I experienced intense pain and deafness in right ear. I also have extreme tenderness and numbness around my ear. Also over 24 hours felt really ill. This infection came on after a heavy 2 week cold or flu-type illness with extremely bad productive cough during the second week. This seemed to stop but that is when ear infection struck. My first visit to the clinic nurse within 24 hours only initiated “I can't see anything. “Put ear drops in and come back if there is no improvement.” I was in agony over the next two days before could get a doctor's appointment. I was immediately put on high-dose penicillin and 48 hours later is only just having some effect. I still have not slept through the night. I'm still deaf. I'm still in pain.

My ear infection usually lasts 4 to 6 weeks. I don't get any pain, just fullness in the ear, heavy head, itching deep inside the ear and a watery discharge. My doctor gives oral antibiotics and drops which help, but it still takes a long time to clear up.