Painful ear infection..what's the chances it will burst :(

[Miamoo134]

Started with an ear ache 6 days ago and I thought it was a big spot under the skin because I get them a lot. It settled 3-4 days after so I didn't fight for a gp appt but then suddenly since the last 24 hours it's been agonising. I was prescribed antibiotics spray and only had 1 dose so far so that's yet to still do it's trick.

But I'm so anxious about going permanently deaf or a burst ear drum and im catastrophising like i always do with my health. Please can anyone alleviate my fears I'm numb with anxiety and literally can't even physically speak or move :( plus I'm in pain. Luckily I have a good stock of codeine and hoping that kicks in soon. Can anyone share any happy ending stories with ear infections please

Give it a couple of days with the antibiotics and then seek advice oif it's not improving. Millions of people have ear infections and don't go deaf, they just see the GP and then feel better 😊

During a severe ear infection, my eardrum perforated and it was an incredible relief. The pain from the build up of fluid just disappeared.

I can confirm I am not deaf 40 years later. I just spent a week or so where if felt as if I was hearing the world from underwater through one ear. I have had ear infections since that lasted for days and have never had another perforation and know very few people who have had one.

I've had several perforated ear drums, and my daughter has had a couple as well. We both seem susceptible to severe ear infections! Neither of us are at all deaf, and it actually felt much better once they perforated. The GP always just gave us antibiotics and, in my daughter's case as she was very young at the time, asked her to come back in a few weeks later so they could check it had healed ok (it had). I hope that reassures you a bit - I know it's no fun at all going through it.