Earache Pain

Lots of good advise out there. The garlic is a good alternative as is the salt ball. Be very care about heating it, as salt can absorb a lot more heat that you think. I have been fairly scorched by it. I would try the decongestant as well. But, as a preventative, I would jack up the head of the kid's bed. They will not notice a 2 inch rise, but it can make all the difference in drainage of the ears. Neither of my boys ever had an earache and I am convinced this was at least part of the reason. Good luck.

Hi J.. I'm a mother of 2, and I know all about earaches. The amox should have taken care of the ear infection. The reason I see it not happening is maybe it wasn't a strong enough dosage. That might have everything to do with it. Good luck!

The amox should have worked by now! Usually within 24-48 hours. If she's still in pain, you need to go back to the doc ASAP. It could be worse, she could have a perforated eardrum, etc. And, flying? There's no way I would fly without having it looked at first. You don't want it to rupture, and she WILL be in pain in flight. Some ear infections require antibiotic drops that go straight to the problem. Plus the doc should be able to give you pain relieving drops as well, which will help in flight. I would also recommend giving her some benadryl prior to the flight. It will help the sinus and pressure, and probably make her sleepy too. Good luck!

I just know a temporary relief for pain and it worked for both my children with their earaches....
♥A good zip-lock bag (not cheep and thin)
♥a wash cloth
♥a hand towel
Soak the wash cloth with very hot water or put it in the microwave for about 30 sec. or depending how your microwave is. You need to have the water hot because you need it to last a long time. Do not wring out the water.
Careful its very hot so use a fork to pick it up and put it in the zip-lock bag. Press most of the air out enough so that the bag and cloth is flexable.
Wrap the hand towel around the bag because it protects the skin. Put it just under the ear and have the child lay on it.

Oh wow you are taking her on a plane... i would be really concerned. Most people need gum when they fly, or drinks or something to chew. that the altitude pressure doesnt hurt.
♥Good Luck

I have two sons and my oldest had a horrible time with ear infections when he was younger. Hot compresses along with alternating tylenol and motrin every two hours helps the pain for the 1st few days until the antibiotics kick in. Also, the pressure I noticed was worse at night when he was lying flat. I spent a couple of nights in a recliner with him sleeping on me to keep his head higher and that helped too.
Regarding getting on a plane; my pediatrician told me to give him a dose of benadryl and motrin 1/2 hour before getting on the plane and that it would keep the pressure out of his ears and also make him drowsy. It worked like a charm.

J.,
Have you tried Hyland Earache tabs? We have used and liked the Teething tabs for our daughters, but fortunatly have not had to try the Earache tabs. So, I can't tell you from experience, but they could be worth a try! Good luck :)
S.

Sounds Crazy but it WORKS!...place a large pc of raw garlic in her outer ear, cover with a band aid, let her wear it all day and sleep with it at night, within 36 hours...the ache will be gone!

it has worked for the last ten years with all of mine I have five :)

We use Mullein garlic ear oil. The garlic kills the bacteria in the ear. Last year the Doctor's were threatening to put tubes in my daughter's ears because of infections. Now when she even get's the slightest cold, I put the warmed drops in her ears 2x per day & she has never had an infection again. It soothes the ear & kills infections. You can buy it at the health food store. Be prepared, your child will smell like salad dressing, but it's worth it!

Place cotton balls in the ears, and you wake
up with no pain.

1- All 5 of my kids have had regular ear infections. Generally the antibiotics took care of it with in hours of the first couple doses. It seems to me like the infection must be back. Another thought is it's something that won't be cleared up by medicine and you'll need to get tubes put it. In which case, keep taking her back to those 10 day check ups so they see it's NOT clearing up.
2- I used to work for Southwest Airlines. You;re right to be worried about the pressure. Give her a decongestant before leaving. Always give decongestant with pain killer, as it can cause head aches. Good Luck!

Dear J.,

Mullein/Garlic drops (can be found at a health food store) worked for our son after two rounds of antibiotics. I would use two-three drops in each ear a few times a day. In two days our son was no longer pulling on his ear. I don't know if it will work quickly enough for you, but I would try.
S.

did they give you the benzocain? the numbing drops? That usually works fast!! I would take her back in to see.

Hi J., I've been a mom for 24 years, I hope this helps, Since it's past March 17th, my advice to you, to NOT fly with your child during an ear infection, would be pointless. Pain is always worse at night, when things are quiet and calm, the pain is more noticeable. Some ear drops say don't use if there is ear pain, that my explain why your daughter was in more pain after the drops. Thy getting a hankerchief put some salt in it just a little, tie it off with a rubber band to where you have like a little ball, heat it up, andplace it just inside your daughters ear, not down in the ear just right inside, the warm salt helps draw out the pain, we did this for mjy mother in law as well, and she was able to get a good night sleep before we took her to the doctors the next morning. J. L also a SAHM for 24 years.

Definitely give her a decongestant. It will alleviate the pressure from the fluid in the ear, especially on the plane. I have dealt with this personally my whole life and my daughter who is 2 1/2. You can give it to her at night as well.

Like Tacy V we use mullein garlic oil as well...miracle cure! also, you probably dont have time before your trip but if she continues to have problems chronically, i take my kids to my homeopathic chiro when they have an ear infection. Antibiotics have never worked for any of my kids for anything.

Hi,
Something that has helped my children when they had earaches was to give them something to suck on. It seemed to give them some relief of the pressure. Lollipops are great for this especailly going on an airplane or gum.
I hope this helped.

Once the antibiotics start to work, the pain should go away. I would continue to give her Motrin until she stops complaining about the pain. On the plane, give her a lollipop to suck on during take off, I've heard that it helps with the pressure. Also, make sure to give her the full course of antibiotics so you make sure that the infection's gone. Safe travels. :)

J.
Keep in mind amoxicillan is the mildest form of antibiotic. I have 4 kids and my son takes amoxicillan and it does NOTHING. He has to tke a stronger med. When he is on a stronger med you can tell a difference within 24-48 hours. I would have her rechecked and make sure the ear infection is really gone, It very well may still be there and if so you know to request something stronger than amox. the next time.
Good luck!

J., try a heating pad set on low for the pain. Leave it on for about 10 minutes at a time...also the old stand bys of tylenol and ibuprofen...I work for 3 docs and a nurse practitioner and this is what they recommend...it does help alot...D.

Hello J.,

When my girls have earache pains I get a washcloth and put very warm water on it and have her lay on the side of ear that hurts and put washcloth unerneath so it sits under ear.
Just keep repeating getting the washcloth as warm as she can handle it. Something about the warm heat going into ear helps.
I hope it helps.

If it has been a week since she started the antibiotics, they should have already kicked in. Usually it only takes a day or two for the meds to take effect and the pain to subside. If it hasn't happened by now, take her back to the Dr. I have had a perferated ear-drum (6 times) and that is what it sounds like(no pun intended). Make sure and have it handled right away, I have lost 80% of the hearing in my right ear from that. If it is perferated, that would explain the pain from the ear-drops. I hope she feels better. The last time it happened to me was last summer and they had to give me a major pain killer to knock me out. Try giving her Tylenol PM or something like that, let her sleep it off. I am so sorry she is in pain. Hope this helps.

First of all, I am surprised they are giving her the antibiotics. When my son was young he got repeated ear infections, and the doctor said it was actually much better to give him decongestant (to clear the sinus/ear canal) and put numbing drops into his ear canal. You use a dropper to put them in and then plug it with a little ball of cotton. It takes away the pain for a while and gives relief while the decongestant clears it up. It worked quite well, and we skipped a lot of the antibiotic problems. You also should give your child some type of probiotics for children after finishing the antibiotic course. It is the natural bacteria that children should have in their gut and it will prevent yeast rash/infection and gas, bloating, poor immunity and digestion, the things that come from using antibiotics and killing off our natural gut organisms. You can find it in a jar probably at the local health foods store in the vitamin dept., usually refrigerated, sometimes it doesn't have to be. Best of luck.

Hi J.,

The earache thing is terrible. My daughter had repeated ear infections when she was younger, it was a terribly difficult time! If this is your daughters first ear infection, it should not be too much of a problem for her. The good thing is that she can tell you that it hurts. Believe her when it hurts and make a call to the Dr. as soon as possible if it happens again, the kids can usually tell. One of the times when my daughter had an infection that she couldn't get seem to beat, she ended up taking four different types of antibiotics. I even had a time when I took her to the Dr. office in the morning and Dr. said her infection was at a 4 on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest). Later that afternoon, I took her back for my sons appointment and she had screamed through her nap...the Dr. said is was an 8! So, things can change very quickly if the infection has taken hold. With my daughter, the infections always just laughed at Amoxicillan! So, I would think that her infection was gettin worse and the antibiotic wasn't working. Good idea to also give the child a decongestant to relieve the pressure they are experiencing. I have had friends who have had children whose eardrums have ruptured. Once it ruptures, the child will have relief because the infection can ooze out. Hopefully it doesnt get to that point for her.

Best of luck with knocking out this infection and have a great trip!
T.

Dear J.,

I see you are flying out today, and I'm afraid this might be too late . . .

I am worried about the fact that after a week on antibiotics she is suddenly feeling such bad pain. You didn't say anything about her ear draining, otherwise I'd think that maybe her ear-drum had burst. I would call the doctor to ask about the sudden severe pain after being on the medication for a week. One of the problems prevalent with antibiotics is that they make people feel like they are fully recovered, and they stop taking them before the full course is over - so this just doesn't sound right to me. I would (if you can) see - but definitely call - the doctor, preferably before you go!

Good luck, and
Have fun (on your trip)
B.

My mom used to do a warm saline mixture to ease our earaches. About 1 tbsp of salt to a cup of warm water. The temperature of the water is very important, too hot or cold and it will hurt and not quite warm enough and it won't work. I usually attempt to get from 100 degrees to 110 degrees, depending on the age of the child (younger, cooler). Dissolve the salt and then use a dropper to put a few drops in the affected ear. Wait for a few moments, you can also take this time to pull at the ear a little to let the saline solution into the ear. After a few moments, turn her head to the other side and allow the wax and remaining saline solution to run out her ear. You can do this a couple of times, as each time the solution will go farther. This helps ease the pressure in the ear and allows her to relax. It worked for my 5 year old, but I'm afraid it might be more difficult with a younger child and if you are ever unsure about something (especially home remedies as some do more damage than good) I would wait and talk to your doctor before trying anything.

J., I feel your anxiousness. I use to use garlic oil capsules,
from the time my son was 2 mos. - 6 mos my son had an ear infection every month and every month the Dr. would prescribe antibiotics finally my neighbor who has 10 kids told me about this remedy:
puncture one side of the garlic oil capsule with a straight pin and squeeze half into child's ear, do not cover ear.

I would take her back to the doctor to see if the amoxicillin is even working. Maybe her ear ruptured and she needs something different, like erythromycin or something.