So I have an ear infection...

GhostUser · Jan 3, 2003

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> I do. In my left ear. 
I never go to the doctor, mostly because I haven't found one that utilizes a holistic approach to medicine and treating illness. However, after enduring four days of serious pain in my left sinus cavity and ear, I decided something needed to be done... 
I went to a walk-in clinic yesterday, and the doctor said that I have a virus that's been going around plus an ear infection, and he prescribed an antibiotic for me. I feel crappy for taking the antibiotic because I know it's not vegan and was probably tested on animals... 
How do you guys deal with situations like this? I am taking the medication because the pain was becoming too much and because I was missing work because I wasn't feeling well. I know the ultimate goal of veganism is to reduce the amount of animal suffering as much as we can, but I still feel creepy when I unscrew the cap to my bottle of pills. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

luckiecharms · Jan 3, 2003

Hey dont feel bad about it because there was basically no other choice. if you didnt take the medicine for your ear infection then it probably would never go away because i dont think they can go away on their own. In those kind of situations theres really no other choice.

Michael · Jan 3, 2003

I'm not sick very often and don't remember having to take medication since I've gone vegetarian but... Even though I'm against testing on animals I don't mind taking medication that has been tested on animals. The damage has been done and the knowledge is there. Might as well use it. At least that's my opinion.

soilman · Jan 3, 2003

"if you didnt take the medicine for your ear infection then it probably would never go away because i dont think they can go away on their own. " 
Simply not so. They usually, but now always, go away on their own. In fact, the usually scenario is something like this: you notice your ear is clogged up; you have got the beginning of a viral ear infection that typically runs its course in 8 days. After 3 days you start taking a prescription which is effective against bacterial infections, but useless against the viral infection that you have. After a day of taking them you notice your ear is starting to feel better. That is because after day 4, the 8-day infection has reached its peak and is starting to decline. Taking the antibiotic had no influence on the course of the infection.

LadyFaile · Jan 5, 2003

i don't get them anymore, but had a few ear and throat infections as a kid. my brother had tons of them to the point that he had tubes put in his ears, whatever they do. 
ever try a shooter called bazooka joe? it's supposed to taste like bubble gum, but to me it tastes exactly like amoxacillin, the banana-flavoured liquid antibiotic i had to take for ear infections. *heave* 
anyway, i'm sure you could deal with it without antibiotics. there are so many ways to boost your immune system through food and herbs and whatnot. all you can really do for ear infections is get lots of rest and fluid and do whatever you can to help your body fight it off faster. i'd look into herbal solutions, like a combination of echinacea and other things.

soilman · Jan 5, 2003

Ear infections are often secondary to nasal infections and come along with, or on the heels of, paranasal- sinus infections. Keep your nasal passages open and uninfected, and likewise you may be able to prevent your middle ear from getting infected, as well as your sinuses. Tho some middle ear infections are primary, you get them without having nasal infections or sinus infections, first. I used to get those when I used to swim alot. But they were mild and short-lived. The ones I had when I was a teeny baby person, were real bad tho, and I remember them. Before the age of 7. Probably due to my father smoking, and my mother feeding me cows milk like there was no tomorrow.

LadyFaile · Jan 5, 2003

likewise. i don't remember my parents every making an effort to not smoke in front of us, and i imagine it's a main cause for a lot of our health issues then and now, including my brother and i both having ear infections

Joe · Jan 5, 2003

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally posted by FemmeDemonica <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> I do. In my left ear. 
... 
after enduring four days of serious pain in my left sinus cavity and ear, I decided something needed to be done... 
I went to a walk-in clinic yesterday, and the doctor said that I have a virus that's been going around plus an ear infection, and he prescribed an antibiotic for me. 
... </div>
</div>
 
For what it is worth, I think you did the right thing. Both the fact that you had pain and the fact that it was also in a sinus cavity were valid reasons to see a doctor and take meds rather than trying to "tough it out." 
One thing you might try in the future if you get something milder is just buy those non-prescription ear drops that come with one of those bulb-type syringes. They are some combination of hydrogen peroxide (or something similar) in some sort of oil base, and the peroxide will help deal with the infection. It will fizz up in your ear like when you put hydrogen peroxide on a cut. Then you wash it out with the syringe. 
A vaporizer is also good to help provide drainage of the sinus cavities. 
Indeed, note the time of year this happened. Ear infections and sinus problems are often associated with winter-time, and especially with being indoors in (dry) heated areas. So a humidifier or other means of keeping up the humidity indoors can help prevent infections. 
These things are the most helpful if you respond early to the first signs of ear troubles or a sinus infection. If they don't work, then you should go to the doctor.

GhostUser · Jan 5, 2003

Thanks for your insight, everyone. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/wink3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> Joe, thanks for all of your tips. 
I went to the doctor as a last resort. I've had health insurance for two years now, and have never used it for this sort of thing. I don't even have a primary care doctor, if that tells you how often I go to the doctor. I'm still feeling pretty crummy, actually, though markedly better. 
I've been drinking lots of oj and eating lots of garlic and drinking tons of Traditional Medicinal tea. The Gypsy Cold Care kind is pretty tasty, I might add. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/wink3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> 
I've never had a ear infection before--my mom said I didn't even have them as a child, so this is all new to me. Hopefully this will be the last of it. I rarely get sick, and I've found that I get terribly whiney (hahaha) when I don't feel well. I'm such a big baby. 
Anyhow, thanks y'all.

soilman · Jan 5, 2003

The antibiotic probably is made from plant products. Generallally they cultivate a specific fungus on a medium made up largely of plant matter. With "high-tech" antibiotic, after harvesting the fungus, and purifying it, they may also chemically alter it to make into a related, but supposedly more effective, "semisynthetic" antibiotic. Yes they are tested on animals. But they usually have little or no animal matter as constituents. Immunizations, on the other hand, are sometimes rather disgusting infection materials derived from animals.

mushroom · Jan 16, 2003

I would not risk my health or my children's health and not use an antibiotic if necessary. I had tons of ear aches as a child...sometimes from a cold, sometimes "swimmers ear" My children never get them. Yet, 
my family smoked stogies up the wazoo...what a co ink y dink.

The_Gazumper · Jan 16, 2003

I'm suffering from really bad sinus problems at the moment - I've been to the Doc's, but the antibiotics that she's given me have been no good whatsoever!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

GhostUser · Jan 17, 2003

Femme Demonica- Don't forget to take acidophilus to replenish what's being destroyed by the anibiotics (you are more prone to having the infection again when your intestinal flora is a small count). They have dairy free acidophilus. Feel better. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

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Walter · Sep 5, 2003

I woke up an hour ago because of an ear infection that was hurting so badly. Last night, the teeth, a nasal passage, a temple, and an ear on one side of my face were all hurting so badly, and today, I woke up because my ear was hurting and is completely blocked. 
And I know why. I took a bath last night, and water got in my ears! What an idiot!!! 
I called my sister whose daughter had ear infections nearly every week as a child. She said that I should go to the hospital because it won't go away (although I believe it would eventually.) She did say it could spread to my nose (which has been sick for a few days as it is.) 
I'm definitely not keen on that seeing that this alone is hurting my head enough so that I want to whine. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sick.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

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Nobody look at my avatar today... it's false emotion!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/bigcry.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

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GhostUser · Sep 5, 2003

Soilman, you are talking out of your ear, so to speak. An ear infection left untreated CAN leave SERIOUS, PERMANENT damage. 
Growing up, we were very poor and often could not afford medication. My parents used the home remedies. Ear infections have left me with reduced hearing in one ear, as well as a hole in my right ear drum. 
Don't screw around with your health. You did the right thing.

Walter · Sep 5, 2003

kristadb, I just want to point out that I raised this thread from the dead this morning. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

GhostUser · Sep 5, 2003

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by mikie <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> 
kristadb, I just want to point out that I raised this thread from the dead this morning. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"></div>
</div>
 
Yes, but anytime I get to point out that someone is talking out of their ear, I always feel obligated to add my 2 cents worth <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> 
Go to the doctor and have it looked at. You can do serious damage to yourself by lollygagging.

Epinephrine · Sep 5, 2003

*gasp* what? did i understand this right? the doctor prescribed antibiotics for a viral infection?? that is just so wrong. tsk tsk. 
mikie, do you have sinus problems often? i used to but they pretty much stopped after i got my wisdom teeth removed. the upper wisdom teeth are way up there in your sinuses and that can cause a lot of ear pain when they're coming out.

GhostUser · Sep 5, 2003

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Epinephrine <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> 
*gasp* what? did i understand this right? the doctor prescribed antibiotics for a viral infection?? that is just so wrong. tsk tsk. 
mikie, do you have sinus problems often? i used to but they pretty much stopped after i got my wisdom teeth removed. the upper wisdom teeth are way up there in your sinuses and that can cause a lot of ear pain when they're coming out.</div>
</div>
 
viral infections often can led into bacteria infections. You can tell the difference because the viral infection moves around from location to location (from ear, to throat, to nose, to ear, etc) whereas a bacteria infection stays in one location and, if it spreads, it still hurts in the original location (ie. ear, then ear and throat, then ear, throat and nose). 
That is why a viral infection can be going around, but some people end up on antibotics; the viral infection stays in one spot and then a bacterial infection resuls. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/bow.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":bow:"> Queen of infections

Lothar M Kirsch · Sep 5, 2003

Let me give my 2 cents. Physicians, especialls GPs, prescribe antibiotics too often. As Soilman and Epinephrine said, it´s wrong to prescribe antibiotics under the assumption of a viral infection. Actually the intestinal flora gets disrupted which leads to diminished immunologic functioning (you might get a viral or fungal infection easier then). So, if your GP wants you to take an antibiotic, ask how he made sure, that you have a bacterial infection, ask for the basis of his diagnosis. 
// This was also one of the topics a group of fibromyalgia patients discussed with me about half an hour ago!

So I have an ear infection...

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