Is there a doctor in the house?

[BTM]

So, a few days ago I noticed my ear was bugging me somewhat, so I went to my doctor's PA (or MA, heard him called both.)  I don't full trust this guy after a certain diagnosis he did several months back (but that's another post), but I figured this should be simple enough (plus I was desperate to see ANYONE that day and my regular doc has a busy schedule).

Well, he looks in my ear and says, "You've got an infection."  Strangely enough, I didn't have other symptoms that I normally do when my ears get messed up, no clogged nose, no fever, no general icky feeling.  So, he gave me a prescription to some antibiotics and said they should clear me "right up."

Well, I took two on Thursday, three on Fri, three on Saturday, and, so far, two today, and my ear infection isn't going anywhere.  In fact, it felt WORSE last night than it had before.  Dunno, went to bed this morning (I work nights), got up around 1pm and it felt a little better (felt a bit of wetness in my ear, guess it's been draining a bit, only seems to do that when I lie down) but still, can't help but wonder if I should be feeling a bit more along in the healing process than that.

On a sidenote, the antibiotics have given me a lovely side affect of severe diarrhea and stomach cramping.  I suppose that'll be good for dropping a few pounds, but now I've got a dilemma: I'm hungry, but reluctant to eat for fear of setting off another internal tidal wave.  

I don't know, if I don't feel better by Monday morning, I'm going to try and get a hold of the clinic.

On another sidenote, I can't help but wonder if this whole thing might have been caused by last week when I was visiting my brother and his family.  I was in a wading pool playing with my niece and nephew when my nephew keep squirting me in the face with a water pistol (despite me repeated telling him not to.)  I think at one point he sprayed me in my ear.  

Course, maybe that's just coincidence...

So, anyway, if there's any medical docs here, feel free to chime in what you think.

[LilCerberus]

I was taking Amoxicillin last week.
One of the problems I've noticed with the more traditional antibiotics, is that they tend to cause some additional swelling & tenderness in the infected area, which typically doesn't go away until a day or so after I finish them.

Of course, it's also kinda' hard to tell what's causing what, when I've got the DTs and an ear infection at the same time.

[3mnkids]

sorry you are feeling bad. so you have been on the antibiotics for 4 days? It is starting to drain though right? I dont think its uncommon to be on antibiotics for a week or more before you really start feeling better. Was it a 10 day prescription?

Im not a doctor but do have three kids who have ear infections frequently. We have a pool and they love to swim and it causes swimmer ear a lot. If the ear stops draining and its still bothering you I would call the doctor. But if you arent feeling comfortable call the doctor sooner. Only you know how much its really bothering you. Maybe they can give you a different antibiotic.   I hope you feel better soon.

[Andrew]

Well, the one thing I can give you advice on is what to eat when your stomach is messed up like you describe.  They call it the BRAT diet, meaning Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast.  You get to eat ALL of that, and drink water.  It's meant to be easy on the stomach.  You want plain everything - no extra sugar, no extra ingredients, etc.

[CheezeFlixz]

If you got water in your ear it's a simple case of swimmers ear, you can get drops for that at CVS or Walgreens ... I tend to ride things out and never go to the doctor I find going to the doctor only makes things worse.

Otherwise you can also use olive oil for ear infections and when I was a kid my grandmother would candle and smoke my ears to relief ear aches, they sound weird but they work.

Home remedy for fluid on the ears?

[BTM]

I was taking Amoxicillin last week.
One of the problems I've noticed with the more traditional antibiotics, is that they tend to cause some additional swelling & tenderness in the infected area, which typically doesn't go away until a day or so after I finish them.

Of course, it's also kinda' hard to tell what's causing what, when I've got the DTs and an ear infection at the same time.

Odd you should mention that because I'm swollen around my ear as well.  It's like the ear cancel is getting ready to close itself off.  :(

[BTM]

sorry you are feeling bad. so you have been on the antibiotics for 4 days? It is starting to drain though right? I dont think its uncommon to be on antibiotics for a week or more before you really start feeling better. Was it a 10 day prescription?

Im not a doctor but do have three kids who have ear infections frequently. We have a pool and they love to swim and it causes swimmer ear a lot. If the ear stops draining and its still bothering you I would call the doctor. But if you arent feeling comfortable call the doctor sooner. Only you know how much its really bothering you. Maybe they can give you a different antibiotic.   I hope you feel better soon.

Yeah, been about fours and it's a 10 day (three pills a day prescription).  Anyway, I appreciate the tips.  What I find really weird about the draining thing though is that it seems to be happening at night when I lay down, but I thought for sure I read somewhere the tubes in the inner ear drain the easiest when you're sitting/standing up.  (Course, maybe that's just with a standard earache and not an infection, I dunno...

As for your kids, do they wear ear plugs?  I'm told that helps cut back on those...

[BTM]

If you got water in your ear it's a simple case of swimmers ear, you can get drops for that at CVS or Walgreens ... I tend to ride things out and never go to the doctor I find going to the doctor only makes things worse.

Otherwise you can also use olive oil for ear infections and when I was a kid my grandmother would candle and smoke my ears to relief ear aches, they sound weird but they work.

Home remedy for fluid on the ears?

Well, from what I understand, I don't think it's the smoke the helps, but just the heat.  I've been using a water bottle with hot water inside and that helps somewhat.  And I've gotten drops from the store and use them as well.

Site mentions "ear candling" but I've read elsewhere that's a bit on the dangerous side... http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/candling.html

Dunno, hopefully another day or two this will go away... :(

[RCMerchant]

If you got water in your ear it's a simple case of swimmers ear, you can get drops for that at CVS or Walgreens ... I tend to ride things out and never go to the doctor I find going to the doctor only makes things worse.

Otherwise you can also use olive oil for ear infections and when I was a kid my grandmother would candle and smoke my ears to relief ear aches, they sound weird but they work.

Home remedy for fluid on the ears?

I use olive oil on my kids too. It helps!

[LilCerberus]

As for home remedies, one thing that helps me, is to sit in a kitchen chair, tilt my head as far back as I can, & then make faces at the ceiling, the kind where I have to twist the back part of my jaw in all types of directions.

Albeit, the relief is very brief, & I get this really bad crick in my neck.

[Zapranoth]

That would have been a PA that saw you; MA's cannot make diagnoses, prescribe, etc.

Your original post doesn't at all say what your symptoms are.

[Paquita]

Boo! Ear infections stink!  I get swimmer's ear a lot and it always drains at night when I'm laying down.  I think I have a kink in my ear canals or something because I get water stuck in them all the time.

I'm going to the doctor today too! Yay!  I think I have an upper respitory infection or something.  I've been sick for 2 weeks and I sound like Louis Armstrong.

I hope you feel better!!

[AndyC]

Personally, I used to get that swollen, achy, sometimes inflamed ear feeling. It was usually a big wad of wax wedged in there, blocking things up and trapping bacteria. A good flush with an ear syringe always worked wonders. Amazing how much material can get stuck up there.

But a wax buildup should have been pretty obvious during the examination, so I doubt that's your problem, BTM. Just joining in the ear ailment discussion. As far as I know, Zapranoth is the most qualified on the board to speak to the original question.

[Mr. DS]

I'd suggest going to a ENT doctor if possible.  If I feel I have a problem that is centralized, I pretty much avoid avoid all primary care physicians and hes to the specialist.

[BTM]

That would have been a PA that saw you; MA's cannot make diagnoses, prescribe, etc.

Your original post doesn't at all say what your symptoms are.

Whoa, this guy knows stuff!  

Well, basically, had an earache, but I didn't have an classic "cold" symptoms along with it, no stuff nose, no coughing, wasn't running a fever, etc.  So, I went in, PA said, "Take these!" so I did.  Within a few days, my ear was all swollen around the cancel, and it hurt like all get out.

But, anyway, I went BACK to the clinic early Monday morning after work.  I got to see my doctor this time, and he said I have a surface ear infection (often called swimmer's ear) as opposed to a inner ear infection.  With the skin being the problem, antibiotics aren't going to help too much, he said there's some things we could prescribe, but, mindful of my financial situation, he said I could also use a home remedy: vinegar.  

That kind of blew my mind because in all the research I did, didn't hear about anyone using vinegar to treat their ear infection (although I have heard about some people using mouthwash like Listerine to great effect.)  He said, pour some in my ear once every four to six hours, and put some cotton in to keep it from leaking out.

He also gave me a prescription for the pain.  Get this, one of the possible side effects of the pain medication is constipation.  Ha, guess I'll put the pain meds up against the antibiotics and see how wins the cage match for control over my bowels.

HAHA!

Sorry, but I gotta find humor in stuff like this where I can.

He said if I'm not better by Wednesday, give him a call, so I'll have to wait and see.  Strangely enough, the first time I put vinegar in my ear, it stung a little but not too bad, as it did for the second and third time.  This morning though, I took the cotton out of my ear after my shower, did some stuff, sat down, poured some vinegar in and MAN, it HURT like crazy!  Sting, burning, everywhere!  Dunno why it hurt suddenly when it didn't before (at least not as much).

Maybe letting the air get inside my ear for those few minutes was a bad idea, I don't know.

Anyway, appreciate all the advice and support you guys gave!  :)