After the immediate relief provided by the ice and Benedryl wore off, I was miserable, even more miserable than before if that is possible. My husband convinced me to go to the doctor. It is not that I mind the actual visit so much as the waiitng in a room of sick and possibly contagious people. Turns out the ear infection wrestled its way into my bloodstream and was causing an allergic reaction, which is why I was all red, itchy, and puffy and of course my constant rubbing (which again, is bad -- I know) was only spreading the infection faster. Good thing I got there when I did or my whole face would have been swollen up like a pufferfish!
Well now I have eye and ear drops, plus a stronger antihistamine/anit-inflammatory drug, plus an antibiotic. Yikes so much medicine!
On the plus side I am again starting to feel better! Hopefully tonight will be better than yesterday...