Also, I have an ear infection. Which sucks. Does anyone know how long after taking antibiotics I should have to wait before the pain/pressure goes away. I feel great sympathy with Van Gogh cutting off his ear, because right now I would lik enothing more than to stick a knife in mine. And this is after 4 advil and prescription eardrops and about 24 hours of antibiotics.

If the problem is fluid in your head (ear, sinus, etc.) there may be a blockage which can be loosened by steam. If you can't handle a shower, boil some water, turn the fire/gas off and then stand/sit over the pot and breathe in the steam. Some folks drap a towel over their heads as the lean over the pot -- which is why you must turn off the heat first (fire hazard). This may help loosen what is blocked up and allow the fluid to drain out.

When they've had Zithromax, sometimes it's taken 48 hours. I hope you feel better, soon. I think you will.

Zithromax is what I have. I am also (very stupidly) at work right now. I cam ein a few hours late, but I cannot wait to leave.

Also, thanks for the good thoughts.

I also keep thinking how much more this would suck right now if I was in the Hurricane Area. So this feeling like a very first world problem right about now. I have a job, I have a home, I have health insurance and a regular doctor. I am just cranky and impatient!

If antihistimines aren't a problem for you, call your doc or pharmacist and see if it would be okay for you to take Benadryl (I'm pretty sure you can, but I don't know all your health details, and it's just always better to check), Sophia. I think it might help. When you get home, Narrator's suggestion is a good one. If you can't do that for whatever reason, a hot shower will help in the same way, but the steam is less intense.

Sophia, this may or may not help.

I had a bad ear infection (the same year I had recurrent strep throat infections). That was a great year. I didn't get anything for my ear infection until after I felt great pain in my right ear and then had puss streaming out of my ear.

Yes, that's gross. It was even grosser to be me.

Anyway, that relieved all the pressure and my doctor had me put special ear drops in my ear (after he debrided the scab).

I didn't have to take oral meds for the ear infection at all.

However, I did have to take oral meds for the strep - 5-6 times in fact. It wasn't until my doctor combined steroids with the antibiotics that I finally kicked the strep.

Poor you, Sophia! Just because you haven't lost your home doesn't mean you don't get to whine.

So, I seem to still have all the premium cable channels. This makes me nervous, because I don't want to pay for them! But at the same time, I don't want them to take them away. I guess I'll go look at the website to see if they think I'm subscribed to them or what.

Edit: HMOG. It looks like, instead of giving me the DVR free for a month, they gave me all the channels in the world free for a month. Or something.

Hope your ear gets better soon Sophia!

I'm hungry. I suppose this means I should see about some kind of lunch, huh?

I am just cranky and impatient!

Sophia, the way I see it, other people having bigger and more urgent problems doesn't make yours any less important to you.

[Edit: x-post with Jesse]

I feel great sympathy with Van Gogh cutting off his ear, because right now I would lik enothing more than to stick a knife in mine.

Sophia, ear infections are awful. I went through a bad year with them recently, and they're just nasty. {{{Sophia's ear}}}