# I am too old to have an ear infection **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 20, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-old-to-have-an-ear-infection/514525 "2009-10-20T20:58:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gesturing\_Mildly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/65b543/32.png) [@Gesturing\_Mildly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gesturing_Mildly)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-old-to-have-an-ear-infection/514525/21 "2009-10-21T17:41:57Z")
I still get them, maybe once every year or so. Usually after I’ve had a cold. Last time I had one the doctor suggested I get tubes put in. I was 29. I laughed, and told him that tubes were for babies. Then I went home and called my mommy and daddy to ask them what I should do. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-old-to-have-an-ear-infection/514525/22 "2009-10-21T18:09:24Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > They’re not juvenile acne, you know… my grandma gets them frequently and she’s 96. I’m actually baffled by the assertions that they’re a “childhood illness”. I’ve known probably an equal number of adults and children who’ve had them. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-old-to-have-an-ear-infection/514525/23 "2009-10-21T23:08:04Z")
On the plus side, my ear doesn’t hurt. On the not-plus side, it is completely clogged. I’m so glad I’m seeing the doctor tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-old-to-have-an-ear-infection/514525/24 "2009-10-22T16:25:05Z")
Update (in case anyone is losing sleep over this) Saw the doctor today. Infection is cleared up, but there was a lot of “debris” in there…I’m assuming bacteria corpses. So, without getting too graphic, let’s say the irrigation, while it did hurt a bit toward the end, was most satisfying and achieved results. I will continue the drops for a few more days, but the saga is over. ---
**Author:** ![Gesturing\_Mildly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/65b543/32.png) [@Gesturing\_Mildly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gesturing_Mildly)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-old-to-have-an-ear-infection/514525/25 "2009-10-22T17:15:19Z")
It does hurt a bit, but I love the irrigation part. It’s fascinating how much “debris” can be packed in my little ear-holes! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-old-to-have-an-ear-infection/514525/26 "2009-10-22T18:37:41Z")
Glad to hear you are feeling better! ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-old-to-have-an-ear-infection/514525/27 "2009-10-24T18:10:47Z")
> [@freckafree](#): > > **phouka** , just curious. I was a teen when I had mine out, and the surgery was done with a local anesthetic. I was told that a local was safer for an older patient. Did you have a general or a local anesthetic? I’ve not encountered another person whose tonsils were removed while they were awake. > > Oh, and Cryptic Tonsils = band name! I was under a general anaesthetic for it, though it was a fairly short surgery. I think it took less than an hour. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-old-to-have-an-ear-infection/514525/28 "2009-10-24T18:50:59Z")
Bad…forgetting drops at home the day after the doctor says “Your infection is almost cleared up, a few more days should do it.” My ear is back to hurting, but I’m back to putting drops in. Crap. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Why\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@The\_Why\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Why_Bird)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-old-to-have-an-ear-infection/514525/29 "2009-10-24T21:03:28Z")
Awwwww… you have my utmost sympathies! I get ear infections fairly often, just prone to them. People think of them as very minor (and I suppose they are, in that the treatment is straight forward and the risk to life is low) but only those who have been through it know the pain. When I was fifteen or so I got one so bad I was popping 25+ prescription strength painkillers a day for a fortnight. It’s a miracle I didn’t become addicted or finish myself off! Keep going on the drops ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-old-to-have-an-ear-infection/514525.md?page=1)