to a GP/walk-in. Give them 3 days then reassess.

As for the pain, solphadine Max. They were they only thing that work when I have an ear infection (which is about 4 times a year). My hearing, so far, comes back after about 4 weeks.

Original poster
anonxc · 21/03/2023 09:56

DefinitelyRizzo · 21/03/2023 09:41

That's only one full day of antibiotics so it's not going to have changed much for a severe infection. Hopefully you'll start to feel some change by tonight or in the morning. If you Google how long it takes for antibiotics to work it's 2-3 days.

I've had years of ear infections (turned out I had a dairy allergy and I've been infection free since giving it up). And most have been itching or discharge, but some have been nothing then the intense throbbing pain.

Thanks, I did contact doctor this morning as I woke up with severe ear pain, ibuprofen doesn't seem to be touching it now so I was concerned. Doctor sent a message to say the pain can take several weeks to go and prescribed stronger pain killers. Does that seem right? Several weeks for pain to go?

OP posts:
Original poster
anonxc · 21/03/2023 09:58

Iwantcollarbones · 21/03/2023 09:50

My last ear infection required a full month of antibiotics. After I finished the first dose I went back to the GP because it was still painful. When they checked it was still infected. I would suggest not waiting until the end of your current dose though. I was away and couldn’t get to a GP/walk-in. Give them 3 days then reassess.

As for the pain, solphadine Max. They were they only thing that work when I have an ear infection (which is about 4 times a year). My hearing, so far, comes back after about 4 weeks.

Thank you. I just contacted the doctor because honestly the pain is so bad inside my ear it's throbbing I'm starting to get headaches, doctor responded and said it can take several weeks for the pain to go even after anti biotics? I don't know why but that doesn't seem right to me

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DefinitelyRizzo · 21/03/2023 10:50

I think I mentioned above I was on co-codamol for 3 days for my worst and that made it bearable.

I agree with the above poster about 3 full days of antibiotics then contact docs if no improvement. I remember that's what I was told which is why I ended up with a just through three days mantra.

I have no experience of a burst ear drum. My oldest had one as a kid but the pain only lasted a few days.

Original poster
anonxc · 21/03/2023 12:40

DefinitelyRizzo · 21/03/2023 10:50

I think I mentioned above I was on co-codamol for 3 days for my worst and that made it bearable.

I agree with the above poster about 3 full days of antibiotics then contact docs if no improvement. I remember that's what I was told which is why I ended up with a just through three days mantra.

I have no experience of a burst ear drum. My oldest had one as a kid but the pain only lasted a few days.

Doctor told me it could be weeks but did reply to my concerned message regarding the pain and asked that I give it 7 days from today for it to go, if it doesn't go he said he will review again

OP posts:
SickickFan · 21/03/2023 22:08

I’ve had a perforated eardrum before and didn’t even know until my ENT surgeon looked in my ear and told me! I had to have mine surgically repaired unfortunately. Your pain doesn’t sound right to me OP, I’ve always been led to believe that when an eardrum perforates the pain goes away?! I’ve got a lifetimes experience with ear issues and I’ve found GP’s aren’t always that great at treating them unfortunately. I’ve had GP’s swab my ear incorrectly (according to ENT) and try to treat a chronic infection with oral antibiotics where as the ENT go to treatment is always ciprofloxacin eye drops for ears (and I’ve been given them to use with a perforated ear drum), which is much more effective in my experience. Unfortunately ear infections can lead to a very nasty infection called mastoiditis that is mentioned above if not treated correctly, which then means surgery to remove the infected bone. I’ve had this operation 3 times and the 2nd I believe was because my GP didn’t give me the right treatment the first time so it became chronic and then turned into mastoiditis. I would keep pushing for more help, can you try a different GP?

Cece92 · 22/03/2023 12:22

Hi OP hope your starting to feel better. X

Original poster
anonxc · 23/03/2023 00:39

Cece92 · 22/03/2023 12:22

Hi OP hope your starting to feel better. X

The ear pain is still very much there and honestly I do not believe I had an ear infection, as previous poster said perforation the pain goes and also I have no discharge at all, just pain, I'm in a&e now as they prescribed an anti biotic that cannot be took with anti fungal treatment which I did disclose I am on and had a reaction. they're going to check my ear aswell to see if there is actually an infection. I honestly feel so let down by doctors.

OP posts:
jamiejamiejamie · 24/03/2023 15:59

How are you?

Original poster
anonxc · 24/03/2023 19:33

jamiejamiejamie · 24/03/2023 15:59

How are you?

I'm good thank you, thanks for asking! Turned out I never had an ear infection or burst drum, it was caused by covid and something I have to unfortunately ride out, no fluid behind drum nothing, I was also advised to stop anti biotics immediately, I did put in a complaint and the manager told me to email her my complaint with full details but I have received no acknowledgement so I can't imagine they have looked or anything.

OP posts:
DefinitelyRizzo · 25/03/2023 12:07

That's appalling! Glad you got seen at the hospital and that you're on the mend.

Original poster
anonxc · 25/03/2023 15:06

DefinitelyRizzo · 25/03/2023 12:07

That's appalling! Glad you got seen at the hospital and that you're on the mend.

Thank you. It has honestly triggered a horrible bout of anxiety for me - I feel like I can't breath (air hunger) my chest is tight but I did visit a&e with these symptoms when they said the drug interaction happened and said my obs were all normal so I know it's my anxiety doing this :(

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