My ear infection

[Mogamboe]

Hi guys,

Here is my story, i noticed that i have an infection Oct 18 and on 21st Oct my first appointment was booked with the GP that started with my first antibiotic course with amoxicillin. Further second follow up was on 1st Nov GP gave me a second course with Clarithromycin despite the staph infection was resistant to erythromycin (don’t know why GP did this) which did not help me at all. In my 3rd follow up 8th Nov, the GP said he cant give me anymore antibiotics to me as he wanted to see leave and see method. Since the beginning i had my ear clogged (50% but it reduced to 20% by second course antibiotics) and tinnitus yet no leaking in my ear. Following to that i started having headaches like pain in the neck and around my infected ear, i kept suffering this for 3 weeks with no medications. The next follow up was on 29th Nov, where he panicked me looking at my ear stating there’s something more than an infection inside my ear and suspected Cholesteotoma :’( i was so freaked out i don’t even know what it was and the GP literally showed me the google images that put me in to more traumatic situation. In the midst of this situation they had referred me to a ENT which came up with an appointment date for 31st Mar 2025. Based on a friend’s suggestion i went to A&E to see an ENT on an emergency basis as i was so scared. Finally i saw another GP to discuss the situation and she was equally curious why was i prescribed with erythromycin in second course, when the staph infection was resistant to it, not sure why the local GP did that.

Following to that (at a&e) GP discussed my situation with an ENT, and gave me Flucloxacillin and a Otomise ear spray (i stopped the spray on second day as it nearly killed me with pain) for Otitis media. After 3 days of antibiotics now i saw lot of relief, pain has reduced and my ear has unclogged and can hear to the full.

Although I’m still having pain behind my ear like on and off with clicking noise when i move my neck, im not sure why am i having this head ache behind my ear, im worried a bit.

Do you know why this headache is still there (i do not have any other symptoms like leaking in the ear etc) is it common to have on & off headaches until the infection is completely treated and yes of-course i will still stick to complete the antibiotics course. Please share your opinion with me. Thanks.

[Happyrosie]

we aren’t doctors here, and it’s a bit hard to comment on how quickly anyone can recover from an infection.

However, it’s really early days since the beginning of your latest treatment. When you finished it - and make sure you drink plenty of water to help the headache - and if you still are uncomfortable then go and see your local pharmacist. He or she will be familiar with infections and recovery time.

[Mogamboe in reply to Happyrosie]

Hey - thank you for your kind words 🙏 i know people here can’t do much with my issues but trying to understand from people who has gone through this, if these are the common issues associated with the ear infection. I have even got a couple non itchy rashes on my body, not sure if it’s antibiotic reaction or because of the infection.

[Caradoc1a]

I empathise! I have had 4 or 5 left ear infections this past year and had 2 lots of amoxycilin and lots of otomise spray prescribed. I don't think it has ever gone away. I developed high pitched hissing in April. Yesterday I was prescribed Fluclixacillin 500mg x 4 a day as now the ear itself is painful, mastoid bone tender with inner ear pain. Plus lump behind ear. Lymph node probably. I have ENT tinnitus assessment clinic on Friday- was referred in May.