Ouch! Advice?

vinceneilsgirl

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Ok, for the last four years-since I was 23-I have been getting ear infections. Before this I had only had one ear infection when I was about 4 years old. I assumed that ear infections were a childhood thing.


Anyway, my right ear is the one that keeps getting infected over and over again. I get an ear infection every few months, the last one being about three months ago. Now, my ear is AGAIN infected! I have some medicine left over from the last time...I never follow the "take till gone" thing because 1)Drug companies just say that so you'll have to buy more of their product; and 2)We can't afford health insurance and need to "save" meds whenever we can...do you guys think that if I take what's left of this medicine it will make this infection go away?

Also, why does my ear keep getting infected over and over again? And does anyone have any suggestions on what to do for the pain and fever? I don't want to overdue the painkillers. Also, how high does a fever have to be before its considered dangerous? Mine is at 102.5 right now.

Yes, I'm full of questions.
 

kiwideus

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The reason doctors ask you to take meds until they are gone is because they want to make sure the infection is gone. And when I get prescriptions for meds, I ask for the generic brand - antibiotics only cost me $10 without the insurance.

And you should not be saving meds - you should be seeing a doctor before taking any meds that you save, if you save them and take them whenever you think it is necessary, you could be building a resistance to them. I would just follow what the doctor says.
 

abby7625

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102.5 is high for an adult, but I don't believe they are all that dangerous until they hit 103-104. You really need to call the dr and take something to bring your fever down..Tylenol would be a good start. Drink plenty of liquids and rest.

I was told with my oldest son that ear infections are caused by fluid building up behind the eardrum. That can happen in alot of ways. Do you still have your tonsils and do you have sinus problems? Those can cause an infection.

I wouldnt be waiting too much on going to the dr because if it gets too bad, your eardrum can rupture and I have heard that is really painful. I would at least call the dr on call this evening/day (depending on where you are) to advise them you are having problems.

Get better soon!!!
 

kiwideus

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Originally Posted by Abby7625

I wouldnt be waiting too much on going to the dr because if it gets too bad, your eardrum can rupture and I have heard that is really painful. I would at least call the dr on call this evening/day (depending on where you are) to advise them you are having problems.

Get better soon!!!
Abby - I agree - my sister got so many of them that her eardrum is basically gone. She has to have a skin graft to restore it and her hearing.
 

abby7625

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Alot of dr's will give samples of drugs if they have them too, particularily antibiotics, all you have to do is ask. When your infection is put off by not taking all the meds, it comes back worse the next time.
 

abby7625

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my sister got so many of them that her eardrum is basically gone. She has to have a skin graft to restore it and her hearing.
My oldest son is 7 and has less hearing in one ear than the other because of ear infections. They had to take his tonsils and adnoids out to solve the problem.
 

katl8e

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ALWAYS take the full course of antibiotics. You are probably having recurrences of the same old infection and, with the stop-and-start antibiotics, you're breeding a resistant strain of bacteria.

Do you have allergies or sinus trouble. If so, you may have some sort of blockage of the Eustachian tube, which runs from the ear to the nasal passages. This can cause a buildup of fluid, which can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

Get it checked out and take the full course of antibiotics, as directed. At the age of 7, my son had and 80% hearing loss, due to blockage and consequent infection. By following the doctor's orders, we got him back to 100% hearing within six weeks and he hasn't had an ear infection, since (he's 26 now).
 

loubelia

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Yes I agree with the responders above. I would definitely take All of the medication the doctor prescribed. The reason why they want you to do this is that it takes a few days for your body to completely get rid of the virus/bacteria, even after all of the worse symptoms are gone-and the people above are right, if you stop too soon that gives the few remaining 'germs' to multiply rapidly and come back and it makes it more likely for your body to build resistance to the medication.
Also, do you have tubes in your ears? Many people I know have had 'tubes' put in their ears when they were children to help get rid of the buildup in the ears-thus reducing the ear infections.
Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.
 

krazy kat2

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The other posters are correct if you have inner ear infection. I get recurring ear infections on the outside of my eardrum, similar to swimmer's ear. I have to dry my ears carefully with a hair dryer to keep water from staying in there and creating an an infection. It also takes antibiotics and drops when I get one, but drying the water in my ears keeps me from getting them quite as often. You have my sympathy, ear infections are SOOOO miserable.
 

katl8e

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Originally Posted by krazy kat2

The other posters are correct if you have inner ear infection. I get recurring ear infections on the outside of my eardrum, similar to swimmer's ear. I have to dry my ears carefully with a hair dryer to keep water from staying in there and creating an an infection. It also takes antibiotics and drops when I get one, but drying the water in my ears keeps me from getting them quite as often. You have my sympathy, ear infections are SOOOO miserable.
Have you tried a product called "Swimmer's Ear"? These are drops that dry out the water. My nieces and nephews got lots of infections, from swimming so much and once they started using this, they got very few. Earplugs help, too. Use them when you wash your hair, as well when swimming.
 

deb25

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I agree that thre reason you may be having this problem over and over is your failure to take the full course of antibiotics. You may need a stronger medication now to rid yourself of the complete infection. My son had frequent middle ear infections as a young child, and his no longer respond to Amoxicillan. He needs something stronger. You really need to see the doctor, confess what you have been doing, and get his advice.
 

krazy kat2

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Yes, I have tried the Swimmer's Ear stuff. I looked at the ingredients on the bottle, and it was alcohol, so now I just use alcohol, and it works pretty well. I keeps the ear infections at bay pretty well, along with the hair dryer.
 
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vinceneilsgirl

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I'm feeling a little better. My fever is down. I'm going to go back to the doctor and confess...*bless me doctor for I have sinned*


To those who asked:I have asthma, a heart murmur, and allergies. I am constantly congested. I thought this came with the territory, but my friend who also has asthma told me that an asthmatic who is constantly congested and coughing is not in "control" of their asthma. But I use my inhlaer so what's the deal?


I still have my tonsills and adenoids. I don't think I can get them removed at 27 years old. Wouldn't that kill me?

I am also wondering if it is just the same inner ear infection over and over again...especially since it is always in the same ear!
 

abby7625

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I don't think having your tonsils removed would kill you. I have heard its harder on adults than it is kids for whatever reason. I still have mine so I don't know.

As far as asthma, I have it also and have an inhalor, but its only for emergencies. I have the advair disk to use every day but it makes me get that creepy feeling like you get when someone is sneaking up behind you.
Talk to your doctor about it and see if they can change inhalors to something else.

Glad your temp is down and you feel a bit better!
 

squirtle

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If you discontinue taking your meds you may feel better but the infection can still be there. So you shouldn't have any extra meds to take. And you especially need to be careful about building a resistance to them. I used to get strep throat every 3 months, I became immune to erythromiacyn (sp?) the antibiotic I always took for it. I also used to get ear infections alot also, I got my tonsils out 2 years ago (at 22) and have not had an ear infection since and have only had strep twice since.
 

sweets

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To those who asked:I have asthma, a heart murmur, and allergies. I am constantly congested. I thought this came with the territory, but my friend who also has asthma told me that an asthmatic who is constantly congested and coughing is not in "control" of their asthma. But I use my inhlaer so what's the deal?
The "deal" is an inhaler is actually an emergancy remedy. If you are using your inhaler more than twice a day, your asthma isn't under control. And asthma isn't something to fool around with. We lost a friend just before Christmas to an asthma attack...and she was only 24.
 

katl8e

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You need to see a good, board-certified EENT doctor and get your entire otolaryngolical system checked out. Sounds as if the T & A may be the problem.
 
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