Ear infection - dodgy mucus...

[lovefoolb4u]

Yesterday my symptoms came on all of a sudden - nausea and fainting mainly, followed by a dry cough- and went straight to the doctor to find out that I have an ear infection. As the day went on, I got really feverish and just felt really blocked up and had a sore head, and aches and pains in my body.

But this morning when I woke up I coughed up a green mucus that had specs of blood in it. That's when I called NHS direct as I was quite worried, they didn't really say anything about the blood. To be honest he seemed to be in a bit of a hurry, I don't even know if he acknowledged it, and certainly didn't say anything to assure me that it was normal. He just said that it must have spread to my chest and I should keep taking antibiotics. So I'm still a bit worried - what could be causing the blood? Is it normal with an ear/chest infection?

[Sqad]

I can't see much evidence for an ear infection on your above history.

Sounds like a viral problem which has spread to your chest.

Commonest cause of blood in the sputum is Bronchitis.

Take Ibuprofen or something similar for your aches and pains and call your Dr on Monday if your symptoms have not settled as you may need antibiotics.

I am not a fan of NHS Direct.

[lovefoolb4u]

Thanks Sqad. Sorry, I should have added - The dr did look in my ears and said I have Labyrinthitis, and I was prescribed antibiotics.

What could be causing the bronchitis? These are the sort of questions I would have asked over the phone but he was SO dismissive! I was quite a fan of NHS direct until the socially incompetent doctor I got today! Haha.

[Sqad]

One cannot diagnose labyrinthitis by looking into the ear.

The Bronchitis is secondary to your upper respiratory chest infection, which is quite common and should settle with antibiotics.

In the old days grandma would say "it is a cold that has gone onto your chest"

[tonyav]

Nice to see you back sqad.

[mallam]

Sqad, 100,000 welcomes back! We had all feared you were in a terminal miff. (See http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Phrases-and-Sayings/Question816870.html)

I have given up on this shambolic site before, and its reaction to one indiscretion could well have been the last straw for you, good and faithful servant as you are. I have often thought that you alone are equal to the task of keeping it afloat!

[Sqad]

tony....thanks......nice to be back.........at the moment....LOL

[Eve]

Sounds more like a bacterial infection if you were given anti-biotics.

Changes are it has spread to your chest, hence the mucus.

Keep taking the antibiotics and see if they clear it. If it's viral rather then bacterial then you may just have to let your body heal.

[Sqad]

Thanks mallam..........on reflection, there are more positives than negatives for this site.

[gina32]

sqad, what makes you think that it cant be diagnosed by looking in the ear?????

[NoMercy]

Sqad - I've bought a jetski !! I'm coming over to see you later ;-)

[daffy654]

Specks of blood in the sputum are not really concerning. If you start coughing up fresh blood then you need to go to A&E.

[Sqad]

gina....labyrithitis is a disease of the inner ear and one cannot see the inner ear with an otoscope ( thing that Drs have for looking into the ear)

No Mercy....hurry up. Bloody cloudy here.

Daffy....A&E for coughing blood up????????

[gina32]

http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/labyrinthitis.html#2 according to this you can

[Sqad]

gina

"Your GP will look into your ear using an instrument called an otoscope, to check for signs of inflammation and infection in your outer or middle ear."

That is totally misleading. That statement refers to other ear causes of vertigo.....dizziness and does NOT refer to making a diagnosis of labyrithitis by looking into the ear.

You CANNOT see the inner ear through the otoscope.

[daffy654]

Sqad,coughing up fresh blood....A&E definitely,I get told off by my consultant if I stay at home when it happens to me.

[Sqad]

daffy...you have got a pre-existing very uncommon pulmonary condition, but for the vast majority of people that cough up blood, their condition can neither be described as an accident or an emergency (A&E)

[DEN53]

Oh Sqad where have you been - you have sooooooooo been missed here on AB/CB. Me, Salla and Joy were at the airport ready to fly to Menorca in search of you, but unfortunately I could'nt get them out of the duty free shop ! ha ha ha

Welcome Back

hope you feel better soon, lovefoolb4u xx

[Sqad]

Thanks DEN, needed a rest from your sexy posts which ere "turning me on" too often........age you know 45yrs old ;-)

[mallam]

Sqad, you say "daffy...you have got a pre-existing very uncommon pulmonary condition". This is why you cant miff off duty (OED says of 'miff off': (of a plant) to deteriorate, fade.- they must try harder, but that will do for now, and for you!)

Continuity of care is in grave danger in the NHS and everywhere else, but you are obviously of the old school. I used to have a remarkable memmory too, but I dont remember daffys condition being discussed.

[daffy654]

Mallam,I have Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency which has caused severe Emphysema. I have spoken to Sqad about it before. I have suffered 2 major and several minor spontaneous pneumothoraces and have had a Bullectomy and Pleurectomy operation on my right lung.