Ow ow ow ow my ear HURTS

[stealthsquiggle]

I have an ear infection - I quite often get sore ears, but this has gradually got worse to the point where I decided to stop ignoring it and went to the GP this morning.

GP said v. nast outer ear infection - gave me gentisone drops - which I have put in - but it HURTS - way more than this morning. I have taken painkillers but they are not working any more - have tried hot water bottle (well, hot wheat monkey belonging to DD, actually) which gives a little bit of temporary relief - all other suggestions welcome!

I need to get some sleep/ be able to think straight to work

I can sympathise greatly with you. had an ear infection like this in march and although much better, it is still bothering me, had black gunk oozing out at one stage
I tried cold treatment rather than heat. not good for all infections but the cold for me took the blood away from the area and so numbed the pain.

I had drops too first that made my ear hurt more for a day or 2 then helped reduce the pain, but then I was on very strong oral anti b's too.
going for a deeper look at the hospital soon as my ear is still not right and red in the middle part but at least I don't feel like I am under water anymore!!

can't help anymore I am afraid as my own herbal preps for sleep aiding are a bit over the top and can't be sent via e mail

GP was reluctant to prescribe AntiBs on the grounds that even had he been able to see the eardrum (he couldn't, the ear is too swollen ) and seen it to be infected, it would probably be viral. I was fine with that as previous ear infections have failed to respond to first 2 courses of AntiB's, and arguably by the third the infection was probably going away by itself rather than because of the AntiB's.

I may change that view. And/or go back for stronger painkillers, but not sure what as I have already taken voltarol which I had left over...to no effect!

Not sure I can face the cold treatment BTW

yes not overly nice and tends to leave wet patches on pillows or furniture!!

funny thing is, is that in children, ear infections are most likely to be viral based which is why many GP's do not give anti b's to kids anymore for ear infections. but most adult infections are bacterial in cause. My GP first refused to give anti b's as she said it was probably viral, but a week later I ended up in hospital with the left side of my head/face totally numb and couldn't hear a thing in either ear, the consultant said it looked a typical bacterial infection (not sure what one of those looks like but hey, hes supposed to be the expert!!)

keep an eye on it (strange expression as if you could literally you would look quite strange with eyes on the side of your head!!)
after the deeper look, I am to have a hearing test too as it appears the infection has caused some damage to my hearing too but secretly hope there is a potato down there instead

I get otitus externa (total spelling guess)

I get it about 3 or 4 times a year - it is an infection r virus in the outer ear canal

My GP is like yours A/B as last resort

I use lavender oil on cotton wool & co-codamol (I take 1 every 2 hrs rather than 2 every 4 hrs - as I never get copletely pain free but neither do I cry because they have worn off & I can't take another one for another hr iyswim)

HTH

hmmmm - OK - my face is sore down to the jaw on that side - do you think that qualifies as 'looking like a typical bacterial infection' ?

I so don't have time for this...

sorry wouldn't have a clue as he was looking down my ear at the time he said that (well thats what my sister told me as I couldn't hear a word he said!!)

if the pain is down to the jaw, thats more than an outer ear infection then, personally now I would use a pau d'arco poultice in/on my ear now I have read up on them more, not something you would have in your cupboard though I am sure, sorry

GP says it's dramatically worse since yesterday (not just me being a hypochondriac then) - broad spectrum antibiotics and monster painkillers and it has 48 hours to respond before it gets sent to hospital!

wonderful!!
hope the 48 hours go quick and the meds work for you, fingers crossed

This happened to me a couple of years ago and in the end I was sent to hospital, I had to return to ent every day for a week while they suctioned all the gunk out.(nice)
Twice they packed my ear with long antibiotic soaked tape things.
It was the worst pain that I have ever experienced in my life so feel really sorry for you. I was very nearly put on iv antibiotocs but after 3 lots of oral antibiotics finally started getting better.
Hope you feel better soon stealth.

Thanks, both - boocha I think the antibiotic soaked tapes (wicks?) was what the GP was suggesting/threatening they would do.

I will cross everything but am not v. hopeful since the last time I had it (not this bad) it took 3 lots of anti-b's to get rid - that said, he has apparently gone for the antibiotic equivalent of domestos!

Nice to know I am not the only one, anyway - the only reaction I have had in RL is "you're too old to get ear infections"

So all I have to deal with now is a funeral tomorrow when I can't even get drunk afterwards, and a massive backlog of work due to me wasting most of yesterday sitting around saying 'ow'

KatyMac - the crying because you can't take another for hours - yes, that's where I was last night...

SO are you on 2 tablets every 4 hrs?

If so try 1 tablet every 2

I will do from now on in. I tried 2 and it hasn't actually lasted any longer than 1 did IYSWIM. Also alternating them with ibuprofen at GP's recommendation. 2yo DD accidentally head-butting my ear hasn't helped much either.

How are you today?

Not great - manic day (funeral). One every 2 hours is definitely working better but now I feel sick....not sure if that is the infection, the painkillers, the antibiotics, or something else entirely.

I guess if it's not responding by tomorrow am I will be going back to docs again [sigh]

Thanks for asking

Or a bug on top of everything else?

Poor you

don't know - but how long after throwing up a co-codamol (along with everything else) do you think I can take another ?

DH's helpful answer was 'tomorrow' - he so does not understand how much this hurts

How long after taking it did you throw up?

about 15mins

may be academic as I think I am going to throw up again...

Well you can take another one anyway (as you can have 2 at a time) but not have anymore for 4 hrs

Can you take ibuprofen?

Yes, although it is starting to make me wheezy as I have been on it for too long...

OK - logging off now - will take some more when I am a little more confident that I am done throwing up, and try and get some sleep.

Thanks for the advice (again)!

Sorry I wasn't more constructive

Hope you are better soon

Sleep well(ish)