I'm visiting my family for the holidays, but the day before I came I developed an ear infection in my right ear. I decided to just deal with the pain and let it go away on it's own because I don't have a doctor here and I'd feel more than a little silly going to the ER for an ear infection. Now the infection in the right ear is gone, but my left ear is really infected and hurts. It's hard to chew,the area behind my ear is swollen, and it feels every once in a while like I'm off balance and dizzy. Should I just suck up my pride and go to the ER?

I'm visiting my family for the holidays, but the day before I came I developed an ear infection in my right ear. I decided to just deal with the pain and let it go away on it's own because I don't have a doctor here and I'd feel more than a little silly going to the ER for an ear infection. Now the infection in the right ear is gone, but my left ear is really infected and hurts. It's hard to chew,the area behind my ear is swollen, and it feels every once in a while like I'm off balance and dizzy. Should I just suck up my pride and go to the ER?

You can't chew??? Have you thought about, or do you still have your wisdom teeth??? It feels like an ear ache (infection) but it's actually your wisdom teeth that might be impacted. You should def. go to the dr. for some ear drops that will relieve the pain and then when you go back check your dentist for some xrays. I tell you this because I went through the same, and it turned out to be my wisdom teeth that were impacted, and were extracted immediately.

Not going to the ER is not pride, you show you love yourself and is much harder actually going than staying even with pain.

Best Wishes