Adult ear infections - perforated eardrums, any experience?

[Bang!Zoom!]

Stopped by the doctors office to get some help with what I thought was a double ear infection - turns out I have torn my eardrums...they are perforated.

 

I can't pin down what/why caused it - no recent issues, changes, whatever. Am taking antibiotics now, going to see a specialist this coming week.

 

When I was there, they said they couldn't tell how aged the perforations are.

 

Any experience with this? Any healing/recovery advice?

 

Just using simple amoxicillion for now, using probiotics as well.

 

Any advice? I have hearing loss as well. The sensation of pressure to pain is making me a little anxious and uptight. (I minimize on this last statement, lol)

[somo_chickenlady]

A couple years ago I had a ruptured ear drum, no clue how it happened. It healed the same as a regular ear infection, with no lasting damage, and I didn't need to go to a specialist. I hope you heal quickly!

[Joker]

Mine rupture and drain every single time I have an ear infection. I haven't had one in many years though, and they never knew why it happened. I don't have any lasting effects other than flying is much too painful to do unless absolutely necessary.

[FairProspects]

Unfortunately, I have way too much experience with this. The hearing loss will come back within 6-8 weeks. Did you have a cold or bad allergies? If the ear gets infected after a cold, sometimes it will rupture to relieve the pressure. It is nothing to worry about unless it happens repeatedly, and then you should see a specialist because repeated ruptures can cause some weird problems and permanent hearing loss. Just take the antibiotics and you will be fine. :grouphug:

[athena1277]

I don't have experience with ruptured eardrums as an adult, but I can tell you all about it as a parent. My dd had tubes in/out as a toddler. Then when she was 4yo, her doctor noticed a perforation and sent us to an ENT. The ENT said the hole was what they see when a person has been hit in the head/ear. We have no idea how long it had been there, but it was after tubes. Waited months to see if it would heal itself, but it was too big. Had surgery to fix the hole (5yo). Thought all was good. Two years later, she suddenly starts telling me her ear hurts really, really bad and begged me to take her to the doctor. This child hates going to see any doctor, so I knew it was bad. Turn out she had an infection (with no other symptoms) and it had blown the patch. Waited again, but of course it did not heal itself. This time they did surgery where they made an incision behind her ear, basically pealing her ear up and patching it from behind. We hope we don't have to go through this again, but you never know with this poor child.

[Rai B.]

I got an middle ear infection and perforated eardrum this last June. My first! I got a cold from dd, but I have no idea why this particular cold caused ear problems. I was deaf in that ear for several weeks, but other than that I was fine a couple after I started taking amoxicillin (orally and drops).

 

No advice except what the doctor probably already told you. And maybe make someone else do the talking when you go out.

[In the Rain]

Mine burst last year due to allergies. :001_huh: I recommend going to an ENT. Mine picked up on things both my primary care doc and the urgent care doc missed. I hope you feel better soon! :grouphug:

[Chris in VA]

Mine ruptured after a slight infection. My hearing has never been the same, sadly. I'm thinking of getting it checked to see if a hearing aid could help (could be combined with getting older, I'm not sure).