Ugh....Ear infections???

LAltiero85 · Aug 23rd, 2008, 09:16 AM

Has anyone here suffered from an ear infection recently? I was just at the Dr's (in the ER, as I stupidly haven't switched from my hometown family Dr. to a new local Dr.) on Thursday morning for one, they put me on a 5 day antibiotic and I still have not had any relief. In fact the pain has gotten worse, and now there is a faint aching in my other ear. I've already been to the ER on Thursday morning, so that rules that out...the closest ear, nose, and throat specialist is two hours away, and classes start for me on Monday...argh!!! I just don't know what to do! I'm hoping this medicine will kick in soon, but in the past when I've had ear infections, the pain usually goes away within 1-2 days of taking meds...

Has anyone else been through this? How long until you finally feel relief from the pain?

EmmaLee83 · Aug 23rd, 2008, 10:45 AM

I am the ear infection queen, my second home used to be my pediatrician's office because of it...I am going to make the assumption you have a middle ear infection...may I ask what kind of antibiotic the doc put you on?

You should definitely start to feel better with your ear pain by now and it for sure shouldn't be getting worse. The best antibiotics for me are in the quinolone family (Cipro-type pills) but that may be only because I've become immune to all the other ones.

Also, if the infection isn't going away and your eustachian tubes are plugged with fluid (if you have been having a lot of congestion), you doc might give you a steroid pack called Medrol which is usually taken for 6 days. But my guess is they wouldn't give you those until you try at least one more antibiotic.

Anyway, you have my sympathies, I know how much ear infections suck. Hope you feel better soon.

IcansPotaFake32 · Aug 23rd, 2008, 12:26 PM

I am prone to ear infections. Strange but even when it's too windy outside my ears start to hurt sometimes. Usually I can tell when one is about to start and I sleep with a cotton ball int he ear that's bothering me. I don't know why but this seems to help. When things get really bad I go to the Dr and he gives me zithromax. I hate taking it because it kills my stomach even when I take it with food. Good luck. I hope you feel better! Curious what others have to say

Sternchen · Aug 23rd, 2008, 01:06 PM

Oh I'm so sorry you're going through this!

I had ear infections as a kid and have had 2 so far as an adult and they were bad. I had to go to the doctor twice before he would give me any antibiotics, and that's what took care of the infection. It took a few days for my hearing to come back...I usually noticed it around the 3rd or 4th day and there would be some crackling in my ear (I guess the pus going away?? lol?

This usually happened after / during a cold where my nose was congested. Now everytime I get a cold I'm worried that my ears will close again and I have to yell "TURN UP THE TV!!", lol

If you are not having any luck with this round of medication, go back to the doctor (or maybe to a different doctor) and see what they can give you. Are you on drops too?

girliceclimber · Aug 23rd, 2008, 08:38 PM

I'm sorry your infection isn't going away! When you first got your antibiotics from the doctor, did they do a culture of your ear? It's possible that the medicine you're taking isn't effective against your particular infection. If you get to the end of your antibiotics and you're still not better, definitely call your doctor and see if you can get something stronger.
Good luck, and I hope you feel better!

lovinalotofbags · Aug 23rd, 2008, 09:30 PM

I do not suffer from ear infections but lately my ear has been hurting and itching. My sister, who is a family doctor, told me to do this. Mix equal parts of triple antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone cream and antifungal cream. All you need is a tiny dollop of each and mix together and put in ear. It worked for me.

LAltiero85 · Aug 24th, 2008, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmmaLee83

I am the ear infection queen, my second home used to be my pediatrician's office because of it...I am going to make the assumption you have a middle ear infection...may I ask what kind of antibiotic the doc put you on?

You should definitely start to feel better with your ear pain by now and it for sure shouldn't be getting worse. The best antibiotics for me are in the quinolone family (Cipro-type pills) but that may be only because I've become immune to all the other ones.

Also, if the infection isn't going away and your eustachian tubes are plugged with fluid (if you have been having a lot of congestion), you doc might give you a steroid pack called Medrol which is usually taken for 6 days. But my guess is they wouldn't give you those until you try at least one more antibiotic.

Anyway, you have my sympathies, I know how much ear infections suck. Hope you feel better soon.

Thank you so much for your response. I have a middle and an outer ear infection in my left ear, and I know I have an infection of some sort in my right ear now, but I have to go get it checked tomorrow to see for sure. Yes, I thought I should have been feeling better. It's official, now the right ear is infected as well.

Though the left ear does seem to be getting better. I still have two doses to go, but I don't want to play around because my first day of classes is monday, and I want to start feeling semi-normal by then. So I'm going back to the ER tomorrow morning to ask for another antibiotic of some sort.

LAltiero85 · Aug 24th, 2008, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IcansPotaFake32

I am prone to ear infections. Strange but even when it's too windy outside my ears start to hurt sometimes. Usually I can tell when one is about to start and I sleep with a cotton ball int he ear that's bothering me. I don't know why but this seems to help. When things get really bad I go to the Dr and he gives me zithromax. I hate taking it because it kills my stomach even when I take it with food. Good luck. I hope you feel better! Curious what others have to say

Zithromax, huh? I'll have to keep that in mind...is it a 5 day pack or a 10 day? All I know is for some reason the 5 day packs (which are supposed to be the same only in shorter doses) do not seem to work for me. I'm on Azithromycin, which is a 5 day packet, and it killed my stomach the first day I took it.

LAltiero85 · Aug 24th, 2008, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sternchen

Oh I'm so sorry you're going through this!

I had ear infections as a kid and have had 2 so far as an adult and they were bad. I had to go to the doctor twice before he would give me any antibiotics, and that's what took care of the infection. It took a few days for my hearing to come back...I usually noticed it around the 3rd or 4th day and there would be some crackling in my ear (I guess the pus going away?? lol?

This usually happened after / during a cold where my nose was congested. Now everytime I get a cold I'm worried that my ears will close again and I have to yell "TURN UP THE TV!!", lol

If you are not having any luck with this round of medication, go back to the doctor (or maybe to a different doctor) and see what they can give you. Are you on drops too?

LOL! I totally know what you mean about not being able to hear. I have been reading a lot because I don't want the neighbors to start complaining about the TV being so loud...

Today DH and I were watching a show and I asked him too turn it up. I could hear it just fine, but I could tell he was getting uncomfortable--it was obviously way too loud!

yes, I am also on a drop. Can you believe it? I'm on two different kinds of meds. and this crap still won't go away. But like I said, the left ear is getting better, but now it's in the right. I'm wondering how I got another ear infection while I was on antibiotics??

LAltiero85 · Aug 24th, 2008, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by girliceclimber

I'm sorry your infection isn't going away! When you first got your antibiotics from the doctor, did they do a culture of your ear? It's possible that the medicine you're taking isn't effective against your particular infection. If you get to the end of your antibiotics and you're still not better, definitely call your doctor and see if you can get something stronger.
Good luck, and I hope you feel better!

Thank you! No they didn't even come close to taking a culture. He barely looked in my ears! In fact, he looked at me and then asked me what my usual doctor prescribes me. Then that's what he gave me

LAltiero85 · Aug 24th, 2008, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovinalotofbags

I do not suffer from ear infections but lately my ear has been hurting and itching. My sister, who is a family doctor, told me to do this. Mix equal parts of triple antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone cream and antifungal cream. All you need is a tiny dollop of each and mix together and put in ear. It worked for me.

Thanks for the tip!

LAltiero85 · Aug 24th, 2008, 03:58 AM

OH! And I forgot to mention that I was told I can't lay down, that I have to sleep sitting up, to keep the pressure from getting worse. I CAN'T sleep sitting up! So I've barely slept for the past couple of days. I'm just drained.

EmmaLee83 · Aug 24th, 2008, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LAltiero85

Zithromax, huh? I'll have to keep that in mind...is it a 5 day pack or a 10 day? All I know is for some reason the 5 day packs (which are supposed to be the same only in shorter doses) do not seem to work for me. I'm on Azithromycin, which is a 5 day packet, and it killed my stomach the first day I took it.

Zithromax and azithromycin are the same thing.

Zithromax is the brand name, but the drug in it is azythromycin. My guess is you will be put on Augmentin (amoxicillan and potassium) next. Let us know how you are feeling.

stacmck · Aug 24th, 2008, 03:33 PM

Hope you feel better soon, LA!

Antibiotics should start working a few days into their course...if you are not getting better, odds are you should be on a different antibiotic.

You probably will be put on Augmentin, but which is hyped up amoxicillin (amoxicillin is added to an acid that helps keep it from being degraded by bacteria, not added to potassium)

LAltiero85 · Aug 24th, 2008, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmmaLee83

Zithromax and azithromycin are the same thing.

Zithromax is the brand name, but the drug in it is azythromycin. My guess is you will be put on Augmentin (amoxicillan and potassium) next. Let us know how you are feeling.

Thanks. They gave me azythromycin again

It worked for my left ear but didn't guard against the infection that started in my right. Now my left ear is feeling much better aside from the fluid (as I still can't hear), and the right ear is in pain.

They probably didn't put me on Augmentin because I'm allergic to amoxicillan.

Aug 23rd, 2008, 09:16 AM	#1
LAltiero85 Team Edward ♥ Location: PA	Ugh....Ear infections??? Has anyone here suffered from an ear infection recently? I was just at the Dr's (in the ER, as I stupidly haven't switched from my hometown family Dr. to a new local Dr.) on Thursday morning for one, they put me on a 5 day antibiotic and I still have not had any relief. In fact the pain has gotten worse, and now there is a faint aching in my other ear. I've already been to the ER on Thursday morning, so that rules that out...the closest ear, nose, and throat specialist is two hours away, and classes start for me on Monday...argh!!! I just don't know what to do! I'm hoping this medicine will kick in soon, but in the past when I've had ear infections, the pain usually goes away within 1-2 days of taking meds... Has anyone else been through this? How long until you finally feel relief from the pain? __________________

Aug 23rd, 2008, 01:06 PM	#4
Sternchen We're having a boy!! Location: Beauty RAOK	Oh I'm so sorry you're going through this! I had ear infections as a kid and have had 2 so far as an adult and they were bad. I had to go to the doctor twice before he would give me any antibiotics, and that's what took care of the infection. It took a few days for my hearing to come back...I usually noticed it around the 3rd or 4th day and there would be some crackling in my ear (I guess the pus going away?? lol? This usually happened after / during a cold where my nose was congested. Now everytime I get a cold I'm worried that my ears will close again and I have to yell "TURN UP THE TV!!", lol If you are not having any luck with this round of medication, go back to the doctor (or maybe to a different doctor) and see what they can give you. Are you on drops too? __________________ My 2 wonderful girls, Nicole (5) and Julia (1) will be big sisters soon! My pregnancy blog

Aug 23rd, 2008, 09:30 PM	#6
lovinalotofbags In for the long haul Location: South Carolina	I do not suffer from ear infections but lately my ear has been hurting and itching. My sister, who is a family doctor, told me to do this. Mix equal parts of triple antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone cream and antifungal cream. All you need is a tiny dollop of each and mix together and put in ear. It worked for me. __________________ Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so much.

Aug 24th, 2008, 03:58 AM	#12
LAltiero85 Team Edward ♥ Location: PA	OH! And I forgot to mention that I was told I can't lay down, that I have to sleep sitting up, to keep the pressure from getting worse. I CAN'T sleep sitting up! So I've barely slept for the past couple of days. I'm just drained. __________________

Aug 24th, 2008, 03:33 PM	#14
stacmck for the cure!! Location: Pittsburgh	Hope you feel better soon, LA! Antibiotics should start working a few days into their course...if you are not getting better, odds are you should be on a different antibiotic. You probably will be put on Augmentin, but which is hyped up amoxicillin (amoxicillin is added to an acid that helps keep it from being degraded by bacteria, not added to potassium) __________________ Add me on Myspace! (but send me a message so I know you're from tPf!

Aug 23rd, 2008, 10:45 AM	#2
EmmaLee83 Member	I am the ear infection queen, my second home used to be my pediatrician's office because of it...I am going to make the assumption you have a middle ear infection...may I ask what kind of antibiotic the doc put you on? You should definitely start to feel better with your ear pain by now and it for sure shouldn't be getting worse. The best antibiotics for me are in the quinolone family (Cipro-type pills) but that may be only because I've become immune to all the other ones. Also, if the infection isn't going away and your eustachian tubes are plugged with fluid (if you have been having a lot of congestion), you doc might give you a steroid pack called Medrol which is usually taken for 6 days. But my guess is they wouldn't give you those until you try at least one more antibiotic. Anyway, you have my sympathies, I know how much ear infections suck. Hope you feel better soon.

Aug 23rd, 2008, 12:26 PM	#3
IcansPotaFake32 Member	I am prone to ear infections. Strange but even when it's too windy outside my ears start to hurt sometimes. Usually I can tell when one is about to start and I sleep with a cotton ball int he ear that's bothering me. I don't know why but this seems to help. When things get really bad I go to the Dr and he gives me zithromax. I hate taking it because it kills my stomach even when I take it with food. Good luck. I hope you feel better! Curious what others have to say

Aug 23rd, 2008, 08:38 PM	#5
girliceclimber Member Location: Los Angeles	I'm sorry your infection isn't going away! When you first got your antibiotics from the doctor, did they do a culture of your ear? It's possible that the medicine you're taking isn't effective against your particular infection. If you get to the end of your antibiotics and you're still not better, definitely call your doctor and see if you can get something stronger. Good luck, and I hope you feel better!