Ear perforation infection worry! Please help!
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Hello i perforated my eardrum in late August. potentially from scuba diving. I was referred to the ent department. where I was given antibiotics . 6 weeks later the infection was still there. I been back and ive done 2 weeks of antibiotics and now on steroid drops. I am concerned about my ear as it's been ringing, so i bought a ear camera (safe to use) and i was shocked to find this image.
What can I do to make this better? i dont see the ent doctor for another 8 weeks
0 likes, 3 replies
josh1304
Posted
dannysarruby josh1304
Posted
Without watching where the camera is it's hard to say but it looks thin so I would get that it's your eardrum (perforation).
Seems like you got the camera down with relative ease and it doesn't seem to be full of infectious puss. So all good signs.
Ringing sounds are common with perforation and infection. 8 weeks is quite a lengthy wait though but I would say if there isn't a marked improvement in 10 days (while using antibiotics) then go back and ask to be seen again.
I got an ear infection while in Kenya and flew with it 2 times which ruptured the eardrum. 3 months down the line my ear is still full of puss daily and caused pain and a number of other symptoms including ringing and massive hearing loss. I've been told I will need surgery for the ruptured eardrum, maybe surgery to completely clear out the infection (as no antibiotics are working -spent £140 on prescriptions) and probably surgery to repair bones including possible prosthesis metal implants. I'm also having a CT scan to check for deeper infection
Just keep it dry and hopefully it'll repair
julianne_s josh1304
Posted
Hi, Josh.
To me, it sounds like you have an eardrum rupture or perforation. The circular hole in the middle is the perforation. This isn't a particularly grave condition, but it hurts a lot and impairs both your hearing and your daily activities (I would know because it happened to me too).
This is what my doctor told me: ear infections usually go away in six weeks and eardrum ruptures heal by themselves. However, if they haven't gone away within 3 months, they aren't likely to heal on their own and require a surgery called tympanoplasty. That means operating your tympanic membrane (a.k.a. eardrum) and repairing it with your own tissue.
Judging by the time you have waited, you most probably need to have the surgery. However, you should still give it another four weeks (a month, seeing you have already waited for 8 weeks) before you request the surgery. The wait is hell, I know, but most ENT specialists won't do it before.
I'll share with you the advice my doctor gave to me, so you know: keep your ear dry (this can be accomplished by using ear plugs when you're going into wet spaces), do not, under any circumstance, use Qtips, stay away from loud settings, do not wear headphones of any kind, and always take the medicines the doctor prescribes you (I know they can be expensive and not work, but if you stop taking them the pain becomes WORSE).
In case you live in South Florida, I would like to recommend my physician to you: Dr. Jesse E. Phillips (his office is in Associated Coastal ENT- visit the webpage for more information: https://coastalent.org/wp/). He explained to me all of what I told you. If you don't live anywhere nearby, I wish you the best of lucks and hope you can contact your ENT doctor sooner than 8 weeks or find another doctor before that time passes.