HELP! I have really bad ear pain that's worse on swallowing. Please can someone suggest something to give some relief?

[Twinklemegan]

I have the flu but it's the ear pain that's getting me. I'm too scared to eat or drink and I feel crap. DH is out finding some decongestants (don't quite know how I'll swallow them) but in the meantime any suggestions would be very welcome. I've tried a hot water bottle and it's not really helping. And I seem to be producing excess saliva which is just making me need to swallow more so I'm feeling very sorry for myself.

Any ibuprofen in the house?
Good painkiller for ear pain
Hope you feel better soon

A cure for when the ear pain is due to cold wind: half an onion, wrapped in a hankie, held to your ear by a scarf wrapped around your head (I kid you not). I'd try it if I had earache, and it has worked for my LOs.

Sounds more like tonsilitus than flu, I had it last year and felt exactly as you described.I'd get seen by a doc asap.

Heres what helped me though

Nothing Citrus -it produces more saliva

Drink ice cold water

Gargle with dissolvable aspirin - this was the only way I was able to eat or take medication.

Hope you feel better soon

Ibuprofen. Also you could try pouring boiling water into a mug, pouring it out, drying it very quickly then cupping it over your ear - BE CAREFUL!! An air steward did this for my dd when she was having problems with an ear on a plane and he said it helped with ear pain generally.

Thanks everyone. Sorry I didn't come back yesterday. I know what you mean moonmother - I was diagnosed with tonsillitis years ago (turned out to be glandular fever ) and as you say the symptoms are very similar.

I only managed to get ibuprofen today, but thankfully the pain is finally easing having peaked yesterday evening. My ear feels funny and blocked now, but that's nothing. I did have quite a high temperature as well but that seems to be going down.

I'll see how it goes over the next few days but hopefully the worst is over. Thanks for all your input - I'll definitely remember your suggestions in case there's a next time (God forbid!)