FYI - the ear tube I had placed (and soon after removed) did not help my ear problem, nor did it actually cause infection.

Whatever chronic low-grade (undetectable) infection that has been present for decades, combined with placement of the tube aggravated things to the point of localized ear drum bleeding/scabbing.

For whatever it's worth (probably not worth much), multiple ENT's I hired and paid looking for a solution -- as well as the ENT who removed the tube -- had no answers for me. In the end, I was required to figure out and direct the course of action (surgical removal) without physician guidance. The only feedback I received from the ENT'S , regarding my bleeding eardrum, gave me no reasons -- instead I witnessed confused acknowledgment that they were observing something they did not understand, and had frankly never seen or expected to see.