I had a tube when I was a kid, I've always had ear infections in one ear. Something about it not draining properly.
When I was like 14 my ear doctor (who was about 85, had a really successful practice but seemed like he was losing his marbles) decided to pull the tube out. All of a sudden he said my ear looked okay, and jabbed some pointy thing into the tube and yanked it our somehow. It hurt like all hell and I had tears running down my face (not crying, just water).
Ever since then, I never naturally get ear infections but I cannot swim without an ear plug in that ear. If I even get a tiny bit of water in that ear (even in the shower), I hear a terrible echo and it hurts like all hell for a day or so until the water goes away.
I have neomycin drops that I have to use if I do accidentally get water in it, because it seems like the little fucker gets infected as hell within an hour.
Doctors repeatedly say my ear looks normal and healty, but that I do have a small tear in my ear drum (I think), but that it should heal naturally.
Someone tell me what the fuck this means and what I need to do. I'm telling you, even a tiny drop of water gets in my ear and I'm in agonizing pain for a day.
