I just want to scream and scream and scream

[Teskeria]

then maybe scream some more. This is a vent. I know there is nothing more I can do but hope they can do SOMETHING tomorrow.

So on the 1st I notices some pain in my left ear. I immediately start the usual, 'maybe I can head it off' routine heating pads galore. By Monday it seemed like to might be working, however it came back worse than ever Weds. Thurs I call the triage nurse, and she sched me for the following monday (10th) as a followup and tells me to go to the ER. I obeyed. (you know how much fun it is to get to ER on a bus? two if you count the transfer)
They take bp as usual and the NP comes in. she looks in my ear, goes "ewwww this is bad, you need to see your primary it's really weirdly discolored in there' then concentrates her attention on my bp. yes I know it was dangerously high (143/116) but being in a lot of pain DOESN'T HELP. I appreciate you wanted me on those bp meds right way, and I took the damn things (and still am). The ear drops they gave me for the ear didn't help, instead things got worse and more painful. Haven't slept more than 30 minutes stretches since Friday.
Monday the 10th I get to the primary. She spends most of her time on the bp (146/86 i think) which is much better SO COULD WE DEAL WITH THE ISSUE I HAVE! finally looks in the ear, acknowledges it is looking nasty, changes the ear drop prescription and decides she wants ENT to look at it. Because of her delays in getting to it, ENT had just filled their last opening until WEDS. so now I have to wait until tomorrow, hope they can do something and NOTHING is working. Even laying on a heating pad isn't drawing the pain.
I understand they have priorities, but if I can't concentrate to work, I can't pay my damn bills.
Thanks for the venting space...

[AccountingDrone]

May I point out that while heat may make it feel better, it is not actually good to keep an *infection* toasty warm and *incubated* - I got soundly yelled at by my ENT specialist for making am ear infection worlds worse by snoozing for the weekend on a heating pad waiting for an appointment.

[42_42_42]

Try putting some drops of olive oil in there. And what AccountingDrone said: lay off the heat, all it's doing is helping the infection thrive. Have you taken any oral pain medication? If not, take some ibuprofin or tylenol, whatever you can take on your BP medication. I'm really surprised no one's put you on a oral antibiotic yet.

[Teskeria]

Don't worry, I don't - didn't spend a huge amount of time on a heating pad. Just about 15 minutes every few hours to numb it a little so I could continue to work. and about the same when off work, right before trying to sleep. hopefully the ent people will be able to do something about the pain. I can handle the weirdness, the numbness, ect, but the pain is spreading all over the left of my face (down to chin, almost halfway across back of head and up to all but about an inch from the top - weirdest is it hurts now at throat and the roof of the inside of my mouth.) Not supposed to take ibuprofin without med permission as apparently it is bad since I only have 1 working kidney. (but it DOES work. the kidney that is)

[42_42_42]

Ok. Don't want to alarm you, but that sounds like one hell of an inner ear and sinus infection you have raging inside you. At this point, I'd think you'd need antibiotics by IV. What the hell is wrong with your GP that they didn't give you an antibiotic Rx?

[Bardmaiden]

Don't worry, I don't - didn't spend a huge amount of time on a heating pad. Just about 15 minutes every few hours to numb it a little so I could continue to work. and about the same when off work, right before trying to sleep. hopefully the ent people will be able to do something about the pain. I can handle the weirdness, the numbness, ect, but the pain is spreading all over the left of my face (down to chin, almost halfway across back of head and up to all but about an inch from the top - weirdest is it hurts now at throat and the roof of the inside of my mouth.) Not supposed to take ibuprofin without med permission as apparently it is bad since I only have 1 working kidney. (but it DOES work. the kidney that is)

My sister only has only one working kidney (other was removed due to being an infected mess) and has never been told not to take ibuprofen but that maybe something to do with her situation *shrug*. But I'd take Paracetamol (acetaminophen) as it is a fever reducer as infections often cause fevers.

[Teskeria]

Apparently I had layer upon layer of infections in there. the ENT doctor spent at least 20 minutes cleaning them out. (it is still infected - just lots less layers crusted there locking each other in) I had to apologize quite a few times for screams cause it HURT like hades. He was a little pissed off at them himself, being as if they had sent me to ENT it wouldn't have gotten so bad. He prescribed me some oral antibiotics, and a stronger ear drop, and said I should start feeling the difference maybe even as soon as tomorrow. Now him, I feel confident about, esp as I can feel less pressure in the ear, if that makes sense.

[Seshat]

Cold packs also numb pain: when it's not wise to use heat to reduce pain, try cold packs.

[Rapscallion]

Any better now?

Rapscallion

[Teskeria]

A huge difference today. Very little pain. and I can hear out of the left ear. only wierd thing is, when I blow my nose, my left ear squeaks like an asthmatic dog toy. It isnt hurting while doing so, but it does make me giggle.

Thank you all for the support!!

[Seshat]

That's wonderful.

If your medical system/insurance supports it, have a followup visit with your ENT specialist.

Oh, and get a different bloody GP, okay?

[Sapphire Silk]

May I point out that while heat may make it feel better, it is not actually good to keep an *infection* toasty warm and *incubated* - I got soundly yelled at by my ENT specialist for making am ear infection worlds worse by snoozing for the weekend on a heating pad waiting for an appointment.

There's nothing wrong with using heat. Heat improves circulation, which brings more white blood cells into the affected area. Moist warm compresses are often used to on abscesses.

Don't worry, I don't - didn't spend a huge amount of time on a heating pad. Just about 15 minutes every few hours to numb it a little so I could continue to work. and about the same when off work, right before trying to sleep.

This is fine. More than 15 minutes every few hours doesn't improve the benefit of heat, and can lead to burns. Ditto with cold.

hopefully the ent people will be able to do something about the pain. I can handle the weirdness, the numbness, ect, but the pain is spreading all over the left of my face (down to chin, almost halfway across back of head and up to all but about an inch from the top - weirdest is it hurts now at throat and the roof of the inside of my mouth.) Not supposed to take ibuprofin without med permission as apparently it is bad since I only have 1 working kidney. (but it DOES work. the kidney that is)

Did they give you anything ilke Vicodin or percocet?

There are important nerves in the fact that are causing the numbness; the facial nerve, which is one of the cranial nerve (CN VII).

Ibuprofen is toxic to the kidney if you take it in high doses over prolonged periods of time. Since you only have 1 kidney, it's better not to risk it without your physician approval. If you lose that kidney, you're on dialysis. Keep it healthy, and it'll work just fine on its own for the entirety of your life.

A huge difference today. Very little pain. and I can hear out of the left ear. only wierd thing is, when I blow my nose, my left ear squeaks like an asthmatic dog toy. It isnt hurting while doing so, but it does make me giggle

Hmm. Makes me wonder if there isn't a microscopic tear in your eardrum. This could cause that kind of sound as air moves through it when you blow your nose and change the pressure in your inner ear through the Eustachian tube. If I'm right, the ear drum will heal itself, and it'll go away eventually.

That's wonderful.

If your medical system/insurance supports it, have a followup visit with your ENT specialist.

Oh, and get a different bloody GP, okay?

I'm not sure the GP is at fault, other than focusing on the BP, which is probably high due solely to pain. My guess is once this heals and the pain goes away, the BP will resolve itself without medication.

[PandaHat]

when I blow my nose, my left ear squeaks like an asthmatic dog toy. It isnt hurting while doing so, but it does make me giggle.

Teehee! You do have a tube connecting nose and ear, so it makes anatamocial sense at least!

Glad to hear things are so much better!