I think my eardrum ruptured

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

Started a contract job on Monday. An hour before starting work, I began feeling sick. Slight itchy throat. But I haven't worked in months, & will not back out at last minute just because I was feeling mildly ill.
I had trouble sleeping since. 1-2hr of sleep per night at most.
It was worse by Tuesday. Fever, sore throat, not much of a cough yet. I just pounded down tons of liquids. To stay hydrated & stuff. Took cold baths to bring body temp down.
By Wednesday the cough had gotten worse, maybe that was its' peak, I forget. Throat felt more sore from downing liquids than anything.
Thursday, cough had subsided a bit. Wasn't feeling feverish so much. I finally decided to take some Excedrin to help me sleep.
That didn't really work so well. Was awake again after 3 hours with stuffy ears. My right ear eventually subsided, but my left ear continually got worse. Began ringing really bad & only got louder. Began hurting/itching. Finally got that *pop* & release of pressure. But it didn't feel pleasant, or in a way that felt right. Something was off. I touched my ear & it felt wet. I pressed a tissue to my ear & there was blood on it.

I don't have health insurance so I'm pretty much fucked, I guess...

 

[Smoove910]

Yup, sounds like you had an infection behind your eardrum, which built up until something finally 'gave'. Same thing happened to me, but I didn't have blood come out, I had about 4 q-tips full of puss-like mucous.

Needless to say I have a fake eardrum now.

You need to stuff some cotton balls in your ear to block all the sound and to soak up whatever fluid might be leaking. Doctor really needs to check things out though...

 

[wirednuts]

just go to an immediate care clinic. they will fix just about anything for $100. it might not be real doctors, but they can usually keep you alive.

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

Only "free" or "cheap" clinics in town, that I know of, are not immediate care. Require to schedule an appointment, and are booked for weeks.
Since I don't really have anyone locally I can turn to for guidance about the issue, I wasn't going to bother...
So I went to work. Co-worker said he's gotten free treatments in the past from a hospital nearest to where we were working... So I just signed right back out & headed over there...
When I was signing in, I inquired about financial assistance programs. So filled out that form in process. I had already stated I didn't live near there, & the person stated I'd have no problem being accepted for financial assistance... And stated not to go to billing until after I've seen somebody...
Then after seeing somebody, I went straight to billing. And was told since I don't live in the county I don't qualify for anything & am pretty much screwed....
Now I think I'm having an allergic reaction to the prescription...

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

When I had an eardrum burst, I just left it alone. I lost most hearing in that ear for a few days and was really sensitive to loud noises for months afterwards. I don't know how applicable my experience is to yours though.

 

[IcePickFreak]

Have had it happen several times over the years and the one time I did go to the doctor for it, all it got me was a couple hundred dollar bill. Give it a few days then gently rinse the ruptured ear out with water, ideally with the ear facing the ground, to get the dried blood out.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[wirednuts]

i like how your eardrums grow back but ever since i went to that concert 10 years ago i still cant get that high pitched EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE to stop

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

I've been using q-tips every so often to clean my ear out.
I was gonna go to some shows over the next month, but gotta cancel those plans to give my eardrum some time to heal.
I've been using cotton ball when I can tolerate moderate ambient noise. But picked up ear plugs for when it will be more than that.
Although I was gonna start wearing ear plugs to shows anyway.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I've been using q-tips every so often to clean my ear out.
I was gonna go to some shows over the next month, but gotta cancel those plans to give my eardrum some time to heal.
I've been using cotton ball when I can tolerate moderate ambient noise. But picked up ear plugs for when it will be more than that.
Although I was gonna start wearing ear plugs to shows anyway.

Definitely use ear plugs next time you go to a concert. If you're like me you'll be very sensitive to loudness over the next several months. Personally, I wear ear plugs anyway. It isn't worth living with a constant ringing in your ears so you can listen to loud music.

I would advise using decongestants when you get sick in the future too. They'll keep you from getting secondary infections (at least they do for me). Having my eardrum rupture once was enough : p

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

I was using throat/cough decongestant. Didn't really seem to help a whole lot after first day or 2 though.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I was using throat/cough decongestant. Didn't really seem to help a whole lot after first day or 2 though.

I was talking more like ny/dayquil/nasal decongestants (We might be talking about the same thing in which case ignore me), and I can't say my experience is definitive though.

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

I wasn't really having any abnormal nasal issues so I didn't really bother with nasal decongestant.

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

When I was signing in, I inquired about financial assistance programs. So filled out that form in process. I had already stated I didn't live near there, & the person stated I'd have no problem being accepted for financial assistance... And stated not to go to billing until after I've seen somebody...
Then after seeing somebody, I went straight to billing. And was told since I don't live in the county I don't qualify for anything & am pretty much screwed....

I take it I can't file a complaint over this shiesty move?

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

Seems the rupture has healed for the most part & did get my hearing back. Still sensitive to sounds, but not too much. The strong ringing has subsided.

But now my ears are still congested. Couple days after I ran out of antibiotics, the ear infection/congestion came back. Shithead doctor did not note down I could get refills, & wouldn't approve a refill without an appointment, that I cannot afford. All cheap/free clinics are booked solid for 2 months.
I've been taking vitamin c, zinc & advil every day, so that makes it tolerable. But antibiotics would really speed things up.

 

[fiara]

I think you should consult an ENT specialist as soon as possible so that he could make out the changes taking place in your body and the problems you are facing because of it.Ruptured ear drum may result due to various reasons and I am sure that once you will get cure you will feel better.