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Preauricular abscess
For 2 weeks I have been dealing with a very painful abscess on my ear, where after alot of research and several trips to a local medical clinic and ER, I have found that what I have is an abscess in the Preauricular pit/sinus.
I have been given 3 rounds of antibiotics, one of which I am still taking (Clindamyacin). I have yet to see any improvement from taking the antibiotics, so I went to the ER yesterday where they attempted to do and Incision and Drainage procedure. Some of the abscess was soft, but a large part of it in the middle was still hard... ??? With making an incision, the doctor was able to squeeze a good portion of the abscess out... but there is still a fairly large sized lump there. There has been no drainage coming from the incision since she did this.
I still have some tenderness down the side of my cheek, as well as some puffiness up into my scalp area as well.
I can say that by doing what she did, it did relieve alot of pressure and pain that I was having, but I still am having to take pain relievers to reduce the swelling and continued discomfort.
She instructed me to continue finishing out the anitbiotic I am now taking, and that it should dry up anything left in the abscess, as she said that at the point it was beforehand that no antibiotic would be able to get rid of it alone without I&D procedure being performed.
I am still very concerned, and am thinking of contacting an Ear, Nose and Throat physician about this bc I just feel like a regular physician does not know much about preauricular pits/sinuses, as I have had to educate every physician I have seen thusfar for treatment bc they had no idea what those little holes in the tops of my ears were. I get the feeling that they do not know the complications that can arise from the condition, and that has me worried that if the swelling continues that more serious problems are going to develop.
Has anyone else had this problem?
I have been given 3 rounds of antibiotics, one of which I am still taking (Clindamyacin). I have yet to see any improvement from taking the antibiotics, so I went to the ER yesterday where they attempted to do and Incision and Drainage procedure. Some of the abscess was soft, but a large part of it in the middle was still hard... ??? With making an incision, the doctor was able to squeeze a good portion of the abscess out... but there is still a fairly large sized lump there. There has been no drainage coming from the incision since she did this.
I still have some tenderness down the side of my cheek, as well as some puffiness up into my scalp area as well.
I can say that by doing what she did, it did relieve alot of pressure and pain that I was having, but I still am having to take pain relievers to reduce the swelling and continued discomfort.
She instructed me to continue finishing out the anitbiotic I am now taking, and that it should dry up anything left in the abscess, as she said that at the point it was beforehand that no antibiotic would be able to get rid of it alone without I&D procedure being performed.
I am still very concerned, and am thinking of contacting an Ear, Nose and Throat physician about this bc I just feel like a regular physician does not know much about preauricular pits/sinuses, as I have had to educate every physician I have seen thusfar for treatment bc they had no idea what those little holes in the tops of my ears were. I get the feeling that they do not know the complications that can arise from the condition, and that has me worried that if the swelling continues that more serious problems are going to develop.
Has anyone else had this problem?
All I can say is I have struggled with this all my life. I am now 27 yrs old. I just had a recurrent infection. It usually forms an abscess behind my ear cos the pit was sewn shut by the Dr during the first surgery.This last episode was the last straw. Went to my ENT Dr's office to schedule 2nd surgery on monday. Surgery was supposed to be for tmro but cos abscess poped today. Dr said we have to cancel surgery till further notice. Said since its been recurring for many years. It will be hard to find all the tracts due to scar tissue. He prefers to operate while i have the huge abscess ( dont understand the logic behind this). Is this not when the infection is active???
Brief or not so brief History:
I was born with the hole on my right ear. As a little girl who grew up in Africa I remember asking myself wat in the world was the "Stinky" liquid that came out of my ear. I would like to describe the smell as similar to rotten fish. The worst part of it is the internal itch and tingling( like there is water dripping inside) inside the hole became unbearable. I just could not get to the itch. So one day in 1996 I remember the day very vividly I was playing and then it started to itch internally so bad. I tried rubbing my external ear to soothe the itch but the stinky fluid came out again and the itch and tingling became more intense.and then finally I rushed and grabbed a match stick and i broke it down to the "perfect size" and stuck it in the hole and omg it felt so good. I still remember the feeling till this day. However, my bliss was short lived and it broke inside the hole. Fast forward story: parents very upset abt match stick.Had guilty feelings for years that i had brought this on my self. Had surgery, got another abscess flare up a wk after surgery (1996) and that has been my life eversince. I get this stuff like 4- 5 times a yr, it lasts for exactly 5 days and then i have to get a I&D or pop it myself cos antibiotics DO NOT WORK. It wil deft be back unless the whole sac and sinus tract is COMPLETELY removed. I think i still have some of the tract in my ear. I feel tingling and then I know that i am about to have another flare up cos I think wat happens is that the fluid builds up and since my hole is shut it has no where to come out from. Hence the excruciating head pressure. The pain is HORRIFIC. on a scale of 1 to 10. I told my bf 9.8 . 10 I would have been sobbing loudly. I havnt slept in 3 days( I literally slept sitting up in bed), missed 2 days of work. Feel relief after it popped while i was at work today. I have a gaping hole behind my ear. From my observation, I think the build up fluid never stops. I feel bad for kids who have to go thru this! Srry for the long story. Finally there are others out there who can relate!
Brief or not so brief History:
I was born with the hole on my right ear. As a little girl who grew up in Africa I remember asking myself wat in the world was the "Stinky" liquid that came out of my ear. I would like to describe the smell as similar to rotten fish. The worst part of it is the internal itch and tingling( like there is water dripping inside) inside the hole became unbearable. I just could not get to the itch. So one day in 1996 I remember the day very vividly I was playing and then it started to itch internally so bad. I tried rubbing my external ear to soothe the itch but the stinky fluid came out again and the itch and tingling became more intense.and then finally I rushed and grabbed a match stick and i broke it down to the "perfect size" and stuck it in the hole and omg it felt so good. I still remember the feeling till this day. However, my bliss was short lived and it broke inside the hole. Fast forward story: parents very upset abt match stick.Had guilty feelings for years that i had brought this on my self. Had surgery, got another abscess flare up a wk after surgery (1996) and that has been my life eversince. I get this stuff like 4- 5 times a yr, it lasts for exactly 5 days and then i have to get a I&D or pop it myself cos antibiotics DO NOT WORK. It wil deft be back unless the whole sac and sinus tract is COMPLETELY removed. I think i still have some of the tract in my ear. I feel tingling and then I know that i am about to have another flare up cos I think wat happens is that the fluid builds up and since my hole is shut it has no where to come out from. Hence the excruciating head pressure. The pain is HORRIFIC. on a scale of 1 to 10. I told my bf 9.8 . 10 I would have been sobbing loudly. I havnt slept in 3 days( I literally slept sitting up in bed), missed 2 days of work. Feel relief after it popped while i was at work today. I have a gaping hole behind my ear. From my observation, I think the build up fluid never stops. I feel bad for kids who have to go thru this! Srry for the long story. Finally there are others out there who can relate!
Hi , i am 18, i live in Sydney Australia, i had problems with preauricular sinuses too. i had 3 operations all three were unsuccessful, these things are a massive headache if not taken care of and treated the right ways. If the infections happen to come back again and keep coming back then i would advise you to take Keflex to stop the infections as soon as it starts the first little signs of infections (it helped me alot with stopping the infections). Recently on the 4th of December i had a successful operation done and it is now all cleared up. i advise if you are going to have a operation on this problem, then have it operated by a surgeon that has operated on these problems and make sure he has alot of experience. My last operation was operated by a professor in sinuses and i think that if you live in Australia and are willing to get rid of them problems then you should see this guy.
i have also a pre auricular sinus infection and i have it for almost a month already. i have been seeing an ENT MD for this one and they advised me to have I&D to relieve the pressure, pain and for for proper healing, but unfortunately, due to too much pressure and my carelessness it ruptured on its own. I've been taking clinamycin (dalacin C) for almost 2weeks now coz my doctor advised me to take it for that span of time. i think clindamycin works best for ear infection coz it deeply penetrates (as what my doctor told me) in the ear. My doctr prescribed me a mupirocin its an ointment to prevent bacterial in the surface.
i had also the same case. its located on my upper right earlobe. i have it when im still young but my doctor gave me antibiotics and its whoa, immediately gone. but when im in secondary my friend notice it again. because im afraid of operations i decided not to consult it from any docs because i know its not dangerous but when i go to the salon, the stylist saw it and recommended me her doctor because she also have the same case before. without any second thoughts i went to the doctor and he find out that its non dangerous so he did the so called I&D. unfortunately i went back for several times of drainage. the mass was still going and going. its not yet gone. a big disappointment cause i almost spent my savings but my problem is still here and the worst its painful compared before. but we have the same meds. i am taking cloxacillin before but he replaced it with climdamycin. how this can be totally removed?
I can sympathise with you all. I too am currently suffering with an abscess on my left ear lobe/where it joins my head. The whole area is hugely swollen and extremely painful. I have been prescribed antibiotics only (Flucloxacillin). And am making my own concoction of pain relief up!
I visited a doctor who told me it would needed draining ASAP and then sent me round to A&E.
After an age in A&E and UTC it was decided that apparently "if it was anywhere else on your body - armpit,groin etc we would drain it - however ears are funny things and we get more of them wrong than we do right - which means you're likely to either end up with a rugby players ear or deaf!" So they sent me on my way for it to work its way out " naturally on its own"
Does anyone know how long this is likely to last?
I visited a doctor who told me it would needed draining ASAP and then sent me round to A&E.
After an age in A&E and UTC it was decided that apparently "if it was anywhere else on your body - armpit,groin etc we would drain it - however ears are funny things and we get more of them wrong than we do right - which means you're likely to either end up with a rugby players ear or deaf!" So they sent me on my way for it to work its way out " naturally on its own"
Does anyone know how long this is likely to last?
I had one for years! And I do mean years, close to four or five before it finally popped on its own. I tried to see my GP and have it drained, but she told me it was a cyst and nothing to worry about, so I didn't. I guess I was lucky, mine didn't hurt until about two weeks before it popped. I am guilty of poking and prodding on it constantly during those two weeks, and it was the worst smelling thing I have even endured when it did pop, but that was about five years ago. Just tonight I discovered a new one forming, but again, there's not any real pain, so I may not worry about it. I never took antibiotics for the first, never went back to the doctor after she told me there was no chance it could be cancerous. Am I odd? It seems everyone else has a bunch of trouble with theirs...
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