How long before relief with an ear infection?

[Gina]

Hi all, would love some DIS doc advice...

I had been battling a bad cold since Wednesday before last. No big, we always seem to pass germs around at work like most people do, but this time it involved my ears. My head was *so* stopped up, and then my ears got all stopped up. But my temp never went one degree above normal (I just never run fevers at all) and there was no pain. Just general malaise and yucky feeling, and the congestion that wouldn't go away. I kept popping decongestants and vitamins, to no avail.

This past Friday, my mom convinces me to seek professional help, and I was feeling crappy enough by that evening to go to the walk-in clinic we've used before. It turns out I have a bad ear infection in both ears. Lovely! So she puts me on a Z-pak and Flonase.

So I took the 2 pills Friday night, 1 yesterday morning, and 1 this morning. Still taking the Sudafed, the Flonase, and Mucinex. At what point should I expect any change at all??

My left ear is the worst -- I can't hear anything, and the right ear isn't a lot better. And the "noise" is seriously going to drive me insane... It's like a cross between a far off field of crickets, and the buzz/hum of a fluorescent light you can hear when it's really quiet. And the pressure in my left ear is still just as bad. But still no pain.

I already have hearing loss from a really bad double-ear infection in both ears when I was younger... I don't want to lose more of my hearing!!

Sorry this is so long... Does anyone have any thoughts??




-gina-

 

[cabanafrau]

Try using a hot water bottle or hot compresses to get some relief until you can go back to the doc tomorrow. DH had an ear infection a few years back & used the antibiotics & Flonase prescribed & wound up developing tinnitis(sp?).

Your meds should have been working by now. Get back to the doc.

 

[LuvOrlando]

So sorry to hear this, I still get them and they are awful. The hearing loss usually comes if they burst (according my my dr at least) so if you find yourself in mind numbing pain get to the ER so they can puncture it, I had to do this once and it saved my hearing.

The antibiotics should work in a few days,faster if it's Zpac. But its important to remember that like with everything else yup can have a drug resistant strain so if you are getting worse get help. This happened to my son once, the poor kid suffered miserably. Ithink he ended up on Cefzil and once we got the right stuff into him he cleared up right away. as an aside, when he was switched the pain was so bad the Dr. put him on numbing drops which made life so much better for him

feel better

 

[deegack]

A z-pack seems like an odd antibiotic for an ear infection. I have one right now, and am on amoxicillian. It took about 24 hours to feel better. I am also taking mucinex D (the good stuff from behind the counter) to clear up the congestion.

 

[Gina]

Thanks guys! It's not worse, but it's definitely not even a hair better. It has been years since I needed an antibiotic for anything, but I swear they had to give me two different ones that time too... but it has been a long time.

I'm just so glad they're not actually hurting -- ear pain and tooth pain are the WORST!! Labor wasn't even as bad as either of those.

I guess I'll call and let the NP know what's going on, see if she will prescribe a different antibiotic or something. I'm ready to pour Drano in my ear if it will help, lol.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

You could try willow garlic oil for your ears.

 

[golfgal]

You should have some relief by now. I would seriously go see your ENT though. The ringing in your ears, the pressure without pain may be a signal of more hearing loss. Hopefully it is just from being plugged but you already know what it is like to have some hearing loss, more is worse.

Zpack is a pretty standard antibiotic for ear infections. It worked wonders on our kids' infections back when it was still zithromax . Our ped had our kids take Dimatap to help their ears drain faster.

Warm wash cloths in a zip lock bag help loosen stuff up too.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

I agree you should feel better by now. DS usually feels better in 24 hours. He also has numbing drops that we use while waiting for the antibiotics to kick in.

 

[traces7]

I've had this a couple times the past few years, not this year yet though, thank goodness. I didn't have an ear infection though.

My ears just always get plugged when I have a cold, but it's mostly a wax build up. I always have to have my ears flushed. It's not too fun, but it works. I would also try the ear wax removal kits they have (Debrox). I use those for a while, but the times it's happened to me it's never enough and they still have to be flushed, but the Debrox does soften it up so it's easier for the dr to get out.

Good luck! I know how irritating it is not to be able to hear!

 

[Gina]

Just wanted to thank everyone again for their suggestions. There is still so much pressure in my left ear, and that infernal noise, so I have an appt. in a couple hours with an Internal Medicine doc.

Now another question... This antibiotic has messed my stomach up SO bad, I am more miserable from that now than anything else. Is there an antibiotic that isn't so bad in that regard?? I am dreading her putting me on something else, and having to endure this for another week or two. I've already taken 3 Immodium today, and it says not to take more than 4 in a 24 hour period. Don't see how I'm going to be able to stick to that.

Any ideas? I appreciate it!!

 

[Conservative Hippie]

For the tummy problems, take a probiotic, but you need to take it as far apart from the antibiotic doses as you can (for example, if you take your antibiotic every 12 hours, take the probiotic 6 hours after the antibiotic).

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I am the queen of ear infections; I have been getting at least one a year since I was a baby .

For ear pain I use olive oil. The first time my pharmacist recommended it I thought he was nuts but it actually works. Put a couple of drops into the ear and lay down for a few minutes letting it coat the ear canal.

They have to put me on some hefty antibiotics at this point since the less potent ones no longer work for me. The best advice my doctor ever gave me when dealing with them, was to eat a yogurt one hour after taking the antibiotic. This takes care of all the digestive issues that crop up while on antibiotics.

 

[mjkacmom]

Keep in mind that ear infections can be viral, and won't respond to antibiotics. The stuffiness might be fluid, very common with ear infections and/or colds. I remember bringing kids in, only to be told it was just fluid, no infection (yet).

 

[WDWisTheBest]

I am the queen of ear infections; I have been getting at least one a year since I was a baby .

For ear pain I use olive oil. The first time my pharmacist recommended it I thought he was nuts but it actually works. Put a couple of drops into the ear and lay down for a few minutes letting it coat the ear canal.

They have to put me on some hefty antibiotics at this point since the less potent ones no longer work for me. The best advice my doctor ever gave me when dealing with them, was to eat a yogurt one hour after taking the antibiotic. This takes care of all the digestive issues that crop up while on antibiotics.

Great post and good advice.

 

[NotUrsula]

Ask for an Rx steriod nasal spray, something like NasonexD. That should help immensely to reduce the imflammation and let the pressure off.

(I don't recommend the OTC nasal sprays; they tend to have a really nasty rebound effect.)

Oh, and you can always try the "steaming cup trick" that you would use for pressure on an aircraft; that might work short-term.

 

[golfgal]

Just wanted to thank everyone again for their suggestions. There is still so much pressure in my left ear, and that infernal noise, so I have an appt. in a couple hours with an Internal Medicine doc.

Now another question... This antibiotic has messed my stomach up SO bad, I am more miserable from that now than anything else. Is there an antibiotic that isn't so bad in that regard?? I am dreading her putting me on something else, and having to endure this for another week or two. I've already taken 3 Immodium today, and it says not to take more than 4 in a 24 hour period. Don't see how I'm going to be able to stick to that.

Any ideas? I appreciate it!!

Eat yogurt-that helps, a lot.

 

[fitzy819]

There are many pain relieving drops for your ears that the Dr can write you a prescription for. I hope you can get some relief soon!

 

[waltsgirl]

A z-pack seems like an odd antibiotic for an ear infection. I have one right now, and am on amoxicillian. It took about 24 hours to feel better. I am also taking mucinex D (the good stuff from behind the counter) to clear up the congestion.

Amox. ususally is the first one they will start with if no relief the next would be z-pac. I think some just go z-pac now.

 

[Gina]

Thanks again for all your very helpful suggestions!

Yesterday was a rough day... the stomach upset I mentioned turned into the worst stomach pain I have ever had by later afternoon. Honestly, labor was not as bad. By about 9pm, I was certain I was going to be visiting the ER for the first time in my 44 years. But by about 10:30 it finally started to abate, and this morning is much better. I hate antibiotics!!

The doc yesterday said that my ears looked much better, no sign of infection, just some fluid. She told me to not take the last dose of the z-pak since it had messed me up so bad. I hated to do that, knowing the imprtance of taking a full run of antibiotics, but this time I agreed with her. No way did I want more of what I went through yesterday. I also told her the problems I had with the Flonase (a coticosteroid nasal spray) so she prescibed something called Durahist -- supposed to be a combo of pseudoephedrine and a couple drying agents. CVA was backed up and my stomach hurt too bad to wait, so I'll pick that up after work.

The probiotic suggestion is a great one -- I've been wanting to try that anyway because of the stomach issues I endure on an intermittent basis, so I will definitely try that. Yogurt is, unfortunately, one of those things I wouldn't eat if I were starving on a desert island.

I've heard of the olive oil thing, but oddly enough my ears never hurt at all, thank goodness.

Thanks again for your suggestions. I don't get sick very often at all, but when I do I seem to go all-out! lol. Hopefully this new Rx will do the trick for the lingering congestion.

Thanks again!!

 

[Smatthew]

This is one of the best posts I've found that match my symptoms. Last week I flew to NY and my ears popped, the left ear never went back to normal. A few days prior to my flight I had gone to the doctor and they diagnosed me with respiratory influenza. The entire 5 days we were in NY my left ear didn't change. It feels like fluid in there because I can hear differently when I tilt my head at different angles. The day we left NY I made an appointment for my Dr in MN. On the flight back my right ear did the same.

I have been on z pak the last 3 days and feel no change. Do you remember what you were given? It has been a full week and am going insane waiting for a change.