Ear Infection

[Guhlia]

Okay, I'm on antibiotics, both oral and ear drops. I perforated my ear drum. I'm in a fair amount of pain. What can I do to help until it starts to help itself? I'm going nuts here.

[CarlaB]

Ouch. Do you have any pain relievers on hand? Maybe some Vicodin to really knock it out!! Hope you're feeling better soon.

[Daxin]

Try putting a warm (not hot) damp cloth around your neck and up behind your ears.

I had my tonsils out when I was 29 and that is what they told me to do to relieve the pain that was in my ears. SOunds wierd but it helped.

Failing that? TYLENOL and lots of it.

[de caps]

I am a PA working in an ENT clinic for 10 years. You are on the right course of treatment. Please be very careful not to get water in your ears, this will be very painful. Also blow your nose gently. It can take 4-6 weeks for the eardrum to heal depending on the size of the perforation. If it does not close a paper patch can be placed on the ear drum. You may also notice that your hearing is slightly impaired, this will all get better as the ear drum heals. To much tylenol is a bad thing, it is very easy to cause liver toxicity especially if used while consuming more than five alcoholic drinks per week. Stick to heat behind the ear and mortrin with food. Good luck and feel well soon.

Donna

[lindalee]

Okay, I'm on antibiotics, both oral and ear drops. I perforated my ear drum. I'm in a fair amount of pain. What can I do to help until it starts to help itself? I'm going nuts here.

I was having mild pain and lots of itching in my ears a few months ago. I finally figured out what I think caused it. I was cleaning my ears in the shower with my my shampoo. It took a while for it to go away. There also seemed to be a small amount of water in my ear when i itched it. I finally switched to no sodium laurel sufate shampoo and quit cleaning my ears out like that and drank water with a drop of oil of oregano in it. It went away. I also read that salt in a cloth to your ear helps pain. LindaLee

[jenvan]

Heating pad and Similasan ear drops--pain relieving. Are helpful. Hope you are better soon--ear pain stinks!

[Guhlia]

Thanks guys. The heat worked very well, but Vicodin ended up being my life saver. I never had an ear infection that lasted this long! Ugh... Thanks so much!