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I've been dealing with an ear infection and a perforated eardrum for the past few days. I went to see a doctor, had antibiotics (z pak) prescribed and have one more pill to take (in about 14 hours). It seems to have been working well...but there's a problem. The original feeling of the middle ear being full seems to be gone and replaced with a blockage in the ear canal...I fear discharge from the ear built up (I unfortunately thought I should keep cotton balls to catch the discharge) and has caused a secondary outer ear infection. I'd go back to the doctor to see if this is the case but I'd have to pay him $100-150 for a few minutes of his time...that's something I'd really like to avoid. Is there anything I can do personally to at least break up the buildup so my ear can get rid of the rest? I've heard of the olive oil in the ear to break up wax but does it work on discharge from an infection? And is it safe if I still have a perforated ear? I know, that's a lot to ask from people who may or may not have any medical training...if I have to I'll bite the bullet and go to the doctor but I know for a fact he'll just ask his assistant to squirt liquid into the ear (if there's a blockage at all).
I've been dealing with an ear infection and a perforated eardrum for the past few days. I went to see a doctor, had antibiotics (z pak) prescribed and have one more pill to take (in about 14 hours). It seems to have been working well...but there's a problem. The original feeling of the middle ear being full seems to be gone and replaced with a blockage in the ear canal...I fear discharge from the ear built up (I unfortunately thought I should keep cotton balls to catch the discharge) and has caused a secondary outer ear infection. I'd go back to the doctor to see if this is the case but I'd have to pay him $100-150 for a few minutes of his time...that's something I'd really like to avoid. Is there anything I can do personally to at least break up the buildup so my ear can get rid of the rest? I've heard of the olive oil in the ear to break up wax but does it work on discharge from an infection? And is it safe if I still have a perforated ear? I know, that's a lot to ask from people who may or may not have any medical training...if I have to I'll bite the bullet and go to the doctor but I know for a fact he'll just ask his assistant to squirt liquid into the ear (if there's a blockage at all).
Do not put anything in the ear if the eardrum has been perforated. Anything in the external ear can be washed deeper into the ear. You do not want to do that. It would be best for someone to look in the ear and see what is there before treating it.
So I bit the bullet and went to see the doctor, well, it's an urgent care clinic so I saw a nurse. She discovered that it wasn't buildup but my ear was swollen shut. She gave me a steroid shot and a prescription for steroid pills and steroid/antibiotic ear drops and then told me to find an ear wick so the drops can reach past the swollen canal. I asked if all of this was necessary and she told me she was considering sending me to the ER. So I get the drugs and told a friend who had an ear infection about it and he said that he also had an inflamed ear canal that was swollen shut after his ear infection and it just goes away naturally. I know that's extremely anecdotal but I still wonder if I'm being given treatments for nothing. Is this something that happens naturally and just goes away naturally? It doesn't hurt at all...it's just annoying and makes it a little difficult to sleep.
I'm considering taking the drugs she prescribed but not going back...she said she wanted to give me another shot tomorrow. At the discounted rate she says I'll be given it will cost an additional $115 over the $210 (visit, shot and drugs) I just spent today.
EDIT: BTW, I can't find an ear wick anywhere...nobody around me seems to carry them...which is another red flag in my mind.
EDIT2: Though, to be honest, my ear does feel a lot better after the shot (and I just used the drops for the first time...without the wick.)
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