Ear Infections are not good

Double ear infections suck!  I've had them my whole life but ten years ago I had laser ear surgery which really helped bring down my ear problems from once a month to a handful of times over the last ten years. 

I'm currently in the middle of a a losing battle with a major ear infection-- both outer and inner ears on both sides...it's the mother of all combinations to get. I am on a ton of medications, but I still feel like there is an ice pick stabbing me in my left ear and that awful throbbing in my right.  The doc gave me steroids this time too because my ears are so swollen my jaw can't open without me almost crying.

Here's the moral of the story.  If your kids have earraches or ear infections, know that they're in a tremendous amount of pain and take them to the doctor immediately.  There's a ton of misinformation out there about 'waiting it out' and overuse of antibiotics, blah blah blah.  Waiting it out is cruel and unusual punishment in my opinion and really only applies to inner ear infections, not outer which cause such incredible pain and only the doc can tell you which one it is.

Also, if your kids have swimmers ear or are prone to outer ear infections mixing up a 1:1 ratio of vinegar and rubbing alcohol and dropping it in the ears everyday (and anytime the ears may get wet) then blow drying the ears on a low setting for several minutes does help as a preventative.

I also think Similisan Earrache drops do help, although no doctor I've been to agrees with me.  The sulfur and chamomile in the mixture has a warming sensation when you put it in the ear canal which eases the pain temporarily and the glycerin base (in my opinion) helps the infection gunk 'slide out' easier. Plus they are safe to use in combination with antibiotic ear drops.

Thank goodness for the Minute Clinic at my local CVS where I could get in on a Sunday morning without insurance and without paying an arm and a leg (just an arm.) So thank you CVS for having a 24 hour pharmacy and a Minute Clinic with a really cheerful Nurse Practioner.