Swimmer's ear?

I went to my DR last Friday and she gave me some ear drops for what she said was swimmer's ear. My ears both feel stuffy and at times it's like someone is stabbing me in the ear it hurts so bad, the right one is worse but they both hurt. I also feel like I'm under water most of the time in my left ear :/

My question is, does that sound like swimmer's ear? I've never had it but I thought only ear infections hurt this bad. Even with the drops for a week it's terrible, and I have to call her tomorrow to tell her my progress. Which is none, and the drops are almost gone   I'm hoping she has me come back in and gives me different drops or something.

Anyone else have something like this? Was it an infection or nothing serious? I would just love to be able to hear normally out of my left ear, and for the right one to not hurt so much :/

Swimmer's ear is an ear infection. But an external one, and you're right, yours does sound more like a middle ear infection. Put a piece of fresh garlic in each ear. Sounds weird but is supposed to work. GTS.

I had it a few months ago. They gave me antibiotics drops plus oral antibiotics and it was gone within a week and a half. It was so bad at one point I could no longer sleep on that side of my face...the lymph nodes behind my ear were swelling and the doctor said he couldn't see my middle ear to see if there was even an infection there too.

It was secondary to the pain of labor on my pain scale.

Quoting Cat Abbott:" Swimmer's ear is an ear infection. But an external one, and you're right, yours does sound more like ... [snip!] ... sound more like a middle ear infection. Put a piece of fresh garlic in each ear. Sounds weird but is supposed to work. GTS."

Ohh, I wasn't totally clear on that-thank you  
But that's what I thought, and it's driving me nuts cause these drops are doing absolutely nothing. As if pregnancy wasn't uncomfortable enough, without feeling like your head is stuffed up and you're off balance 24/7  

But that's interesting, I'll have to try that thanks   Sounds like something my mom would be all for-she loves natural cures for stuff AND she really loves garlic haha.

Quoting AA&L:" I had it a few months ago. They gave me antibiotics drops plus oral antibiotics and it was gone within ... [snip!] ... see my middle ear to see if there was even an infection there too. It was secondary to the pain of labor on my pain scale."

I really hope she calls me back in and gives me something better. I can sleep on either side so far but it's just incredibly annoying and is only adding to my discomfort and crabbiness.

It doesn't hurt all the time but the pain probably hits a 6 on my pain scale. The discomfort is like 10+ all the time though, just from feeling so off balance.

Quoting Jamie & Babygirl (::" I really hope she calls me back in and gives me something better. I can sleep on either side so far but ... [snip!] ... the pain probably hits a 6 on my pain scale. The discomfort is like 10+ all the time though, just from feeling so off balance."

I wasn't dizzy and I could still somewhat ear. Basically my ear canal had swollen shut... no more qtips for me. heh. All I can really remember is pain, even my teeth on that side hurt at times.

It may be a little further in... I hear you can get dizzy with the deeper ones with the equilibrium and all.

Quoting AA&L:" I wasn't dizzy and I could still somewhat ear. Basically my ear canal had swollen shut... no more qtips ... [snip!] ... hurt at times. It may be a little further in... I hear you can get dizzy with the deeper ones with the equilibrium and all."

I can hear a little, but like I said, it's kind of an underwater feeling. I feel like my ear canal is swollen or something! And wherever it is I just want it goooone. I get extremely temporarily relief from the drops (not even every time) and from the steam in the shower (until water gets in there and makes it worse   )

Maybe the ear drops aren't getting in deep enough because of the swelling? I was worried about them having to put that cotton wick in my ear, especially when the guy wearing surgeon on his jacket walked in my room. i was like uh... no. lol I wouldn't say mine was an underwater feeling though. That last day before I broke down and saw someone it was more like wearing 1 earplug.

No other symptoms other than pain though. I didn't get dizzy or have a fever or anything. I remember the weeks leading up to it, if the air vent in the car happen to brush air by that ear.. it would hurt for a minute but nothing where I thought "man I'm so getting an ear infection"

Quoting AA&L:" Maybe the ear drops aren't getting in deep enough because of the swelling? I was worried about them having ... [snip!] ... happen to brush air by that ear.. it would hurt for a minute but nothing where I thought "man I'm so getting an ear infection""

This was my first thought. I don't know what they have to do to fix it but at this point nothing could be worse. Lol I actually thought I was going deaf, like it's not even pain from any thing it's only deep inside where out of nowhere I'll feel like I just got jabbed inside my ear. Then it'll stop and still just feel stuffy. I felt like it was an infection the second it started hurting that bad. Sometimes it hurts when I chew but not always, and that pain switches sides just like the rest of the pain. It'll feel like it's gonna pop and I think maybe it won't be so stuffy, then it "pops" and I feel like I"m gonna die, plus it's stuffed haha.

I just can't wait to talk to my doctor. I've never said those words in my life, either. LOL.

Quoting Jamie & Babygirl (::" This was my first thought. I don't know what they have to do to fix it but at this point nothing could ... [snip!] ... die, plus it's stuffed haha. I just can't wait to talk to my doctor. I've never said those words in my life, either. LOL."

I do remember that stuffy feeling now6 that you've mentioned it. I kept plugging my nose and blowing trying to pop my ears for relief only to be in worse pain.

Quoting AA&L:" I do remember that stuffy feeling now6 that you've mentioned it. I kept plugging my nose and blowing trying to pop my ears for relief only to be in worse pain. "

Oooooh, I stopped trying to pop them because it was either completely useless, or it was like getting shot in the ear. But it still occasionally pops itself if I do certain things, or just randomly. And once again, like being shot. Lol I don't even remember the last time I had an ear infection, I've had maybe 3 in my life maximum, and it was all before I was even 12 so I have no clue what it felt like  

I had never had one before that I could remember. I've used qtips and earplugs my whole life... and this one time.

I guess you could have both a middle and an outer infection at the same time ): That would hideously suck. I hope your doctor can get you something that works. I was given the ofloxain drops and cipro. I don't think you can have the cipro being pregnant and all, but maybe try different drops?

Quoting AA&L:" I had never had one before that I could remember. I've used qtips and earplugs my whole life... and this ... [snip!] ... given the ofloxain drops and cipro. I don't think you can have the cipro being pregnant and all, but maybe try different drops?"

Oh wow, lucky you lol.

And I really hope I don't have both, as I sit here right now I can feel my right ear getting more plugged, and all I wanna do is just jam something in both ears! (I know it wouldn't help it's just my brains idea of a last resort haha). I can't even remember the drops I'm on but I know it starts with a C. And thank you, if she doesn't find something that works I'm going to cry. I want them to feel better at least before the baby's here so I can focus on one thing at a time.

Quoting Jamie & Babygirl (::" Oh wow, lucky you lol. And I really hope I don't have both, as I sit here right now I can feel my right ... [snip!] ... that works I'm going to cry. I want them to feel better at least before the baby's here so I can focus on one thing at a time."

I was at that same point while chasing my little toddler around... she even thought it was funny to bop mommy on that side of the face   Once you get the right thing it'll go pretty quickly. My pain dropped dramatically within a few days and it was gone after a good week.

They told me to get some over the counter stuff called "swimmers ear" to keep from getting it again, but of course I haven't listened.