Anone ever get poisoned from their earrings?

[TheSeriousOne]

I have a very strange problem...

I know I am allergic to lots of metals and have to be very careful what I wear - but have been wearing some platinum set diamond earrings for about 4 years now.

My ears play up now and again, but usually sterilising my earrings in gin and giving my ears a few days to recover is more than enough...

This time, my ears have been terrible for weeks. I had to go to the office yesterday and today so forced myself to wear the earrings (as one ear looks awful, all red etc) but took the earrings out over night and sterilised them .

This morning, I think, hmm my left ear is hurting a bit, it's gotten worse and worse all day to the point that it's now excruitiating from the top of my ear to my jaw line and the back of my ear is full of massive bumps (feel like glands) I can't eat and am struggling to pick DS up as it's so painful.

Tried NHS direct, they said go to the Dr, so am going tomorrow, but am in SOOO much pain NOW.. The bumps are still getting bigger, as is the swelling and the stiffness down the side of my neck (I took the earrings out at lunchtime). The middle of my ear (where you can hear) is now so swelled that I can't even touch it...

FWIW, the other ear is fine..

All I can think of is some sort of allergic reaction / metal poisoning?

Any advice? My head is killing me!!

ibuprofen might help for now. Hot compress?

my mil got celulitis (sp??) from some solid gold earrings and ended up in hospital for a week - if you are worried see a doctor asap

Go to casualty asap.

Maybe take antihistimine in the mean time if u have any in the house, some of the night time meds for kids have it in them.

I would say A&E too.

I've had this same problem , when I was younger I worked in a hairdressers and was sent home as they thought I had mumps, and din't want me infecting the customers! i had to go to the Doc's before they would let me back...it turn's out it was impetigo from wearing cheap earrings and had spread to my glands.

After that I've always worn Sterling Silver(the only metal I can wear).

I had a tattoo done 4 years ago and ever since then I can only wear earrings for a few hours at a time, before I get a reaction, also cannot dye my hair for the same reason.

Thanks guys.

I went to the Drs first thing this morning. She has prescribed ABs, anti histamines, Ibroprofen (pain killing and anti inflamatory) and vitamins.

she doesn't know why I've had such a severe reaction, but I have (i) an infection and (ii) a severe allergic reaction to the metal.

She did say (as Moonmother has said) that it's unlikely that I will be able to wear earings of any sort for any appreciable time now - once a reaction has kicked off, apparently the body doesn't forget it...

Thanks to the guys who said A&E though - I honestly thought I was over reacting, but the Dr said that if the ABs don't kick in within 48 hours, I have to go on a drip!!!

I am feeling loads better, even though my ear is still the size of wales.

thanks again, TSO

TheSeriousOne, your GP is right about needing IV antibiotics if the oral ones don't work. I went through this with DS2 last month. His face swelled up following a minor injury on a Tuesday to the inside of his mouth, oral ABs by Wednesday, by Friday he looked like a victim from crime watch and ended up in hospital on IV ABs. Which is why I said go to A&E. He responded to them with 24 hours and was absolutely fine. Had to take strong oral ones for a week after though.