My flu advanced into horrible bacterial ear infection ... When will I recover?

Question

36-year-old female. I already went to the doctor yesterday (Urgent Care) and she gave me a Percodan shot, an antibiotic shot, and prescriptions for Augmentin and Lortab. She said my ears looked really bad and the pain is unbelievable. I wake up each day with my temperature higher and higher (it was 104 this morning) and feeling worse. How long will it be before I recover from this?

(One of my male coworkers -- in his 50s -- recently had to have tubes put in his ears because his infection had turned to "gel".)

Answer 1

It takes about a week to recover from an ear infection like this to the point where you have no pain and your hearing is no longer distorted.  My daughter used to get this every time she got sick with a cold.  The doctor told me that it starts when fluid forms behind the ear drum from the cold or flu.  He said to give her sufedrine tablets at the first sign of a cold.  (you have to ask for it at the pharmacy, they keep it behind the counter now)  It will help prevent fluid build up during the cold.  She ended up having her tonsils and adenoids out.  I know several people whose kids got tubes in their ears because of ear infections, but they ended up getting rid of their tonsils and adenoids and that is what really helped stop the infections. The heating pad on low setting will help you ear feel a little better, too...