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[jennifus]

Um, okay. So, I woke up with this incredibly painful earache this morning

Comments

[marishna]

I think chewing gum and some tylenol with codeine?

[jennifus]

I don't have any Tylenol 3, but I do have a Percocet, which I'm totally taking because it hurts, my ear does. Chewing gum is a no, as it hurts to chew at all. Gah. I'm always broken. :-) Thanks, though, dear.

[ingridmatthews]

If it's an infection, there's nothing you can do except take antibiotics.

If it's inflamation, as sometimes happens in spring, you can try a Benedryl, some aspirin and lots of water to bring down the inner ear swelling and reduce the fluid (contrary to popular opinion, fluid intake reduces swelling, it doesn't increase it.) Try warm, such as cool tea instead of cold for ease in swallowing. Also, you can hold a warm compress to the outer ear to allieve the radiating pain.

If it gets worse and you stay untreated, be prepared for the eardrum to rupture, as mine did a couple of months ago and believe me, *that* was no fun at all.

[jennifus]

Okay, I love you now. I am going to go take all your advice, and if it doesn't work, I'm going to cry and beg my mother for money for a doctor's appointment, because I do not want a ruptured eardrum.

Thank you so much!

[jerseybelle77]

I don't have any advice, but I will say this. If this doesn't feel better in the very near future, you really need to go to a doctor. I know that sucks, but I wouldn't mess around when it comes to your ears. Your hearing is way too important.

I'm sorry you're hurting!

[jennifus]

Thanks, sweetie. *snuggles* Though, in my own poor-no-insurance defense, I'm already mostly deaf in that particular ear.

[feri_hearted]

for a few dollars you can get an ear candle at the local health food store, cleans you right up.

Or do a hydrogen peroxide cleaning.

[jennifus]

I'm seriously considering the ear candle. They scare me, though. I have no idea why.

[feri_hearted]

hmmm hair ........... fire I don't know why they would scare you either :)

[mcfly85]

Ooh - be careful when it comes to ear candling! They're great to use when you're feeling healthy to begin with, but I did it once when I was in the same boat as you - earache, and recovering from cold/flu - and it really screwed up my ears. I ended up having to go to the doctor anyway and he bitched me out for using them. Apparently, the suction they provide inflamed my already-infected ear.

Okay, but having said that, they're still nice to use. I would just recommend using them only when your ears are otherwise ok.

I think there are drops you can get over the counter for little kids (because they have ear infections all the time). Maybe try something like that? At least they'd probably be mild enough not to do any harm. Hope you feel better soon!

[cocoapop]

ugh, i dunno but I'm in the same boat. Pretty sure mine's a tooth infection tho, causing the earache. I've been eating aleve like candy. heh. Actually, i took the last three last nite. So I just took four ibuprofen. It's keeping the pain in an acceptable range. Except for the occasional searing jabs that make me roll my eyes, grab my face and groan, causing my coworkers to raise their eyebrows and look at me funny while i stomp my feet and whine.
it's great fun.
really.
*sigh*

[jennifus]

Ah, tooth pain, now that I know about. I recommend Orajel Swabs, they're awesome, but also, and this is important, especially if you have an infection or an abcess: Use Listerine constantly. Swish that stuff all around the area in question all the damned time. It will help, I guarantee it. :-)