Last week one of Ian’s crowns fell out and although our dentist (Pumba) effected a repair of sorts, unfortunately Ian ended up with an abscess and needed a course of antibiotics to deal with the infection before the tooth could be removed. It was a wisdom tooth and Pumba wasn’t particularly keen on doing the job herself but as we were going away she agreed to. So on Monday the extraction was done and poor Ian was in considerable pain for a couple of days, but luckily started to feel a bit better towards the end of the week (we fly Friday)
However, during Monday night I had a touch of vertigo then Tuesday my ears suddenly blocked up. By Thursday morning my right ear was swollen and rather painful; I’ve never had an ear infection before but I was sure I had one now, but whether it was inner or outer I didn’t know and Dr Google sent me to numerous American websites that indicated flying with an inner ear infection could have dire consequences. Then there’s the fact I’m still on immunotherapy drugs which can leave me more prone to infection.
Our GP practice is run solely for the benefit of the doctors and staff so getting an appointment is nigh on impossible and I had to stand outside the surgery for half an hour waiting for it to open in order to be granted an audience.
However the young (possibly just qualified) lady GP was very nice and after a thorough examination diagnosed I did in fact have an inner ear infection for which she prescribed antibiotics. I queried whether it was safe to fly and that I wouldn’t be travelling against medical advice, but she was happy enough although warned me it might be rather painful so to take ibuprofen and antihistamine before take off and also to chew gum - well, that last one's never going to happen.
She then warned me that should the area behind my ear swell or go red, I should go immediately to hospital - apparently that’s a sign the infection is spreading into my brain, but it’s quite rare (the spread, not my brain).
After I’d left the surgery she also decided some ear drops would be beneficial so left a message on my phone to say there was a further prescription to collect.
Fingers cross all will be well and the drugs will do their stuff PDQ.