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Post by red88 on Jul 23, 2015 21:54:20 GMT
Looking for some advise. My daughter (age 25) is struggling with her first ear infection. She went to Zoom Care last Sunday & the Dr. on call said that she had a double infection, inner & outer ear & really bad. She tried to "open" her ear & put some medication in, then prescribed 2 antibiotics. She started on the medication right away. Monday, she wakes up & her entire face is swollen & she can't open her mouth & she now has a huge lump right below her ear. She sent me a text in a panic. My husband picked her up & took her to the ER. They ran a CAT & gave her iv antibiotics. They couldn't tell for sure if the infection had spread to the bone, but didn't think so. They said that Zoom care prescribed the right antibiotics, but the infection is really bad.
They sent her home with some pain meds. Tuesday was rough, still in major pain, throwing-up everything & meds aren't working. Wednesday she is still in major pain, but ears started to "pop" & Dr. said that is a good sign. Today, her face has swollen even more, huge lump below her ear is getting larger & she is in so much pain. Dr. said that she needs to give antibiotics time. So here she is, day 5 of antibiotics & the infection seem's to be getting worse & she can't hear out of either ear.
She is scheduled to see an ear, nose & throat Dr. on August 3rd. But in the meantime, shouldn't the antibiotics make some improvement? She seems to be going more down hill than up. I've never had an ear infection, so I'm not sure what to expect. No one I know has experienced one as an adult. This seems so weird. They keep telling her with an infection this bad she must have suffered as a child with them, but she didn't. I had 1 son that had them from the time he was born until ear tubes at 15 months. I have some experience, but that was 20 years ago.
Has anyone experienced an adult ear infection, or have any advise I can give her to try & help?
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Deleted
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Jun 28, 2024 2:29:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2015 21:57:44 GMT
I would be at the ER again. Increased swelling and other symptoms after such use of antibiotics warrants another check. Too close to the brain to take any chances.
P.S. I never had ear infections as a child but I get one at least once a year now and they suck. I've never had swelling with mine though. The only time I had swelling was in my lymph nodes under my jaw when I had cellulitis.
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Post by birdy on Jul 23, 2015 22:02:07 GMT
I would be at the ER again. Increased swelling and other symptoms after such use of antibiotics warrants another check. Too close to the brain to take any chances. P.S. I never had ear infections as a child but I get one at least once a year now and they suck. I've never had swelling with mine though. The only time I had swelling was in my lymph nodes under my jaw when I had cellulitis. I agree with this... don't take any chances. I'd think after 5 days, antibiotics should be making some difference, even if it is just a little.
I never had ear infections as a kid, but get them all the time as an adult. Not as severe as your daughter though. My dr usually prescribes antibiotics and tells me to take a decongestant to help dry up anything that is making fluid go into my ear.
I will keep your daughter in my prayers!
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katybee
Drama Llama
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Post by katybee on Jul 23, 2015 22:15:07 GMT
Did they put little tubes in her ears, so the medicine could get to where needs to be? I'm not talking about surgical tubes. But when I was about 25, I had a really bad infection. The ear canal is so swollen the medicine just couldn't get where it needed to be. But the ENT put these little tubes in which helped. I do not know what the medical term is, LOL…
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katybee
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Post by katybee on Jul 23, 2015 22:15:54 GMT
I can also say that nothing any regular doctor did was any help – it even made it worse. It wasn't until I saw the ENT that I got real help. Isn't there anyway you can get into see the ENT before August 3?
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Post by red88 on Jul 23, 2015 22:31:21 GMT
Did they put little tubes in her ears, so the medicine could get to where needs to be? I'm not talking about surgical tubes. But when I was about 25, I had a really bad infection. The ear canal is so swollen the medicine just couldn't get where it needed to be. But the ENT put these little tubes in which helped. I do not know what the medical term is, LOL… Yes, Zoom Care did. But by Monday morning, the swelling pushed them out. |
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Post by Basket1lady on Jul 23, 2015 22:32:34 GMT
Call the ENT office. If it's closed, request a call from the doctor. After 5 days of antibiotics, an infection should be starting to subside. Not get worse.
DS has chronic ear infections, including at least one that burst his ear drum. He was never in pain like that.
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Post by red88 on Jul 23, 2015 22:33:01 GMT
I can also say that nothing any regular doctor did was any help – it even made it worse. It wasn't until I saw the ENT that I got real help. Isn't there anyway you can get into see the ENT before August 3? I tried, they are booked. August 3rd was their earliest appointment. Haven't looked at any other ENT's. Just went with who the ER recommended. |
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Post by Dori~Mama~Bear on Jul 23, 2015 22:34:35 GMT
Tell her to sleep sitting up or elevated. put a heating pad on low on the effected side.
I hope she feels better soon.
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katybee
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Post by katybee on Jul 23, 2015 22:36:02 GMT
I can also say that nothing any regular doctor did was any help – it even made it worse. It wasn't until I saw the ENT that I got real help. Isn't there anyway you can get into see the ENT before August 3? I tried, they are booked. August 3rd was their earliest appointment. Haven't looked at any other ENT's. Just went with who the ER recommended. Call around. You do not want her eardrum to burst. And you don't want to cause any permanent damage! Besides, I know that pain… It's really bad. No one should have to live with that pain! |
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CeeScraps
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~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
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Post by CeeScraps on Jul 23, 2015 23:17:23 GMT
I haven't read everything, but does she have her wisdom teeth? When I got ear infections it was actually my wisdom teeth. Once I had those removed I was good!
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Jul 23, 2015 23:24:57 GMT
I had a friend who's son had a massive ear infection. He is 14 and was in and out of the hospital for about 2 months before they finally got it under control. She kept trying to decide if she should take him in or wait... every time she took him in they said it was a good things she did.
So my advice.... take her back to the ER.. there should be an ENT on call. I would insist on seeing one.
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jul 23, 2015 23:29:41 GMT
I can also say that nothing any regular doctor did was any help – it even made it worse. It wasn't until I saw the ENT that I got real help. Isn't there anyway you can get into see the ENT before August 3? I tried, they are booked. August 3rd was their earliest appointment. Haven't looked at any other ENT's. Just went with who the ER recommended. Did you explain to them the current severity of your DDs symptoms? It isn't quite the same, but the dermatologist's office bumped me out of skin-check appointments twice, and not just from Tuesday to Friday. We're talking months. The third time they tried, I said, "I am coming in to make sure I don't have any skin cancer. If I come in, and have it, and someone says 'oh, gee, if only you'd have come in three months ago' like I was originally scheduled, then what are you going to say?" The scheduler put me on hold and came back with an almost immediate appointment time. So they CAN move the schedule around if they want to. If they don't know about the worsening symptoms, I'd call again (and call every day to see if there are cancellations). |
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likescarrots
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Post by likescarrots on Jul 24, 2015 1:35:31 GMT
is she throwing up her meds? That might be why they aren't working. I had that problem once when I had strep throat and a stomach virus at the same time.  I agree, time to go back to the ER if she can't keep her meds down. |
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Post by scrappyoutlaw on Jul 24, 2015 2:02:42 GMT
Is it a topical or oral antibiotic? I had a severe double ear infection last year that I was prescribed ear drops that I ended up having an allergic reaction to, I didn't have access to a doctor and my medics didn't realize what was going on for a few days. My ears were swollen shut and my jaw was immobile by the time they suspected an allergic reaction. I almost had to be medivaced out of a foreign country because it was so bad.
I do remember it got so severe that it did take almost a week before I started feeling better. Benedryl was what got me through it, it kept the swelling down and helped drain my ears.
Either way, I'm thinking good thoughts for your daughter. It was the worst pain of my life and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
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Post by christine58 on Jul 24, 2015 2:06:55 GMT
Get back to the ER...she's probably throwing up the antibiotics and needs IV ones...please take her ASAP
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Post by Outspoken on Jul 24, 2015 2:19:53 GMT
I am going on 3 weeks suffering with my ear infection. I have been to the doctor 3 times. My ear drum has burst and they said it will take a while (up to two months) for that hole to close. I can't hear. My antibiotics end today. I am sure I will be going back. I have sharp shooting pain in my jaw, sinus area and ear.
I hope we both get help soon because I wouldn't wish this on anyone! And, by the way, I am 46 and this is all new for me!
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Post by Scrapper100 on Jul 24, 2015 2:40:44 GMT
That sounds horrible I have had ear infections and to the point of being dizzy but nothing like that and they were painful. I think at this point she should be feeling better I would go back in poor thing I hope they figure it out soon.
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Post by Skellinton on Jul 24, 2015 2:59:36 GMT
I had a ruptured ear drum recently and it hurt like crazy cakes but didn't cause any swelling and shouldn't antibiotics start working withing 24 hours? Maybe she is resistant to what they gave her? She needs to go back to the er and see an ent.
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Post by finally~a~mama on Jul 24, 2015 4:22:24 GMT
Another vote for back to the ER ASAP! I had my first ear infection in college. It was bad. Woke up one day unable to hear and with excruciating pain. I did not have it as bad as your DD, but it did take several rounds of antibiotics and 4+ months to get rid of it. In my case I think the infection wasn't going away completely rather than going away & then coming back.
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Post by Legacy Girl on Jul 24, 2015 4:50:28 GMT
Please encourage her to take a good probiotic. If they're loading her up with antibiotics, I would hate for her to develop C-Diff and compound the problem. I know that's not your primary concern right now, and I hope you can find relief from her ear infection, as well, but I started out with an outer ear infection two years ago and ended up with a nasty case of C-Diff. Wouldn't wish it on my arch enemy!  |
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Post by miominmio on Jul 24, 2015 5:45:01 GMT
I've had ear infections all my life, and never that bad. She needs immediate medical care. Not to scare you, but ear infections sometimes spread and cause meningitis, so please call around until you find a specialist. If you can't, bring her back to the ER.
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Peamac
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Post by Peamac on Jul 24, 2015 13:01:44 GMT
DH gets ear infections (he just turned 50 last month) and found out the hard way that he's allergic to sulfa drugs, so he can't use those any more. Any chance DDs swelling is a reaction to all the meds she's on?
Hope she feels better soon!
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Post by penguin on Jul 24, 2015 14:02:13 GMT
Can you take pictures of the swelling and email to the doctor to impress upon them the seriousness of the infection? Maybe they will work her into the schedule then.
I have had many, many ear infections but I've never had such a bad reaction as your daughter. It sounds like she's throwing up all the antibiotics, so nothing is working is left to treat the infection.
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Post by peasapie on Jul 24, 2015 14:11:01 GMT
Hope you will update us on this. It doesn't sound good. I would call every ENT i could find until someone agrees to see her at once.
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Post by littlemama on Jul 24, 2015 15:16:04 GMT
Have her put warm compresses on her jaw, sinuses, and over and behind her ears. It should offer some relief. Also, don't lie flat to sleep. I would also have her get in to see her regular doctor, so he can take a look at her.
There are times when the pain and swelling from an ear infection last as long as, if not longer than the antibiotics. I had one in April. Started to feel congested on Thursday after work and by 2 am I was in an incredible amount of pain in my ear - stayed up all night. Went to the Dr, had really bad infection, started antibiotics. After one week, I was still in a lot of pain, could not hear, and felt like my ears were still clogged. Went back to the Dr, he said the infection was gone, but the pain and congestion remained. It was a few weeks before I could hear again.
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Post by Legacy Girl on Jul 25, 2015 4:55:05 GMT
Just wondering how she's doing tonight, OP? Sending healing prayers her way! Hope she's feeling better.
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Post by tamaraann on Jul 26, 2015 23:35:02 GMT
Any update on this? I hope your daughter is feeling better!!!
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Nicole in TX
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Post by Nicole in TX on Jul 27, 2015 0:33:30 GMT
Poor baby! That is terrible! I would be at the ER, I believe.
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Jul 27, 2015 1:50:39 GMT
Any update?
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I agree, time to go back to the ER if she can't keep her meds down.
Time to get off the internet!