Issues with almost 10 year old stretched ears , 5/8”

Hi there! I’m having issues with my left lobe. Iv had them at this size for almost 10 years at 5/8” with zero issue, I have settled on this size and I don’t plan on changing sizes.. A little irritation from time to time but never any persistent problems. Well about a week or so I took my plugs out to let them breathe like I would sometimes do, and noticed more irritation than usual in my left ear, cleaned them and put jewelry back in with 0 issue. Woke up the next day with a super painful swollen ear and it was oozing pus, yuck. So I take it out again clean it and let it breathe. Added some natural healing salve/oil. I leave it out for a bit to let it heal and it seemed okay but I could tell me ear had shrank slightly because of the sore.

Basically for the past week and half I’ve been going through the same cycle. Taking the jewelry out letting it heal and putting it back in after i don’t feel as much pain anymore. Last night I put jewelry back in and this more it’s swollen, throbbing painful, bleeding again. It’s like I’m stretching my ear all over again. I’m so unsure of what to do.. should I just leave the jewelry out and restretch my ear later when it’s healed? Or downsize? Tbh I don’t know if I want to bother wearing them at all anymore if I keep having issues but I also don’t want booty ears lol

It’s weird dealing with this after years okay having them at this size so I feel like a newbie all over again. I’ve never had an issues like this in the entire time I’ve them at this size except at the initial stretch.

Please help. I don’t know what to do.