acute otitis media

I’ve been whammied. Acute Otitis Media - in both ears. I can’t believe how much pain an ear infection can cause. I developed it pretty quickly - overnight last week. I was up in San Luis Obispo and woke up at 2am Thursday morning in pain. Hot shower didn’t help. OTC pain relievers didn’t help. Camped out in front of the Urgent Care in SLO waiting for them to open at 8am. The doctor (who by the way was SUPER COOL. If you’re ever sick in SLO, go to the Urgent Care.) said that I had acute otitis media in both ears. Prescribed antibiotics, pain meds, nose spray, anti-inflammatory. In addition to the two inhalers I’ve been using to get rid of a viral asthmatic cough (which most likely caused the ear infections).

Got home Thursday afternoon. Slept. Then woke up with blood in my right ear canal. Perforated ear drum. It’ll heal on it’s own.

Now I can’t hear. I’ve lost a significant amount of hearing in both ears. From what I’ve read - it can take weeks to months to clear up. What a load of total shit. Everything is muffled and I have a constant ringing in my ears.

This is so uncool. Let me just say - the only thing I can remotely compare the pain level to is being in labor with Catherine. It’s this horrible, constant pain that drives you crazy and you want to run from it to just get away, but you can because it’s inside you.

I <3 Vicodin, btw.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 at 2:35 pmand is filed under life, meh. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “acute otitis media”

  • David Says:
    January 29th, 2009 at 5:34 pm

    Are you any better???
    Did you find relief?
    I have exactly the same symptoms , its been going on three months now.
    Went through two rounds of antibiotics.
    Had to get two prescriptions of Vicodin (there running out) sigh!
    Had to get a prescription of Ambien (generic)
    Had blood tests done seems im in perfect health.
    I don’t think my doctor understands “my” pain.
    Maddening pain on head, nerves, ears and neck. Fevers every day.
    I do so much understand that feeling of wanting to run away from it ,, but there is Just no where to go.

    Hope you have found relief

  • Jeannen Says:
    January 30th, 2009 at 8:25 am

    Hi David - It actually took weeks for my hearing to return to 100%. I think by Thanksgiving I was at 85% and then by the end of December I realized that it was gone completely.

    Do you have a recurring sinus infection or chest cold where you’re blowing your nose a lot? That’s what was going on with me. I think in extreme cases an ENT could do something with tubes to allow the fluid to drain in your middle ear and keep it open while things dried out and stuff. But remember, I’m not a doctor. I’m just a geek.

    I didn’t have it come back - after a few days things eased up. I think I did have some residual pain for a week - twinges now and then, but that’s it.

    I hope you get some relief soon! The pain can be maddening. Good Luck!

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