I have had problems with ear infections my whole life. As a child, I had tubes placed into both ears. Then, as I got older and the infections in my left ear persisted, I had a "permanent" tube put into just the left ear. I still get ear infections when I am submerged into water without ear plugs, but the tube helps to ease my pain and allows me to hear better. However, it keeps falling out. As an adult, I've had two surgeries for tube placement. I'm going to have to have another one this year, as the one I have now is falling out and causing lots of pain and hearing loss.

I have had five sets of ear tubes now. My first set was at age 2, then 4, 6, 12, and 20. Whenever I have them in I never have ear infections, but when I don't have them it is a constant battle. I have had a constant ear infection for 10 months now, but tomorrow that will all change for the better when the new set goes in. The downside of all those ear infections, ruptured ear drums, and tubes is tons of scar tissue that requires me to be put under for the procedure even though I'm an adult and could handle the in-office procedure mentally.

I have had tubes put in my left ear five times in 4 years. Six months ago I had a T-tube put in. I have now lodged inward and skin has grown around and over it. I have to have surgery to remove it. The pressure and pain is horrible and the doctor cannot get me in for 3 weeks.

I had tubes placed in both ears when I was 4. After that, the tube in the left ear did not grow out, so I had to go back and have it removed. When I was 6, I had my tonsils removed due to constant infections. Now I'm 24, and my doctor has made a referral to have tubes put in my ears once again.

I am 15, and I had tubes when I was a baby and again when I was 14. I had to get the left one replaced, and it fell out recently, but the doctor said the old one is still in, so I'm confused. I still have the other one in my right ear. I have chronic ear infections. They hurt a lot, but I can never recall them bleeding. My ears also itch constantly, and it's hard for me to hear. The air likes to pop in my ears at the weirdest times. I don't know if I'm going deaf or not, but I can't seem to be able to hear out of my right ear.

I've had am ear tube placed with severe pain and now log-term tubes placed with basically no pain. Whoever is operating with painful operations is not doing this right. Pain-free recently was fantastic. My hearing was good for 3 years with the short-term tube. Now 4 days in one ear is great and one ear seems not so good with the long-term tubes. I'm sure we'll solve that problem or it will resolve itself.

I have needed a tube for years; I am over 50 years old and this January my Otolaryngologist decided it's time: I keep getting ear infections (as I've always gotten). So far, I STILL get ear infections, even in the same ear that the tube was implanted. Right now, I have an ear infection (April, 2011) and it's a serious one, so I am thinking that having this tube didn't really do anything for me at all.

I'm 38. I have had ear infections for the better part of my adult life. I have had a tube for 4 days so I'm still hopeful it will be worth the pain endured to have it put in. A needle into the eardrum then the burn of the medication to numb it, then pop a hole in the eardrum and smash the tube in. I felt everything and it was all I could to keep from screaming bloody murder. There must be a better way! Now 4 days in it drives me crazy! Constant itching and often feels like a bug crawling around deep in my ear then it bites me every so often. I was told to expect a lot of drainage. There has been none. Over all I will never have this done again. Insane not to use some kind of topical numbing medication before they stab a needle in your ear!

My son had recurrent ear infections and at 24 months was delayed with his speech. At 26 months he had tubes put in his ears and within 2 weeks was speaking clearly and in grouping 5 words together at a time. It was like night and day. He is now 3.5 years old and still has the tubes in his ears. He has not had one ear infection following the procedure. He articulates very clearly! The only thing that I have noticed that affects him is loud noises. Noises that wouldn't typically bother the average person. He is very sensitive to sounds.