Bacterial Ear Infection

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I have one of these and it's driving me crazy. I feel really unwell with it. Any tips for relieving it?

My ear just feels blocked constantly

Oh I’m really sorry, they suck and are so painful. When you say bacterial, are you on oral antibiotics? The topical ones are (in my experience of perforating infections) absolutely useless because the infection is behind the drum.

It’s usually better if the drums burst, sounds dramatic but instant relief and they heal quickly.

In the meantime, take the maximum Ibuprofen dose you are allowed plus paracetamol, and obviously providing you have no contraindications to either of those.

I've had 2 lots of antibiotics which haven't fixed it and my ear swabbed for the bacteria to see what it is to treat it but it's been nearly 2 weeks now. I can't take ibuprofen unfortunately

Any extreme pain or swelling behind your ear, also, is a red flag and you should get urgent attention. Not me, but family members and a friend’s child have had mastoiditis and that was really not nice. It’s completely treatable though.

Oh no, the not being able to take ibuprofen is bad. It’s such a good painkiller for ear infections.
How about codeine, dihydrocodeine, etc? They are fine in pregnancy if that is the issue, and also I think less of an issue for asthmatics.

two antibiotics and no relief is really unfortunate :( I really sympathize, I think ear infections are the worst, I will never forget the last round of my ones, it was so grim and I felt so unwell.

sending you a virtual hot compress.

I've got Cocodamol

Ate they OTC ones? Honestly if it’s being going on for that long and providing you don’t have contraindications I’d ask the Gp for something a bit more effective.

my ear infection pain was worse in some ways than labour with my second child. If someone asked me now whether I’d go for the three weeks of pain, vomiting, appetite loss and general misery of the ear infection or having my son again, I’d really have to think hard and would probably choose 2 hours of acute pain rather than weeks of imploding eardrum

I really hope it bursts for you soon… you’ll get a couple of weeks of muffled hearing but instant, blessed relief

My DS got this at 14 months old and we had a 3 night hospital stay plus an additional 7 day oral antibiotics course 😥