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Comment by matt_the_bass | Hacker News Reader

Yeah I had a similar experience with a secondary infection 11 days after a lion fish sting. I went to my primary care DR as a “sick visit”. After evaluation he said to go to the ER. Since I needed treatment sooner than a schedule procedure could be scheduled, the only option was ER even though I could have waited a day or two. It seems like something between the two would be valuable.

At least I had an uncommon condition so nearly every dr and resident on duty came by to check it out. I didn’t get forgotten in the crowd and had some nice chats while waiting for a slot in the imaging schedule.

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The US has urgent care for situations that need attention, but are not hospital worthy.

Edit: Infections can be really serious, but “I found a tick in a spot where I couldn’t safely remove it by myself.” and sprained ankles etc don’t need to go to the ER.

Some patients are too complex, in terms of pre-existing health conditions, to go to urgent care.

I am American (living abroad) and I have 2 rare immune-mediated neurological diseases affecting my peripheral nervous system, plus type 1 diabetes (autoimmune and insulin-dependent). My doctors in America told me to never go to urgent care for my health issues in the US.

Even ear infections can be complex. One time I had blisters on my eardrums (bullous myringitis) which is considered to be excruciatingly painful. After 3 out of 5 nights being sleepless due to pain, I wish I had went to the ER instead of waiting to finally see an ENT--after going to an urgent care (where I received improper treatment).

ProTip: With respect to cleaning your ears, don't use Q-Tips, ever. Get a digital otoscope (technically an ear endoscope) instead. It is the best piece of technology that I purchased on Amazon, that I thought would be junk. It allows me to thoroughly clean and inspect my ears daily.

> With respect to cleaning your ears, don't use Q-Tips, ever. Get a digital otoscope

There is absolutely no need to clean your ears ever. Ears are self cleaning. That's why they produce wax and they only do it in the outer section of the ear canal where that can't impact hearing.

Just don't mess with your ears and everything will be fine.

This is wrong (not that ears are self-cleaning, but that you never have to clean your ears yourself), or else ENTs wouldn't pick earwax out of ears and doctors wouldn't do ear flushes.

Like me, I have Tinnitus in my ears, and when the earwax builds up it gets 2-3x worse. I was starting to get real distressed about it, then went to an ENT, and he picked out a bunch of ear wax, and now the Tinnitus is manageable again. Still there, but quieter and easier to ignore.

I agree (and have been told by doctors) you should never use Q-Tips, though. That often does more harm than good (pushes ear wax further into your ear).

But there are other things, like Debrox, that can help you remove earwax without sticking Q-tips in your ears.

Thank you for your kind and thoughtful comment. It is sound advice.

However, I am one of those people, who does sometimes get obstructions that have to be microsuctioned out by an ENT, if I don't clear out my ears.

I’ve seen people with nasty yellow wax visible on/in their ears. I don’t think that’s sound advice for everyone.

Yes, but urgent care would not have been able to address the issue described here. In general urgent care is only qualified to address simple, common illnesses and conditions.

We used to have 24 hour urgent care centers, but so far as I know there are none in this area still offering around-the-clock services.

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