Adult ear infection won’t go away…6 Weeks on

[Pamcakey]

Hi all,
I’m waiting with baited breath for Monday to arrive so I can make yet another gp appointment for an ear infection that’s been going on for 6 weeks.

I’ve been lucky to not have pain for most of it but foul smelling gunk, feeling of fullness and can’t really hear out of that ear. I’ve had 3 courses of antibiotics - apparently now tried all 3 that treat the infection indicated on the swab - and I’m wondering what’s the likely next step?

Antibiotics improve it a bit but it’s never really gone away. I’ve been fairly slow making GP appointments as soon as antibiotics fail due to no pain and I was hopeful that
maybe it just needed to drain.

It’s now gotten much worse, it’s throbbing with pain spreading into my jaw and down the back of my neck. I’ve been keeping an eye on symptoms of mastoiditis and I don’t have those.

I’m wondering if anyone knows what is the likely next step? I’m wondering if it’s time I get referred to ENT since the antibiotics clearly aren’t working. Does anyone know how long the wait for ENT is likely to be if that happens?

I’ve never had problems with my ears before so this is all new to me but currently debating if cutting it off would hurt less!!

Yes push for an ENT appointment. I had repeated ear infections about five over two years in 2018/19 none of them too painful just smelly and affected my hearing. GP kept giving me antibiotics which cleared it but just came back.

Then in October 2020 I got an awful one that I felt quite unwell with I had a high temperature and it was very painful, GP prescribed me antibiotics and an ear spray over the phone as was Covid times and wouldn’t see me face to face. I started the antibiotics but couldn’t keep them down and kept being sick so rang GP to ask for some anti sickness tablets but they wouldn’t give me any and told me I had to go to A&E which was ridiculous. I went as had no choice and they sent me - rightly- to the urgent care centre next door who gave me anti sickness tablets!

They also referred me to the ENT emergency clinic and I had an appointment a week later. They micro suctioned all the gunk and bits of infection out of my ear as my eardrum had burst from the infection, and gave me antibiotic drops to use which worked. I’ve not had another infection since.

I have quite marked hearing loss in that ear now and need a hearing aid, I basically have no ear drum left after so many infections. Though I had problems with that ear in my childhood too.

I could cry today!
Went to the GP. I saw a junior doctor who didn’t really know what to do with me given the antibiotics failed. He was talking about ENT. He then went and got a senior doctor.

I had a telephone appointment with this doctor a few weeks ago before my last course of antibiotics. He had a look. Tried to take a swab but it failed as it’s dry and compacted today. He said he could see a big white lump infront of my ear drum.

He kept muttering he wasn’t convinced it’s not ear wax (well it’s not, it’s white and smells like feet) and then talking about a tear in my ear drum which they can’t check due to the compacted puss. But I can’t see how it’s that as when it did clear up a little on antibiotics, my hearing cleared up too.

eventually he sent me home with a swab to take if/when it softens up again. No ENT referral.

I’m actually in tears I feel so frustrated. It never completely cleared up since the first swab so I’m sure it will just be the same thing and I’m sat here in pain, loads of pressure in my ear from the blockage, just waiting for it to soften so I can take a new swab which will yield the same results then wait another god knows how long for an ENT referral. Plus no idea how to get it to soften as I’ve been told to keep it dry, I don’t want to use olive oil drops incase it messes with the swab results.

Oh poor you, earache is so painful! You can’t forget about it so have no peace at all.
Perhaps an appointment with an audiologist would help? I follow several on YouTube and they seem to send/recommend patients to ENT.
Maybe your GP would listen to another healthcare provider.

Thank you. I’ve had a look but they all seem to be for hearing aids/wax removal in my area? Doesn’t look like they’ll touch me with an infection.

Think I’ve managed to get the swab done - by doing all the things I know I’m not supposed to do. Warm water and poking mostly. The swab smells so hoping that was enough.

Now very sore. Will drop swab off tomorrow and wait with bated breath for the results. Willing to bet my life savings on it being the same infection as before!

Have you been checked for pseudemonas? It stinks! Swab needed for diagnosis. Hope you get it sorted.

I’m not sure - they did swab it when I first went in but never said what it was. I just received a text saying I was on the correct antibiotics.

I don’t know if perhaps it’s starting to get better. It’s still dry albeit still completely blocked and sore. We shall see!

How did this end for you ? I’m on week 9 and it’s awful What antibiotics did you have?

I’ve given up to be honest! It’s not blocked or sore anymore but apparently still pus in front of my eardrum.

They just gave me a repeat of the antibiotics I already had!
I’ve had amoxicillin, Flucloxacillin (x2) and Clarithromycin. And a happy dose of thrush to go with it!

So I’m on the last day of 2 weeks clarithromycin and my ear hurts more than before ! Also have had really bad dizziness and balance issues which continue , every doctor I see tells me something different it’s really getting me down cos I’ve had it for over 2 months now

That sounds dreadful! Mine was bad enough but I only had pain a few days and no balance issues. I’m just waiting for it to come back since it clearly isn’t entirely gone but I’m a bit done with going to the GP.