Ear ache/infection

[AutoEuphoria]

I've been swimming a lot...usually 5 days a week for at least 40 minutes. On Friday, my ear started to hurt a little about half-way through the day, and got progressively worse. On Saturday, it was really bad. It hurt to chew because of how those muscles would interact with the ear canal. Saturday night I couldn't even fall asleep because the pain was so bad...had to take 2 Tylenol PMs and finally passed out around 4:30. Sunday was about the same...and today is about the same as the past 2 days. Can't really bite down still because it's a sharp pain in my jaw and ear canal.

Ear fills "full", but I think it's just the swelling. It's really red in there, and swollen a decent amount (not closed off or anything, but definitely more restricted). Also have swollen lymph nodes under my ear (feels like a little bb under my ear...not there on my other side).

I don't have the best health insurance...seems like any trip to the doctor ends up costing me $100-$200 out of pocket, which I can't really afford at the moment. I don't want to go to the doctor unless it's absolutely necessary, but not being able to chew anything or put my head on a pillow without being in pain is starting to get pretty old.

It's more of a throbbing, dull pain...sometimes sharp, generally just achy. I would liken it to a really bad sore throat in my ear.

Anyone experience anything like this before? I'm assuming it's swimmers ear, or a mild middle-ear infection (I'm not dizzy or anything), but I'm just wondering if it's about at the end and would go away in another day, or if I really should go to the doctor?

Just apprehensive because the last time I went to the doctor for a bad cold (I was sick for about 3 weeks straight), and I thought I might have had bronchitis. They checked me over, told me it was just a cold, and I still got a bill for $100...didn't even get any special treatment or medicine. Just don't want to waste my money like that again.

Thanks for your input...also, side note...ear plugs are already on their way. Won't be dealing with this again if I can help it!

For reference...this is what it feels like:

 

[hangemhigh]

here ya go homie......:lol:

 

[TRBOBUICK]

Swimmers ear...my daughter gets it all the time. Its an infection. You have to take either oral or drop type antbiotics. It can get severe enough to rupture the ear drum.

 

[KENNEBELL2.6]

Weird... My girlfriend has this right now. Shes in alot of pain. (no pictures) sorry. She went to the doctor and they gave her amoxicillin and ear drops that with insurance were still $140.

 

[Lunger]

old home cure was to put a few drop of rubbing alcohol in the ear after swimming.

 

[AutoEuphoria]

yeah, unfortunately, it's a little too late for that. But yeah, I've read that too...same concept as the HEET fuel water removal stuff.

 

[KENNEBELL2.6]

Try a blow dryer to the ear at a low speed. Girl just called and said that made her ear drums and released some pressure.

 

[Quick86]

Go to a doctor. Simple as that. If you have insurance, then why aren't you there now?

 

[AutoEuphoria]

I guess I'll go to the doctor after work. Just doesn't seem to be getting any better.

 

[cutlassclass]

Go to the doctor, I suffer from chronic ear infections and you dont want your Tympanic Membrane to rupture. Right now you are gambling with your hearing, if the membrane ruptures you will cause permanent hearing loss.

 

[seXysiXer]

If you can sleep on a heating pad on HIGH temp that would let off alot of the inflammation (sp) too.
If you have an infection they will give you antibiotics and even perhaps flush your ear out and its going to hurt. prednisone is a nasty drug but it works great for this kind of stuff.

 

[Swats]

If I may add my two cents. Go to the doctor. I have had many ear infections. In my case I have more ear infections, then colds, or flu's. The upside is you are in pain and you know about it. I had an ear infection about ten years ago where I did not feel it. That was until I had blood come out of my ear because it went through my ear drum. I have some hearing loss because of it. Antibiotics and ear drops are the normal routine for my ear infections. My father has hearing aids (not because of ear infections), I rather not have to have them as well. I have had some hearing loss to the point it has affected my speech some. Still go to the doctor, preferably and ear, nose and throat. Another thing. when putting in ear drops. Hold the bottle in your hands for a couple of minutes before putting the drops in. You will warm up the bottle a little. Cold drops can hurt when they go in. It might take a few tries to be able to put drops in yourself.

 

[AutoEuphoria]

Went to the clinic after work and they found that I had an outer ear infection and a middle ear infection. Also told me I have a heart murmur, which can't be good...they're going to do some follow-up testing on that (hope it's not serious, but can't do much about it now). I actually found that I DO have prescription insurance, and with it my antibiotics were only $8. I'm still not sure how much of the actual visit I'll have to pay for, though...that's where they get you

 

[Quick86]

I'm sorry, I was just reading Damn You Auto Correct and thought of this thread.