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Ear infection, four days on antibiotics/3 different docs no improvement.

Posted , 6 users are following.

jadetaggart
jadetaggart

Hello, I'm really hoping that someone can help here, I've had an ear infection since Wednesday evening, I went to the doctors on Thursday morning in pain and was given otomise ear drops and told to take paracetamol and ibuprofen - I have asthma. I went back the next day in more pain and was turned away and told to carry on with my prescribed spray, by 13:00 in the morning I was in tears and went to the out of hours surgery to be told what I had been prescribed wouldn't touch the infection because my ear is swollen shut and the meds were too weak, I was given cocodamol 500mg which helps half the pain and antibiotics that I've been taking for two days with little to no improvement - fluxolaxin (I think). When the cocodamol wears off I'm in tears again with the throbbing/ stabbing pain - I've started getting clear discharge out of my ear today and my face is slightly swollen. I don't know if I should go back to the docs or a&e, or if I should grin and bare the pain and wait? Please help x Jade

0 likes, 26 replies

26 Replies

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  • carmel83758
    carmel83758 jadetaggart

    Posted

    My answer to you depends which country you are in. If in the Uk, which it sounds like, I would go to a & e if it is that awful. I know how you feel, have had problems with my ear being blocked and hurting over and over for years. Sometimes antibiotics and steroids help but then it can go that way again soon after. It might be that the eustachian tube needs to be seen to. Try to remember that although it is painful and driving you nuts it is not a serious thing.

    I

    • jadetaggart
      jadetaggart carmel83758

      Posted

      Hello, thank you for replying so quickly I am in the UK and if when I wake up tomorrow and the cocodamol has worn off and I'm in terrible pain again, I am going straight to A&E. Having to go to three doctors means I don't really trust the care I've been given and because I'm having to take time off work for this I need to get good care as soon as possible x
    • carmel83758
      carmel83758 jadetaggart

      Posted

      You deserve to get good care anyway, because you are in pain and you want to be well. I know what it is like to speak to different doctors and be told all different things where you can sometiems tell immediately they make no sense. The doctors often use no common sense anyway. They might say go home with painkillers when they shold send you to ent or a and e if you are feeling so bad. I suppose you are dreading waking up tomorrow but at least you have a good plan now.
    • jadetaggart
      jadetaggart carmel83758

      Posted

      I can't help but think that I wouldn't be in this pain now, if I had been given adequate care to begin with (cocodamol is wearing off getting grumpy)! Thank you for helping me with my plan Carmel x
    • carmel83758
      carmel83758 jadetaggart

      Posted

      Hi Jade.Yes I agree with you, it is very annoyng isnt it? I think the doctors would try a lot harder if it was their own ear or the ear of one of their family or friends. This is why I never just believe whatever they say now and research things and think for myself, have had many times where they have got it all wrong. I was diagnosed with sinus problems years ago and they kept coming back. It was me that thought this was odd and researched and pointed out it was silent acid reflux and then they said yes thats right.
  • mark357
    mark357 jadetaggart

    Posted

    The only thing that I can suggest for a temporary solution is if you have any olive oil, warm up the bottle gently then rub a little on the ear lobe.

    ***Don't PUT IT IN THE EAR***

    This is an old wives tale, the oil is absorbed through the lobes. But carry on with your pain relief while the oil does it's job.

    • carmel83758
      carmel83758 mark357

      Posted

      The olive oil idea is for those whose ear is full of wax. And you can put it in the ear, it melts it either way. It wont help with other reasons for a bad ear.
    • jadetaggart
      jadetaggart mark357

      Posted

      Thank you for your suggestion Mark, but I'm not putting anything near it I'm petrified of making it worse when it's so painful! Thank you :-)
    • carmel83758
      carmel83758 jadetaggart

      Posted

      Just an idea, it might not help but it cannot hurt. How about holding your ear over a bowl of very hot water and let the steam get to it? With - if possible - some eucalyptus or peppermint (olbas oil) in it? Breathing it in clears the head and that might make you feel a bit better. I think you would feel better if you did something. Please let me know how you get on tomorrow.
    • mark357
      mark357 jadetaggart

      Posted

      It does work, but as I don't know how bad it is, I will leave it to you to decide. This method came in useful when the family babies had ear ache. I am using this method at the moment as I have an ear problems myself and would not be able to see a specialist till September. You see I suffer with tinitus and when this happens I temporarily lose my hearing, ho and my ear drum is missing, so I have no protection for the inner ear.
    • jadetaggart
      jadetaggart mark357

      Posted

      I think it's similar to an infection my mum had and she was given steroids. I'm going to see a consultant at 10am and will update this post when I am back, I also think my ear drum burst in my sleep as fair bit of cleary whitish fluid has been coming out - the stabbing pain is still there too. Mark, that sounds really terrible to have to live with, do you think they will be able help you? I hope September comes around quickly for you :-)
    • mark357
      mark357 jadetaggart

      Posted

      The ironic thing is that I never knew that my ear drums are missing, with that in mind, my GP said "don't be surprised that you will need an hearing aid" as my hearing has been affected with the missing ear drum. I look forward in hearing how you got on.
  • lindleyk
    lindleyk jadetaggart

    Posted

    Hot packs to the infected ear, you want the  infected site to come to the surface and break through so it drains out and the drops can do some good. Take a hand towel and run hot tap water through it. Wring out and lay it across your ear until it cools. Worth a try.
    • jadetaggart
      jadetaggart lindleyk

      Posted

      Thank you lindleyk, I have been trying hot compresses and steam bowls and they seem to help bring the fluid out a little, hopefully I will have some better medication if necessary soon and some sleep! x
  • jadetaggart
    jadetaggart

    Posted

    I'm going to try my head over a steamy bowl with eucalyptus in it, and keep doing the hot compresses. I'm worried that my ear drum has perforated but that I'm not getting much fluid out because my ear canal is swollen shut - there's nowhere for it to go (I'm not sure if it works like that)! Thank you everyone for your help, I'll keep you posted tomorrow morning x
    • carmel83758
      carmel83758 jadetaggart

      Posted

      Sounds like a good idea Jade. Let us hope it works and at least you will know it is not worse and you hve done your best. When I feel the way you do I always feel better if I am doing something even if it does not work.

      lemon juice is cleansing too. Good luck and hope you get a good nights sleep.

    • lindleyk
      lindleyk jadetaggart

      Posted

      Both are good non-invasive soothing and healing therapies. I used to sleep with my ear on a heating pad. When it finally drains it's the best feeling in the world.  Earaches are miserable and scary. The sooner the infection is brought to a head and starts healing the better for your ears - but you definitely need to take a firm stand with the doctors. If you stand up for yourself they might be temporarily peeved, but their medical ethics will get them over it. It's their duty to reduce your suffering. Good luck and let us know how it works out.
    • jadetaggart
      jadetaggart lindleyk

      Posted

      It's like they're doing us/me a favour, that's the annoying thing!! I've just steamed my ear but it hasn't helped - my nose however is extra clear! 

      I'm considering going to a private clinic tomorrow, it shouldn't be more than £100/£150 from the price guide list, it'll have to be an early birthday present I think. I will write back when I'm home from the hospital, I don't think I'll be sleeping tonight - the cocodamol isn't working anymore :-( x

    • carmel83758
      carmel83758 jadetaggart

      Posted

      Sorry you feel bad. Another suggestion. When my ear hurt a lot I took tramadol or sumitrapan for the pain. Dont forget if you go private they may well say they want to take an x ray or want you to go back so the price mounts up as they do more or you return.
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