Perforated eardrum ?? But not painful now

[AmberBeaker]

4 days ago I started with congestion and some sinus pain. Felt like a headcold, sneezy etc. Day 2 the pain was mostly in my R face and R ear. Then while lying on the sore ear side I got about 3 minutes of the most excruciating ear pain and pressure, I would say 10/10 pain then a big painful bursting feeling. I screamed out loud invonuntarily in the middle of the night to give idea of the pain. I thought perhaps I perforated my eardrum but no blood or discharge. Since then I have no pain or dizziness, but my ear is ringing constantly and it feels full like it needs to burst and let fluid out if that makes sense. It whistles when I blow my nose and it crackles when I lie (on opposite side).
I can't figure out if this could be a perf eardrum as it isn't sore and hasn't leaked... is it worth going to GP to check it even though I've no pain?
I'd like to know if it's damaged in case of showers, flights etc.
Does anyone have any experience. Other threads I've read re perf eardrum the pain was for days afterwards

Seriously, with a potentially perforated eardrum you should contact your doctor immediately.

I don't remember mine being painful after it burst. I flew about 2 weeks later and had no pressure pain in that ear - presumably because still a hole. I'd make a GP appointment to get them take a look.

My ear perforated when I was a teen. It was agony until it perforated, then the pain went and loads of gunk came out. I’m not sure what’s going on with yours and as it’s ringing, whistling and crackling, you should get it checked

Mine definitely oozed and bled when my eardrum burst , I also had tinnitus for a few weeks which is probably what your whistling is about

When my friend perforated their eardrum the pain went immediately, it still needed medical intervention though. Definitely see your GP, or if you are still uncertain then call 111 and ask their advice.

You would normally get discharge after a perforated eardrum, but the pain you describe is spot on. Time to go to the GP. Keep it dry for the time being.

OK thanks for the replies, appreciate it. It does seem like I should get it checked. It's just my GP can be v dismissive and I thought as I don't have one of the key symptoms (discharge) she might say straight away that it couldn't be perforated and I dont want to waste GP time. But it seems that there can be a mix of experiences re symptoms. Thanks again.

They will be able to see a hole or a healing wound if it is perforated so don’t worry about wasting their time!

Update in case anyone else searching for info: it was indeed perforated but is healing well. No discharge at any stage so that doesn't have to be present for a perforation.
Thanks for all the advice here, I feel better for getting it checked.

Worse than childbirth
sounded like a bomb went off in my ear
followed by gunk and blood. Lots.
no hearing in that ear for a few days and not fully back to normal for 3 weeks

Had to go on antibiotics

I agree, the peak of the pain was up there with labour pain. 11/10

And amount of blood and gunk that followed was also terrifying

10 days in now and I've been so so careful and felt ear was healing well but I think I got some water in my ear tonight while washing hair... panicking! This seems to be the main risk for infection. I tried to dry it out but still worrying, did anyone get water in a perforated eardrum and not get an infection and it was OK?

10 days in I’m sure you will be fine. Ears heal quickly. Dont worry about drying it out manually. If you’re really worried you can use a hair dryer on a medium setting.

And to answer your question, no, I have never got a reinfection after a burst and I’ve had a lot of them - at least 3-4 per ear and occasionally a bilateral one. The pre- burst and pop is usually the worst bit.

Thank you for replying. I saw the Dr on day 3 and she said it was already healing well and only saw a v small hole which was sort of plugged with clotting blood. So hopefully it is healed enough so far to not get infected from this water. Thanks!

Mine was about 10 years ago but I won’t forget the pain. It was relieved when it burst but that side was deaf. It oozed for a few days. I saw the doc the morning after who confirmed and followed up in the ear hospital to check healing and hearing. It’s been fine ever since. Apparently when they rupture on their own the healing is much better than rupture through injury. I slept with a towel on my pillow though to catch the pus/blood water. Not nice!

There you go then, your body is doing its job healing itself. I think you can relax a bit and hopefully put this behind you. I’m sure ears heal pretty quick, like mouths do, because they are so essential for our existence.

Agree that ear infections are incredibly painful. I’d say they are probably my most memorable illnesss as a young teen and then adult, worse than pneumonia and a broken bone.

For me not quite up there with childbirth on the intensity of pain scale, but at least childbirth is over quickly. The horror of ear infections drags on and on, throbbing and stabbing loudly on the side of your head (or both sides if unlucky) day and night for a long, long time.

Put cotton wool in your ear for a few weeks to stop the water rolling in it

I’ve done this a few times - so painful!

(In the shower)