(no subject)

[serene]

When they told me at the ER that it was a 6-to-7-hour wait to be seen, I decided to go home and be miserable there instead, and see my doctor in the morning if I was still sick. On the assumption that this was the cold virus and not a bacterial infection, I did what you do -- I took decongestants and pain medication and toughed it out. Also, and this is loracs's idea, I had someotherguy pick up a hairdryer for me, and I blew hot air in my ear when it hurt. It really did soothe it. Go figure.

Woke up this morning with no pain in my ear. YAY! I'll continue decongesting for today, just in case, but I'm SO happy not to have to spend today at the doctor's office.

This, my friends, is my glamorous poly life.

Comments

[leback.livejournal.com]

I'm *so* glad you're feeling better. That hairdryer trick sounds useful to know about -- thanks for passing it on!

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Sure. It's like taking a little tiny heating pad into your ear. :-)

[tiger-spot.livejournal.com]

Huzzah! I would never in a million years have thought of that hairdryer thing, but I will take note for the next time I'm near an ear infection.

[berkeleyfarm.livejournal.com]

YAY YAY YAY

good trick to remember

maggie sends gentle purrs

[maestrodog.livejournal.com]

Ingenious...although it would be nice if there were another way that wasn't so danged noisy :). But good to know nevertheless.

[mamagotcha.livejournal.com]

My ears have been killing me too, and I've been using olive oil that had had some cloves of garlic simmering in it for a bit (throw in willow bark too if you have it). Strain, keep in the fridge for those miserable days, warm up and use a dropper to drip in, keep some cotton tucked in so you don't leave a fragrant trail behind you. Very soothing and possibly a bit less noisy. Hope you're on the mend!

[bastette-joyce.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you're still sick! What happened? You originally had a cold, and then you got an ear infection? Or is it a sinus thing, or blockage in your ears, causing pain? I hope you feel better soon!!

[hnybny.livejournal.com]

Yeah, baby, hold that hairdryer for me..... yeah.

[minimo.livejournal.com]

Wow, I think your icon could induce epilepsy.
For earaches, I put a Qtip full of peroxide in my ear.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

I do something kinda-similar to the hairdryer trick... I'll be in the shower and kinda-direct some of the water into my ear canal... *never* so there's any way the flow back out is blocked, but basically getting a good streaming rinse. If wax is blocking your ear canal, it'll make you feel all plugged up and gives more room for infection to grow.

I learned this when the doctors flushed out my ears with a syringe - *yick* is that uncomfortable! But when it finally broke up the blockage, *wow* what a relief.

But it's absolutely essentially that you *never* force water into your ear; you let it flow in and out.

And make sure you're well supported because it can make you dizzy.

[hitchhiker.livejournal.com]

have to remember the hairdryer thing!