My favorite Ralph Wiggam joke goes, "The teacher says I wouldn't get so many nosebleeds if I didn't put my finger in there!" This morning I learned that the same goes for your ear.
Yes, I somehow managed to scrape my eardrum with my fingernail. What can I say, I didn't know it was possible to get my finger in so far. The ear bled a little, but not much, and it hardly hurts at all. Just a twinge like you would feel from any small scrape. And I'm not having any trouble hearing, which suggests no lasting damage.
On the downside, I got the worst headache I've had in ages, and I feel like I'm going to throw up. My friend the MD (it's great to work with a programmer who used to be an MD and doesn't mind giving free medical advice) says that by damaging my inner ear I messed up my sense of balance and that's causing the nausea. He says it will go away soon. I certainly hope so!
In the meantime I'm just sitting here feeling stupid and waiting for the headache pills to start working. And also kicking myself for not having gotten around to filling that Imitrex prescription. I was planning to do that this evening, really. Although I don't even know if Imitrex would have worked in this situation. I took an OTC pill called "Exedrin Migraine" (well to be precise, the store brand version of Exedrin Migraine) which is just acetominophin, aspirin and caffeine. Which generally works pretty well on my headaches.
I think I'll make a mental note not to re-enact any other Ralphisms. I'd particularly like to stay away from "It tastes like burning!"
oh dear - I didn't know you could get your finger that far in there, either!
get well soon!
that sucks! i hope you can sleep it off.