Adult Ear Infection (Both Ears)... Can't Cope
Posted , 6 users are following.
Good afternoon,
I really hope someone out there can give me some advice and let me know that this fight isn't getting the better of me...
Last year i had a perforated right ear drum after a bought of sinusitis. The pain was horrific but after the initial burst seemed to die down. I was however deaf for a few weeks in that ear. When it cleared up i felt back to normal. That was until 5am UK time on Thursday 2nd Feb this week...
I was awoke by that same horrible feeling of Ear ache and something bad was going to happen. It felt like it popped. Little bits of liquid started to come out. Then a few hours later after some Paracetamol the left ear did the same.
We rang the G.P. No help as per usual. At this point my partner was doing all the talking. I felt awful and like death with a fever. She decided to ring out of hours gp services at the local hospital and a doctor there decided to see me. I wasnt really capable of getting there but my partner helped carry me to the car. Felt so weak.
After discussing symptoms with my partner and looking in both ears he said it was Otitis Media. I could have worked that out. But in fairness he did take the time to get me some antibiotics.
It is now Sunday 17:00 and i have no pain on my ears apart from being around 80% deaf and constant tinnitus.
My hearing in one ear has never been great and i think i have suffered with extremely mild tinnitus since i was 17 i think... im 33 now.
I am having boughts of fever every 6-8 hours. These get really horrible and make me feel like giving up 
i dont see any real progress.
Im taking Ibuprofen x 2. Ive had three lots today so will have to go back to Paracetamol. Im taking 500mg Amoxicillin every 8 hours. Im also take 10mg MST morning and night for Sciatica. Accompanied with 300mg Gabapentin 3 times a day and Oramoprh 5ml/10mg once a day.
Please help.
Will my ears go back to normal?
Are my fevers normal? Taking medication drops them again. I can kind of tell when i need medication as i start getting cold and hot.
I feel useless. Havent moved much in 4 days and feel like I'm in a vicious circle. Is this something more serious i should think about?
1 like, 17 replies
Bustersmum james1111
Posted
Hi james
Both my ear drums burst jan 2, I've never had ear infections before but sinus, chest and ear infection caused them. I can relate to the horrific pain, left started then burst draining clear fluid, immediately right ear pain started and I dreaded how I knew it would increase, wow that hurt even more and I called 111 as it was bank holiday and because I couldn't say whether I had a fever or not they wouldn't see me. During the night right ear burst leaking blood and gunk. Saw gp next morning but had reaction to antibiotics so was put on oral steroids. That day hearing went in both ears. Panic stricken saw gp again. Anyway gp referred me to emergency ent who said I've got glue ear and gave me steroid nose drops. I'm on week 6 now and although hearing is much much better I'm bad in crowded places, background noise overrules near noise. Oh yes in the deaf days I had constant Musical tinnitus in left ear and various noises in right. Now just in right ear. I still get random stabbing ear ache but they've told me this could take up to 8 weeks. The pressure still builds up in my sinus and blocks ears. I have to keep popping. Sometimes it works other times it doesn't. Ear drums are closed but trapped the fluid. I'm due back end Feb/march for assessment and every so often I go achy and lethargic. They said they'll consider grommets if they are not satisfied with the healing
Olizzieo Bustersmum
Posted
Try and find an ENT that performs eustachian tube balloon dilation. ENTs that use grommets, often don't perform this procedure. It is preferrabe to grommets as it doesn't leave your middle ear vulnerable to air/water born infection and can have a longer lasting positive outcome. Also in my daughter's case, her ear drum didn't heal after the grommet fell out so she had to have another surgery to repair it.
Olizzieo james1111
Posted
Hi James, if you are concerned go back to your GP. Even if they tell you you have to wait it out, at least you know it is normal. Ask for a referal to an ENT. This is the second bout of ear infections you have had so you are obviously needing specialist assessment. It may be a flare up of the same bacteria - and yes temperatures/fever are very normal with ear infections, OR you suffer with eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). ETD can cause ear infections to reoccur so seeing an ENT who specialises in eustachian tube dysfunction would be of benefit. Don't leave it to the GP to choose your ENT, Google and phone the ENT receptionists to find out if they specialise in ETD. Ask them if they perform eustachian tube balloon dilation. You may not need this proceedure but if you do, you will not spend months or years with an ENT who can't perform it and who continues to give you medication only, every time you have ear infections. Which city and country do you live in? There are a lot of posts on this website which give information on which ENTs perform balloon dilation. As I said, you may never need it, but an ENT that performs this procedure, will be the most up to date with current ETD practise.
james1111 Olizzieo
Posted
Hi there, it's been a week now since this all happened. I have taken my full course of antibiotics and am feeling a lot better. However, I can't hear in both ears. I can hear something like a phone if it's next to my ear but it's still not great. Everything sounds muffled and I have a constant ringing in both ears.
I spoke with the G.P. today and he said it could take up to 4 weeks for my hearing to return... I never realise how much I took my senses for granted until this deafness. I really hope my hearing comes back...
Olizzieo james1111
Posted
Hi James, your hearing will come back, it's just fluid blocking your hearing and causing the tinnitus. If this becomes a regular patern over the next year, make sure you see an ENT. Let's hope it was just a bad run!!!
james1111 Olizzieo
Posted
My hearing has come back a lot better in my left ear. My right ear is still bad.
I can still hear ringing in my ears.
Doctor has gave me some Beconase for my nose. Maybe this helps with my tubes? Dont know.
Over the last two days since my hearing got better in my left ear, its started to hurt when i burp or yawn in that ear. Only for a quick second.... strange?
Olizzieo james1111
Posted
The soreness from yawning and burping is caused when air is forced into the eustachian tube. In your case your are still recovering from an infection so the whole system is still inflammed. Don't forget, if you are worried, ask to see and ear specialist. Unfortunately there a lot of resistant bugs out there and it takes time for the body to get rid of them.
JamC1 Olizzieo
Posted
I'm terrified !
Both my eardrums perforated a week ago, due to a flu infection, and now i can hear next to nothing in both ears, apart from a phome pressed to them.
Also have raging tinnitus.
The doctor gave me antibiotics but more or less said it's just a waiting game, said can take months for hearing to return.
How is everyone on here getting on now ?
Hoping it's good news from you all.
james1111 JamC1
Posted
My hearing has come back in both ears. My doctor checked my ears last week, he said my one ear still has an infection in it but there is nothing that can be done. He also said my eardrum is bruised.
I have been in your position and it is awful. I was terrified my hearing wouldn't come back. If you are in pain, take painkillers. I know they helped me, especially with my fever.
The whole thing was awful, every time I get cold symptoms now I am worried it will cause me to have a repeat problem in my ears.
I will have to see someone soon though, for the last few years I can't remember my nose running when I have a cold. Which is unusual... I wonder if this might be causing my issue where I have a blockage maybe?
JamC1 james1111
Posted
So happy for you your hearing has returned
My hearing seems to be getting worse daily, and i'm thinking of paying £200 to see an ENT specialist privately.
It's horrendous how muffled my own voice sounds, although it is only 12 days since my ears were leaking fluid.
I'm really panicking though, also for ages every time i've had a cold my nose hasn't run either.
My doctor just says it's otitis media and i have to ride it out over time !
JamC1
Posted
james1111 JamC1
Posted
To be honest my hearing is still playing up...
Nothing has popped but my left ear is feeling full up again and I think my hearing has gone less again in that ear.
I am definately going to see the doctor about it because there is definately an underlying issue there...
Like I said, I haven't had a runny nose for a long time when I have a cold etc that makes me wonder if there is a blockage that means that it ends up in my ear tubes? who knows. Im not a doctor lol
Glad to hear that your hearing returned! those few weeks were awful for me and I have a huge respect for people who are deaf. I never understood how different the world is when you can't hear. It's awful.
JamC1 james1111
Posted
It's horrendous not having any hearing !
Sorry you're still having issues, hope a specialist can help, i've had a horrible and very loud vibrating noise in my left ear since last night, so hope that stops soon.
My doctor made me an appointment with an ENT specialist, but it's not until June, but i'm going so they can check if i've lost any hearing due to this problem.
I'm so glad you posted about your experience and outcome, as it gave me hope my hearing would return when i was in a total state of panic over it, just hope you get sorted soon, may just be pressure in your ear, rather than fluid hopefully !
james1111 JamC1
Posted
Your welcome! At the time I wrote the post I was feeling so low and couldn't hear anything. I joined this forum to see if my symptoms were something to be concerned about. I had some replies and this gave me hope so I'm glad my situation brought you hope that your hearing would return
Yes, next time I see the doctor I'll ask. I hope I haven't lost any hearing.
marion00465 james1111
Posted
Both my middle ears got inflamed brought on by the flu, hearing went in both ears and have raging Tinnitus. It’s so scary!!!
The Tinnitus is driving me mad.
Since you posted a while ago, can you give a long-term update on your recovery please ?
Both for hearing and ringing in ears.
marion00465 JamC1
Posted
Both my middle ears got inflamed brought on by the flu, hearing went in both ears and have raging Tinnitus. It’s so scary!!!
The Tinnitus is driving me mad.
Since you posted a while ago, can you give a long-term update on your recovery please ?
Both for hearing and ringing in ears.
james1111 marion00465
Posted
Hi there,
It's was almost a year ago I think... I remember it was an awful experience being deaf in both of my ears at the time and I felt so depressed.
I have always suffered with tinnitus, I have had a hearing test and there is only a minimal loss apparently. I find that hard to believe because I struggle to hear conversations in groups. I think I have learned to live with tinnitus for a few years. The only time I really notice it is if I am in a quiet room or going to bed. Then I can hear the ringing and i try to teach myself not to focus on it. I wouldn't say it prevents me from sleeping but it might prevent me from sleeping well.
My ears have been feeling strange the last few days, I hope it isn't going to happen to me again. I dread the thought. The ear pain alone at the start was horrific!