@Pips I hope it has helped.

Man, that sounds bad. I hope you get a successful treatment soon!

Yes, antibiotics kill some of one’s microbiota, but it’s better than the offending microbes killing the person with the ear infection. A person can repopulate their gut, etc. more easily than they can be resurrected, despite what Jesus says. If worse comes to worst, then a person can receive a “poop transplant”. Those who refuse antibiotics, when a sensible doctor prescribes them, do so at their own peril. For an ear infection, ie one that close to the brain, I think it is bordering on anti-science religious fanaticism to refuse the prescription.

@CrassBrauer LOL! Not true. After I changed my diet in 1975, I had no more infections of any kind, I never got the flu again, no more "colds," no more yeast infections, and my stamina suddenly doubled. My kids were so healthy they never so much as got a sniffle growing up. Go ahead and take toxic drugs and pretend that you're being "healthy" to do so.

@birdingnut Being healthy does not entirely prevent infections, but it does keep the body’s immune response at a level that can keep most of them at bay. If a person has an ear infection that won’t go away and/or is becoming more serious, they need antibiotics. Hippy dippy or religious nonsense won’t help you if the infection has taken hold.

@CrassBrauer "Hippy dippy" to eat healthy food? LOL! I thought agnostics had high IQs! Go ahead and gorge on junk food and then take toxic drugs to cure the diseases. It's your body! But you are just talking like many Americans who like to make such declarations as "I'd rather smoke and die younger!"

@birdingnut “Hippy dippy” refers to ignoring facts and evidence, like “juice cleansing”, “crystal therapy” and non-science-based hooey like that. It’s not as insidious as religious nonsense like creationism and climate change denial but it’s hooey nevertheless. Your assumptions about my comments are telling: like the sterotypical American, you don’t weigh evidence well and lack the ability to have a nuanced argument. I eat a healthful diet, would never smoke and try to generally take care of myself and base those decisions on evidence.

@Pips Yes, unfortunately, they are becoming increasingly less effective as the offending microbes become more and more adept at resistance. Of course, keeping your immune system healthy with a good diet, enough sleep and exercise is a big help. Microbiologists are coming up with other promising methods for fighting pathogens, which can hopefully be turned into new treatments sooner rather than later.

Yes, I agree. Doctors know how to help us.

@Millie true, tickle is ok, noise is a bit much, but at least you know it is doing something.

@Millie Hydrogen peroxide has been used as an antiseptic since the 1920s because it kills bacteria cells by destroying their cell walls, it reacts with the enzyme catalase in the cells which is the fizzing. It is good for swimmers ear, it is a good antiseptic for sterilising implements but less good on cells because it also attacks healthy new cells.

damn I looked down and saw your post just as I clicked post, but yep, I use it a few times a week.