Update!! Can someone diagnose me?

[OKKiddo]

Update:

I procrastinated a while longer and what finally got me to the nearest urgent care was when my younger son told me he wanted to lay down next to me and said his stomach hurt. I didn't need to feel his head because his whole body was burning up! So, off we went to urgent care the pair of us. I was diagnosed with an external ear infection (Swimmer's Ear) and my younger son was diagnosed with an inner ear infection. That is is first in almost 6 months! I asked my husband if he'd been remembering to give him his meds in the morning like he does at home and got the deer in the headlights look. Apparently not. So, in a week of forgetting to give our son his Prevacid for reflux he got another ear infection (which was the KU Med West's ENT's opinion of what was causing his recurrent ear infections--like 22 in 26 months). Looks like she was right!

I told the Dr about our return flight for the next day (today now) and at first she seemed concerned until she heard we were leaving in the evening. She said as long as we've been on the meds for 24 hours and made sure to take some motrin the hour before we would be fine. In a way I'm glad that I got an ear infection (albeit external) because now I see exactly how painful they are and I have an idea now of what hell my little boy was living through for over 2 years let alone this last week.

Thanks to everyone who offered advice! We're going to go gander at the beach (with hats and hoodies over our ears!) and visually drink it in while we can. I know we're all going to miss it.


Here are my symptoms:

Left Ear pain with throbbing that starts at the temple and goes all the way down the side of my face under my jaw into my throat (right by a lymph node that feels a bit swollen). I have frequent, sudden, stabbing pain that shoots out and goes straight down to the jaw. Swallowing is excruciating and I have a high pain tolerance. My sinuses feel clear and not stuffy, and I have had zero allergies in California (man do I miss that compared to Kansas!!). No fever, no drainage. I have taken tylenol and used Similisan ear drops which dull the pain to a tolerable level if I don't swallow or chew.

We're on vacation in California right now and due to fly back tomorrow. I'm worried about flying if I have an ear infection but we have Tricare and I always sweat going to a Dr./Er when we're out of our area. Should I go ahead and head to a Dr or urgent care clinic?

Thanks in advance!

[mackmama]

It sounds like an ear infection.

Are you dizzy at all? If so, probably middle ear infection.

Have you been swimming? If you hold your earlobe and pull it out to the side, does it hurt? If so, it's probably an outer ear infection.

It's probably best to see a doc. If you have an ear infection, flying's not a good idea and you might need antibiotics.

As a side note - I have had to travel by airplane with both types of ear infections, and my doctor told me to take sudafed and advil before the flight. It also helped to chew gum during takeoff and descent. If you see a doc, you might ask him about these options.

Hope you feel better soon!

[roseyloxs]

Ugh.. I feel you. Tricare can be a real PITA. It sounds pretty serious though.

http://www.ehow.com/way_5486155_ear-...nion-skin.html

Try the above link and see if it helps. Last time my ds had an ear infection (my ear hurt as well) we warmed up an onion in the microwave. Cut it in half and then put the onion on the infected ear. I swear it really works. My ear felt better in less then a minute. It hurt a little bit after the onion was off but by the time we woke up the next morning my ds and I had no more complaints. It was kind of amazing.

[OKKiddo]

Originally Posted by OKKiddo

Here are my symptoms:

Left Ear pain with throbbing that starts at the temple and goes all the way down the side of my face under my jaw into my throat (right by a lymph node that feels a bit swollen). I have frequent, sudden, stabbing pain that shoots out and goes straight down to the jaw. Swallowing is excruciating and I have a high pain tolerance. My sinuses feel clear and not stuffy, and I have had zero allergies in California (man do I miss that compared to Kansas!!). No fever, no drainage. I have taken tylenol and used Similisan ear drops which dull the pain to a tolerable level if I don't swallow or chew.

We're on vacation in California right now and due to fly back tomorrow. I'm worried about flying if I have an ear infection but we have Tricare and I always sweat going to a Dr./Er when we're out of our area. Should I go ahead and head to a Dr or urgent care clinic?

Thanks in advance!

Originally Posted by mackmama

It sounds like an ear infection.

Are you dizzy at all? If so, probably middle ear infection.

Have you been swimming? If you hold your earlobe and pull it out to the side, does it hurt? If so, it's probably an outer ear infection.

It's probably best to see a doc. If you have an ear infection, flying's not a good idea and you might need antibiotics.

As a side note - I have had to travel by airplane with both types of ear infections, and my doctor told me to take sudafed and advil before the flight. It also helped to chew gum during takeoff and descent. If you see a doc, you might ask him about these options.

Hope you feel better soon!

I haven't been swimming at all--only a little water spray from disney's splash areas but I don't recall any getting into my ear. The wind has been blowing in it for every walk by the beach (which are frequent because we love the beach). And it doesn't hurt to pull my earlobe--at least not more than it already does, but it REALLY makes the shooting pains increase afterwards! Oh, and no dizziness at all...my balance has always been questionable though, lol!

[OKKiddo]

Originally Posted by roseyloxs

Ugh.. I feel you. Tricare can be a real PITA. It sounds pretty serious though.

http://www.ehow.com/way_5486155_ear-...nion-skin.html

Try the above link and see if it helps. Last time my ds had an ear infection (my ear hurt as well) we warmed up an onion in the microwave. Cut it in half and then put the onion on the infected ear. I swear it really works. My ear felt better in less then a minute. It hurt a little bit after the onion was off but by the time we woke up the next morning my ds and I had no more complaints. It was kind of amazing.

When hubby gets back I'll have him run and get an onion but we're heading out for the day because it's our last in California for a long time (looking at years again BOOOO!!!).

[MSWR0319]

I was going to say sinus issues. I get problems like that when I fly. You could try Afrin, but only use it for three days max, or you'll get rebound issues. I have to use it when I fly even if I have no congestion or my sinus's flare up,

[sariana]

Where in CA are you? We have Tricare (Reserve Select), and there are a number of Tricare providers in our area.

Are you near a base? I know Tricare patients are "bottom of the barrel" on base, but since you are out of town, would they see you there?

Also I would try Advil or something else besides Tylenol. Tylenol does not have an anti-inflammatory, which might be helpful in your situation.

[OKKiddo]

We're at Redondo Beach and I called my husband to get some Motrin on his way back. I will likely be making an ER visit this evening but we have plans that have been booked for weeks and I don't want to lose all the $$ we spent on it by making us all go to the ER or making them wait in the hotel room while I'm at the ER.

[trales]

Can you go to one of those CVS minute clinic things and see what they take for insurance.

[amldaley]

Call Tricare and get an urgent care referral. They do it for me all the time. They will find the closest clinic to you and fax the authorization to the clinic for you.