it's been a few days and i figured i'd ask here because i don't want to get my doctor involved, he annoys me enough as is

possible trigger (or tmi)

..
..

my ear-lobe is really torn up and bloody. i thought it was minor at first and i just wrapped it up and put my hair over and no one has really noticed much, but it's gotten really swollen lately and there's been puss and really really painful. i'm kinda scared to put anything on it because it hurts like hell but should i put lotion on it or anything? i keep a bandage wrap thing over it during the day and night and wash it in between.

i also hurt where my ribs are, i checked for bruises or cuts but nothing. sometimes it feels alright but increasingly it will suddenly start to really hurt, especially when i cough. there's a little blood when i cough but nothing big/severe and the coughing also really hurts my upper chest. thankfully that's not noticeable.

i told my self i'd wait a few days before asking anyone, but it's been a few days so i thought i'd ask.

ty

First off:

Go to the doctor/hospital/clinic as soon as you can. Preferably right now, or tomorrow. The sooner the better, you can't let this sit for a week or even a few days because the longer you wait the worse it will get.

Your earlobe is infected, the only options are pretty much, take antibiotics and make sure it is wrapped in clean bandages at all time, option number two is let it sit and have the infection get worse until your earlobe, or worse, your entire ear, has to be cut off. Lotion only adds moisture for bacteria to breed in and makes it worse. though, until you can see the doctor to get antibiotics to treat the infection, I'd suggest to put some neosporin on whatever you are wrapping it in. That alone won't cure it, not by a long shot, but it will help a little bit to make sure that more bacteria doesn't get in there and makes the infection worse.

As for your ribs, sorry, I can't help you on that one. Though, if you are coughing up blood, even a little bit of blood, it is serious business.

[cantstopcrying]

Unfortunately I have to agree with Kaika--I know you don't want to involve a doctor but I would recommend it. If you can get your hands on neosporin or mycatracin, that may help.

Is this the first time your ribs have hurt? Blood=go to doctor. Sorry

[Blue93]

they are right Vince.. you need to see a doctor on both of these things
I know how much you hate hospitals and doctors but you don't really have a choice... Let us know how it went ok? Take care,

Blue

talked to a nurse about my ribs hurting, didn't mention blood because that would probably mean getting tests done, i'm assuming it's just because i'm coughing too much which is probably a cold so i may ask for some cough medication

*possible trigger/tmi* i can't get the taste of blood out of my mouth though. idk if i'm bleeding in my mouth also because i've coughed/thrown up blood before and normally it's not like there's a permanent taste of blood in my mouth

i'm trying to get my hands on some polysporin but i'm getting kinda worried, i know logically it would be smart to go to the doctor but then there's questions and prying and i have my doctor on my tail enough as it is. i'm kind of worried about touching it to even put polysporin on it though, it's partially ripped off and it really hurts. it's getting too noticeable because i can't always hide a giant gauze/bandage with hair. i can hear fine in that ear (although not so well when it's covered) but i'm scared where the earlobe is ripped it will fall off or something i get grilled if i go to the doctor though

ahh worried

Put antibacterial stuff on what you are wrapping it in, and not on the ear itself, I'm a bit worried that the more moisture there is the worse it will get because bacteria love warm and moist environments to grow.

As for the blood, it is possible that you were coughing so much and so hard that you popped some blood vessels in your lungs, but the way you are describing it it sounds like it could also be a lot more then that too. Regardless of whether or not it's just from coughing it's still a serious situation (blood in your lungs is never a good sign) and you still need to see a doc about that too.

The doc only asks questions because he cares about you.

And because this really can't said enough:
I'm very sorry you are worried about the doctors but it is the only way or else it is going to get a lot worse.

[silver_queen]

Griffe, you can die you know, if you let this ear infection continue. Do you have a fever? If left untreated this can develop into septicaemia and you will need hospital treatment for that or there really is a risk of dying then.

As for your cough with blood, it may be due to coughing too much but it seems unlikely. Have you felt unwell otherwise? And have you ever had a tuberculosis jab?

thanks for the help everyone.
don't believe i've had a turberculosis jab.

i did see the doctor yesterday, though, for my earlobe, and that will be under control now, i go back to the doctor tomorrow again i think

i got pestered with a load of questions so i didn't bring up the blood. i haven't been running a temperature but have been feeling pretty sick. i've been coughing a lot and throwing up (blood) and it's both ends now i did hurt my chest/stomach a bit back, before i started throwing up/etc blood, so if it's not coughing too much it could be from that?

[Blue93]

make a new appointment...

and then i have my doctor on my back for two things, pestering me with questions and i hate having to go to hospital. if there's a way to fix this without alerting my doctor i'd much rather exhaust that option.

[Blue93]

there isnt. trust me.

[cantstopcrying]

Trust the smart young'un...he knows of what he speaks and is wise beyond his years.

Well, I'm glad you got the ear thing under control, but by the sounds of the blood thing when I read some of your other posts sounds very, very serious. There isn't any way to avoid going to the hospital.

[silver_queen]

the longer you leave this the MORE questions the dr is going to ask, such as 'Why did you leave it so long?'

Just tell them and get it sorted out and then you will KNOW what is wrong.

There is nothing you can do to solve this other than to tell a doctor.

[shrimp1957]

The dr is the only option. I don't like drs either, but they are there to help. What kind of questions are you worried about? Is there an underlying reason you don't want to see a dr?

Glad you got your ear taken care of, that could have gotten really bad. Not seeing the dr for the other problem, could have serious consequences.

Take care of yourself and be good to yourself and go see your dr again.

going to see the doctor tomorrow or monday, feeling too worn out and in pain to go today (and it's a little late to go today anyways).