Ear infection during pregnancy?

[Peaplant20]

Anyone had this? Or ever had an ear infection? I don’t think I’ve had one before so I’m not sure but my ear really hurts on the inside and I think it’s swimmers ear as it also hurts when I press my tragus and it hurts to sleep on that side. Or could it just be from pregnancy rhinitis? I’ve been congested basically all pregnancy and I’m 25 weeks now. Do you think a pharmacist will give me something or being pregnant will I have to go to the GP? I feel like I’m constantly ringing the GP this pregnant so don’t want to call if I don’t have to but I’m on day 3 now of this ear pain :(

I was going to just post exactly the same! I'm 14 weeks and I've had ear pain since last week, I've just been taking paracetamol. It's worse on a night and if I sleep on that side. It does feel like water in there. It's awful, so tender.
I did have an ear infection last year and was given antibiotic ear spray then but when I've looked on google it says to not use this in pregnancy so I'm just hoping it gets better by itself 😢

If you have an inner ear infection it will probably require antibiotics, best to ring the GP.

I've had inner ear infections (swimmer's ear) a couple of times, not while I was pregnant mind you. Very easy to treat with antibiotics but you need to speak to your GP about it ASAP. The first time it happened, I left it for a week thinking it would go away on its own and I got cellulitis in my outer ear and it was almost swollen shut! 🙉

Thanks everyone. I think it’s an outer ear infection rather than inner (I thought swimmers ear was outer!). Ahhh I really don’t want to call but think I might have to :(

@Peaplant20 Apologies, I meant to type "outer".
You really have to call your GP ASAP. The infection will spread if left untreated.
Your GP has a duty of care, it's their job, they are there to keep you healthy.
I hope you feel better soon!

Spoken to my doctor today who had prescribed sufrodex. He initially prescribed something else and when I said I’m pregnant he said oh let me check and then he said no I’ll give you something else but he was so surprised that something topical would be advised against and thought it was more likely it hadn’t been tested. So he’s prescribed me the sufrodex instead but when you Google sufrodex it literally says do not use in pregnancy (whereas lots of medicines just say consult your doctor first). I really don’t know what to do can anyone advise? He said I’d only need to take it for 3-4 days and I’m trying to work out whether it is worth it. Or would having an active infection be more harmful than using a medicine? Urghh I keep getting little issues like this in pregnancy and I feel so fed up I don’t want to do anything that will harm baby :(

@Peaplant20 hi! I would recommend checking with the pharmacist when you collect. I had a prescription in my last pregnancy and when I advised I was pregnant ( to the pharmacist) they double checked and I wasn't allowed it so went back to the doctor for something else! X

@May2311 thanks. The GP did check so I’m presuming they have the same guidance but I will ask the pharmacist thanks. It’s so awkward the thought of having the ring the GP and question them! I think some people would just trust everything the GP and not even give it a second thought and I’m sure it’s very low risk but I’m a massive googler and worrier x

I remember the antibiotic ear spray I got last time when I googled it it said to avoid in pregnancy but when the doctor prescribed it to me she looked it up on the medical information page there and then and said it wasn't showing up as a risk factor.
Have you used the prescription they gave you yet? Are you finding the pain has eased at all?

@penguin7 thanks for this! I’m assuming you took it and all was ok? I started using ear calm which contains acetic acid as it’s milder and my ear was feeling better until today when it’s suddenly felt worse. I can’t pick up my prescription until tomorrow because of the bank holiday but I’ll collect it and start using it. I’ve taken a paracetamol today but feeling pretty fed up and sorry for myself. Do you remember which one you took?

@Peaplant20 This is the leaflet for the drops your GP prescribed:

www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.2253.pdf

Nowhere does it say do not use if you are pregnant, it says to consult your doctor first -which is pretty standard for most if not all medications. You have consulted your doctor but chose to ignore them and now the infection is getting worse.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pick up your prescription, you have an infection that is minor to begin with but left untreated can become so much worse -I speak from experience.

I hope you feel better soon! All the best.

@eloiseislost thanks for this. I did try to collect them on Wednesday but they were out of stock, felt better yesterday so didn’t go and now can’t today because they’re closed :( thanks for the link to the leaflet but the one I say literally said do not use in pregnancy and the drugs they contain are category D which means it has been shown to cause problems with the fetus. :( :( :(

*the one I saw

@Peaplant20 I don't know which one you saw, the one I posted is from medicines.org.uk which is an official and regulated website.
You always have to consider the risk of not treating an infection, especially in pregnancy, when our immune systems are compromised. Have a look here, towards the end it explains potential compilations: www.healthline.com/health/otitis-externa.
Your GP would have considered the risks of complications from the infection, the realistic exposure to the medication (we are talking a few days, might need to be more now that you left it, but it still would not be prolonged exposure in any way), and the evidence base.
You are free to seek a second opinion but you might have to wait a bit while your ear is getting worse and yes there is a chance that the infection will go away on its own but are you willing to take that chance?

@eloiseislost I basically looked at this and a few other websites which said the same

@Peaplant20 This is from Australia and I don't see whether it is the latest advice or not, whereas the link I sent you is from the UK and up to date as from a regulated body.

Anyway, I have tried to help you. As someone who has had outer ear infections that turned very bad, I gave you my opinion, which is what you asked for with this thread. You don't want the drops, don't take the drops, it's your life, your choice.
You can always go back to your GP and discuss your concerns, or go to the pharmacist for a second opinion. But self-medicating and expecting strangers on the internet to validate your actions is not helping you or your baby.

@eloiseislost I think you have misunderstood me. I will be going to the pharmacy first thing when it opens tomorrow and I do appreciate your advice/ opinion. I’m not disagreeing with you.