"Aspiration and Ultrasound"

I attended the X-Ray department of Lincoln Hospital at the beginning of last week. The reason for my attendance was that I had a small swelling behind my left ear which my Consultant felt should be further investigated. I was subjected to Ultrasound then to an aspiration. The Ultrasound procedure went well although messily as one would expect. Although being warned by the Ultrasound operator that the aspiration procedure could be painful because of the close vicinity of my facial nerve I was not prepared for the excruciating pain that I suffered for some considerable time whilst the operator's needle was penetrating my neck. The pain I suffered during the second insertion of the aspiration needle although extremely intense was slightly less than the first. During this second procedure, the operator needle stabbed the supporting nurse in her finger. When I returned home I was still in pain down the left side of my neck. This pain continued with increasing intensity through Monday and Tuesday such that the full daily dose of paracetamol did not alleviate it Tuesday evening. The swelling on the left side of my neck now was such that it was approximately 15-20 times larger than it was prior to my visit to X-ray. I telephoned my GP Wednesday morning to request stronger pain relief and was duly prescribed 500 mg Co-codamol in the afternoon. My pain was lessened to a tolerable level but my neck swelling increased through to Friday until it was the size of a small egg and almost unbearable to touch. I attended my GP on Friday and was prescribed a weeks course of 21 tablets of 500/125mg Co-amoxiclav antibiotics. Today, 25 September 2017, is the first day I have been able to cease taking the Co-codamol and have reverted to the maximum dosage per day of paracetamol. I still have a dull throbbing ache under my left ear running down the side of my neck and have difficulty turning my head fully to either side and I am still taking my antibiotics!

The supporting nurse, who was needle stabbed in the finger was most comforting to me for which I am most grateful.