"Ongoing ear infection."

In approximately October 2016, I began experiencing clear liquid draining from one of my ears. I persevered with it until it began to worsen, plus I became partially deaf in this ear. I then saw my GP. A swab was taken and ear drops prescribed, plus a course of antibiotic tablets. Returned to my GP a few weeks later, as the situation had effectively worsened and I was now suffering quite severe irritability and a form of scab/rash had appeared in and around the ear. The swab had proven to be a fungal bacterial problem so my GP prescribed a steroid based ear drop and referred me to ENT.

Attended ENT appointment and the doctort sucked debris from my ear and prescribed a different ear drop, which I believe was a combination of steroid and antibiotic, although I can't remember or be certain about that. The doctoralso wanted me to return for a follow-up appointment and a hearing test, but this became something of a pointless exercise, as I continued to experience the partial deafness. Despite this, the follow-up appointment came through. but I couldn't attend, due to work commitments. Some time later I was offered the one and only appointment they could give me in December, but again due to work, couldn't make it, so was placed back at the beginning of the waiting list! The situation began to improve, but then the exact same symptoms appeared in the other ear, so returned to my GP, who chased up my referral with ENT and further prescribed an ear drop, plus cream, to apply to the outer ear where the rash and scab was situated.

Yet again, nothing positive seemed to happen and I returned to my GP. During this period, I had the problem appear in both ears on occasion, but one of them slowly began to improve. Prescribed different ear drops, but nothing positive from this either. In conjunction with this I began to experience what I consider to be a thoroughly annoying skin issue all over my body, in that particularly on my hands and arms I had something resembling a rash, which in turn caused irritation, itching and stopped me from sleeping properly, due to it constantly flaring up. Returned to GP and was prescribed cream, presumably for what may have been some form of side effect from some of the previous things I had been taking. Follow-up appointment with ENT arrived in January this year and I attended, had the other ear debris sucked out and the doctor prescribed dermatological spray, which I am meant to be using for a fortnight, before seeing him again. On taking this prescription to three separate chemists, it appeared that, according to all of them, the product was no longer in production! The final chemist I visited rang and spoke with the doctor and subsequently had to order the spray, which I collected the following day. This spray has a constituent and I read the accompanying leaflet that came with it and it specifically states within that you should 'avoid contact with eyes, ears, nose and mouth. '

In hindsight, I perhaps should have queried this with either the chemist or the doctor, but didn't, so began using it as instructed, as I presumed that they knew what they were doing. I have been in quite some considerable pain (mainly itching and constant throbbing and irritation in the outer ear) since using it just the once, about a week ago. I am now deaf in both ears and have clear liquid draining from both ears, plus irritation, itching and what I assume is minor swelling and inflammation in both outer ear areas. I should state at this point that when I last saw the ENT doctor I was assured me the original ear problem had cleared up, yet here I am again suffering with what appears to be a 100% resurgence of the issues I initially suffered with.

I have done what GP's usually hate patients doing; done a little research on the internet and it would appear that there is every possibility that this could be with me for a number of years. That's the worst scenario, but I'm beginning to feel it could apply to me, as everything to date appears to have miserably failed. I have taken on board all the advice offered by the consultant, vis not letting water get into my outer ear, using cotton wool as a form of bung to stop this when showering etc. I have additionally read online that nothing (even cotton wool) should be placed in your ear, so feel I'm thwarted at every angle with what is going on.

It is now almost 0325 on a Sunday morning and I've been unable to sleep again, due to the constant irritation of this affliction. Having re-read the leaflet that came with the spray, I am going to go for a shower and take myself off to A&E, as this is what it states within, should this particular spray have contact with ears!

I have no complaint towards the health professionals as such, but do feel, due to the pressures they are under, that you are very much simply an item on a conveyor belt at times. I suffer with depression, which I have had under control for many years now, but this ear problem is just awful to live with and despite everything, nothing appears to be easing the irritation and aggravation it is causing.

I'm not even sure that I should be posting this on here, but I'm in a situation where it is a weekend, so no access to a GP. I initially considered ringing NHS24, but didn't consider it an emergency, so ended up finding this site and thought 'why not? '

As for A&E, I feel I shouldn't be bothering them either, but having read the leaflet, I feel marginally justified in doing so.