<p>I have the worst ear infection in my left ear. The pain is so excruciating that I sometimes feel like I’m losing my mind. I’ve already visited the doctor and gotten medication, but does anyone here have any tips as to what else I can do to alleviate this horrible pain.</p>
<p>The worst part is that I have 2 midterms and 3 papers due this week.</p>
<p>Do you have drops for the pain? Or just med for the infection? You need both if you are still in pain. Usually as the infection clears, pain ceases. Get to see the doc again & find out what’s up.</p>
<p>I went to see the doc today, and he just gave me drops. If it doesn’t stop in three days, then I’m gonna see him again.</p>
<p>I think you need to go back to the doc and tell him what you’ve told us. Is the pain substantially worse than it was than when you saw him? </p>
<p>If these are just ‘pain drops’ you might need antibiotics – which generally kick in and help you feel better in 24 hrs.</p>
<p>Is this the college health service doc? I would call back, or go back TONIGHT.</p>
<p>The ear drops have antibiotics in them. Yes, this is the college health services doctor. I think I agree with you that I should see him soon. But I just started using the ear drops at 5:00 Central time today, so it may take a few more hours to feel the effects.</p>
<p>VT, forget the doctor. Go–no run–to the Emergency Clinic. Regular doctors are not always well equipped to diagnose ear and throat infections correctly. </p>
<p>A missed diagnosis could be lethal. And, I am not joking.</p>
<p>O.K., You just started them, so it should stop hurting by tomorrow. But did you tell the doc how much pain you are in right now? Drops for pain are available. I don’t know why he didn’t give those to you as well. You won’t be able to sleep tonight if you’re in great pain, so I’d take cnp’s advice & head back to see what can be done.</p>
<p>For a topical assist, trying laying a heating pad on that side of your head/ear, or one of those air-activated heat strips that are usually sold for muscle pain.</p>
<p>Take care of it, don’t delay.</p>
<p>In addition to the antibiotic drops, perhaps the doctor would be willing to phone in a prescription for some Auralgan (ear drops for pain). When I worked at the pediatrician’s office, the doctors frequently prescribed that along with antibiotics. Do not hesitate to call the doctor’s office right now … no, they won’t be there, but the answering service will pass on the message to the on-call doctor. Give all pertinent information to the service. Tell them who you saw, when you saw them, what your diagnosis was, and what prescription was given. Be sure to tell them how much pain you are experiencing and that you have midterms and papers. Good luck. I hope you feel better soon.</p>
<p>Seems as though the general consensus among docs now is that ear infections clear on their own in a few days and they wait to prescribe oral antibiotics until absolutely necessary. Have you tried Tylenol or Motrin to help alleviate the pain? Also heat (warm washcloth) could help as well. If the pain is so severe you aren’t functioning, I agree with the ER run that xiggi suggests…or at a minimum back to the clinic for some analgesic ear drops.</p>
<p>i know exactly how you feel. I have a history of getting cases of swimmer’s ear (or ear infections), and two summers ago (I think) I had such a bad case of it that I woke up crying in the middle of the night. I couldn’t sleep because it hurt so badly. Also, the drops that I was using (which I knew worked from past experiences) weren’t getting to the infection to fix the problem because my ear was so swollen, and there was so much wax inside of it. I’m sorry you have to go through this.</p>
<p>I recommend getting a prescription for some medicated ear drops. Due to the fact that the drops weren’t getting to the infection, the doctor put medication on this sponge-like coushin, and strategically placed them inside of my ear. I had to leave it in my ear for a day, but when I removed it, I could hear again. Plus, the medication was exposed the infection. I’d recommend asking about something like that if you have a horrible wax buildup.</p>
<p>I believe that an oral antibiotic with Auralgan anesthetic ear drops would be prudent. Antibiotic ear drops will only help if you have an infection in your mid or outer ear (outside of the ear drum). If you have had a cold or sinusitis, or if you currently have a fever, you probably have an inner ear infection that requires oral antibiotics. You have midterms and the oral antibiotic will be the quickest and surest solution. </p>
<p>Tips: Take ibuprofen, apply warm compresses to your outer ear area and warm any ear drops by holding the bottle for a few minutes before
instillation.</p>
<p>Maybe you could ask for an extension on your work, especially if your illness is documented with the student health service.</p>
<p>Much depends on if it is an external ear infection (like swimmer’s ear) or otitis media (middle ear infection). If it is the latter, do not use heat as it makes it more likely to rupture ear drum. However, if all he gave you was drops, it sounds as if he diagnosed external infection. Question is could he see well enough down infected ear canal to see if you have infection past the drum. If infection is past ear drum, the drops will not help that part and you will need oral antibiotics. Usually in 24 hours of treatment, the pain will be better–but am surprised he didn’t give you something to get through the first day or so.</p>
<p>My kids found that sleeping in an upright position caused less pressure in the ear and if you do not go back tonight I would take a hefty dose of Motrin (600mg)</p>
<p>vtoodler~</p>
<p>You have received some good advice, but I just wanted to say that as an ex-diver, I have experienced this type of ear pain on numerous occasions, and my heart goes out to you. I <em>really</em> hope that you feel better very, very SOON. {{{{{{{HUGS!!!}}}}}}} ~berurah</p>
<p>I agree with MKM56 that it matters whether you have an external ear infection (otitis externa, often called swimmers ear) or a middle/inner ear infection (otitis media). External ear infections are very painful but they will resolve if you use the ear drops. Middle/inner ear infections usually aren’t as painful unless the ear drum is close to rupturing or has ruptured. (Often the ear actually feels better after it ruptures.) Ear drops are appropriate for an external ear infection and can be helpful for a middle/inner ear infection, but they are not recommended for a ruptured ear drum.</p>
<p>Therefore, before changing or adding new ear drops, I think you should look at the papers your doctor gave you that list your diagnosis and contact the doctor’s afterhours call service about your symptoms. You should also call if your pain has gotten worse since you saw the doctor. If you can’t reach your doctor’s afterhours service, you might also consider going to the nearest emergency room if the OTC pain medicine doesn’t help and your pain is intractable.</p>
<p>I have swimmers ear. I washed my hair this weekend, and water got inside my ear. At first, it wasn’t too bad. But now it’s swollen. I think that I’m gonna ask the doctor about inserting those strips that reeses was talking about.</p>
<p>Yeah, I think the strip would be best because my ear is so swollen that the ear drops keep running out of my ear.</p>
<p>My DD was on swim teams for years and swimmer’s ear was a frequent condition for her. Something we found that worked well was a mix of equal parts of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. We mixed it in one of those small Rubbermaid containers that resembles a juice box (with built in straw). She would lie on the bed (with a towel placed on her pillow), place the drops in one ear, giving them time to get down into the ear and then turn her head to do the other ear. After giving the excess amounts time to drain, she would take a blow dryer and pass it over her ears several times. Let me be perfectly clear on this, though. You would never want to do anything like this if there is a suspicion of a ruptured tympanic membrane, nor would you want to do this in a child who has tubes. Hopefully your ear is feeling considerably better this morning. A prescription-strength dose of Ibuprofen 800mg may be helpful. Good luck.</p>
<p>Once your ear is back to normal, you may want to try a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in your ear once in awhile. Lie on one side (be carefult to watch the eyes!)with a hand towel under your head and put a few drops into the ear. Lie still and you’ll hear it eating away at the wax and dirt.</p>
<p>Then flip over and do the same with the other ear. The first ear will drain onto the towel. Don’t insert anything other than the drops into the ear!</p>
<p>I do this when I have wax built up or water in my ear. It is a lifesaver!</p>
<p>I have been to the emergency room in the middle of the night for ear infections with my children. You need to call your dr. and ask them to call in drops that will ease the pain. It is like a miracle, a couple of drops in the emergency room waiting room and my child would immeadiatley be up playing until the dr. could see us! I wish I knew what it was called but your dr. should know</p>