Long story short I’m fairly certain I have an ear infection. I’ve had a head cold since Friday and I have had a number of ear infections in my life. I know what it feels like. As I see it my options are to get on a ZPak and hope that clears it up. I am concerned with the side effects though. I’ve heard of weakening tendons in addition to potentially lethal arrhythmias. I’m sure neither is the norm however I’d hate to risk it.
The other option would be to try and treat it with decongestants and hope the fluid drains. I realize a Dr. is typically most he best judge for this. My problem is I know my Dr. and I know he will automatically go with antibiotics. Anybody out there have experience with this?
the sooner you see a doctor the sooner you take the antibiotics and the sooner you get over the side effects. It’s a small class of antibiotics that have the side effects you mention. The ones used for ear infections are typically from that class.
The big thing you might have to deal with is that antibiotics kill other good bacteria in your system so you gut might be screwed up for a few days…which is why you should see a doc sooner. Take probiotics, eat yogurt (with live cultures) and you should be okay by race day.
My Dad had an ear infection.
He did not go see a doc for a while - hoping it would get better.
He is now deaf.
Don’t f-ck around with an ear infection - go see the doc ASAP
1/2 white vinegar, 1/2 alcohol in your ear twice a day. Also, there are several homeopathic type nasal sprays that work well. I got one in Kona last year 3 days befor ethe race! Ear plugs for swimming/the race - they really help in cold water too! The wax/silicone type work best…Macs or TYR.
Best wishes,
I’m getting over an ear infection as we speak, still on the antibiotics. I have not changed my training one bit (probably putting in 20 hour weeks). FWIW, here is what I have done. You can’t eat probiotic dairy products within 2 hours (before or after) of taking your pill, but in the middle of the day I’ve had large servings of yogurt (make sure it’s got plenty of live cultures). I also take a high quality (Nordic Naturals - Sport, but I don’t think brand really matters, just one you trust) fish pill. Those Omegas will help keep your tendons healthy, some extra olive oil on your food never hurt either. I also take Tissue Rejuvenator, by Hammer. I also make sure to use a foam roller regularly to keep the flexibility up. Hope any of that helps. Oh yea ear plugs, I like the Mack’s Aqua Blocks. Apparently my body has an affinity for ear infections. Good Luck!
Chris
i had an ear infection may 10th, about week out from xterra/itu worlds. started as a couple days of head cold, then within 3 hrs i had tremendous R ear pain, and it perforated at about 5 hrs, which gave only slight relief. i started a zpak and ofloxacin otitic right away, but still felt miserable for about 3-4 days. felt OK by race day, but still didn’t have a good day. either way if you’re not perforated a zpak is pretty standard, and shouldn’t have tendon effect like quinolones. you probably should get looked at anyway, its pretty common to have ear pain with a URI, just pressure build up from congestion/blocked Eustachian tube ( ie try decongestants first afrin, sudafed etc) and this is not necessarily an infection. my colleague looked in mine and said a bomb went off… blood , pus, and big hole in my TM. i couldn’t hear for about 3 wks, and now i finally feel back to normal, with just occasional crackling in my ear. as for that homeopathic stuff, it’s just acetic acid and isoproply alcohol, basically a desiccant , dont waste your time with that. if you do have a perforation you DON’T want to mess with the pH of the middle ear, if it’s a regular otitis media with an intact TM i can’t see it helping much, if it’s just congestion, also not the right way to go about it…
Chop up an onion very fine. Wrap some up in a thin wash cloth and stick it into your ear. Leave it there all day. I learned this from a homeopathic doc in Germany. After using this, my kids never went on antibiotics for ear infections again and that includes one daughter who had previously been on prophylactic antibiotics for 4 months straight. Google onions + ear infection.
I am not a physician, but I do have a PhD in microbiology and I just finished a one year post-doctoral research fellowship studying otitis media (middle ear infections) in children.
That said, my thoughts:
Antibiotics have repeatedly been shown to have little to no impact on the duration a bout of acute otitis media. Most cases resolve on their own within a few days without treatment. Take them if you like, but overwhelming evidence supports their lack of efficacy.
As others have mentioned, you encounter a small risk of experiencing GI symptoms as a side effect of antibiotic treatment. You’d probably rather not deal with in the days leading up to your race, so caveat emtpor.
Decongestants probably won’t help much either. The middle ear, albeit connected to the upper respiratory tract via the Eustachian tube, is really not part of your sinuses. In an ear infection, your middle ear is filled with biofilm and inflammatory-associated fluids, not mucus. If the decongestant includes an anti-inflammatory, you might experience some relief. If you don’t really have an ear infection, just a cold, then a decongestant could help you feel better. (Note that antibiotics, which target bacteria, won’t help you fight a cold.)
I would not recommend putting any non-sterile objects, including diced onion, into your outer ear. There is no scientific evidence that shows this to be at all efficacious, and if your tympanic membrane was or became perforated, you would be inviting much more serious problems.
General analgesics can be used to relieve the pain associated with OM until the bout subsides.
Consult a physician - OM is readily diagnosable. Listen to her advice and proceed accordingly, with the above notes in mind. Relax, get lots of rest. By Sunday, I suspect that you’ll be ready to race.
Good luck!
mm
Thanks for all the input guys! I’ve decided to try and just wait it out and stay out the water until Sunday. I’m using decongestants, ie Afrin and sudafed and hoping that takes care of it.