Could This Turn Into Pulsatile Tinnitus?

[Kerry H]

I, like other's on this section of the forum, am wondering if you think that what I've been experiencing could be PT.

For as long as I remember, whenever I yawn I hear that whooshing sound in my ear. It wasn't until I developed T that I became hyperconscious about the sound. I began to realize that I could yawn without the whooshing if I was intentional about it when I was yawning.

I can also hear that whooshing without yawning. It's not constant, it's just when I contract whatever muscles are behind my ear on purpose. It's really easy to do, and I asked some friends if they could do that and they said no. I never thought it was PT, I was just worried that one day it could become PT if I kept yawning like I do and purposely contracting those muscles.

Yesterday, I went to pop my ears with the plug your nose and blow technique, and my ear drum seemed to not pop back. That's when I heard my heartbeat in my ear. It stayed there for about 5 mins or so as I kept trying to mess with it to make it go away.

I'm just wondering what you all think about this, and whether or not this situation could possibly turn into PT somewhere down the line...? Is there anything I can do to help prevent it?

 

[cullenbohannon]

It doesn't sound like pt to me. Sometimes the muscles behind the ear contract and they can cause the sounds you describe. I get it too. Not sure about the incident with blowing your nose and getting it though

I, like other's on this section of the forum, am wondering if you think that what I've been experiencing could be PT.

For as long as I remember, whenever I yawn I hear that whooshing sound in my ear. It wasn't until I developed T that I became hyperconscious about the sound. I began to realize that I could yawn without the whooshing if I was intentional about it when I was yawning.

I can also hear that whooshing without yawning. It's not constant, it's just when I contract whatever muscles are behind my ear on purpose. It's really easy to do, and I asked some friends if they could do that and they said no. I never thought it was PT, I was just worried that one day it could become PT if I kept yawning like I do and purposely contracting those muscles.

Yesterday, I went to pop my ears with the plug your nose and blow technique, and my ear drum seemed to not pop back. That's when I heard my heartbeat in my ear. It stayed there for about 5 mins or so as I kept trying to mess with it to make it go away.

I'm just wondering what you all think about this, and whether or not this situation could possibly turn into PT somewhere down the line...? Is there anything I can do to help prevent it?

 

[Karen]

I agree with Cullen. I don't think it means that you have PT, and there really isn't anything you can do to keep PT from occurring. It is probably some kind of contraction, as in tensor tympani syndrome. For now, I wouldn't worry about it.

For me, my PT is constant; I can hear it all the time, and nothing I do changes the pulsating. There is no spot around my ear that I can push on to make the PT go away.

I think you're OK!

 

[Kerry H]

@cullenbohannon and @Karen - Thank you both for the replies. I agree, I don't necessarily think it is PT, I was just worried that maybe it was a warning sign. Also, it could be TTS, but this was also pulsating with my heartbeat, so I'm not too sure. I'll try not to worry though. Thanks again.

 

[Karen]

Good for you, Kerry! I hope you'll update us again on how you're doing.

Yes, it could be tensor tympani syndrome, but it seems unlikely, since it is in time with your pulse. How is your PT doing today? Any improvement?

 

[Kerry H]

@Karen - Yeah it's okay today. Thanks for asking. I only really experienced PT like sounds for about 5 mins the other day. Since then, I haven't really had any other problems like it. I have noticed that my left eardrum (the same ear I have T) feels a lot more weak lately. It feels like it's really flexible, and whenever I breathe deep I can feel it move back and forth which is weird. Maybe when I was hearing those PT sounds, it was due to this. I feel like I've just been hyperaware of things going on with my ears lately.

 

[Karen]

Yes, that could be. I think that my PT may have something to do with hyperawareness, too.
I hope your PT continues to settle down!!

 

[Kerry H]

Thanks for your help @Karen. It's a very weird sensation. Just not I yawned, and I heard a very clear heartbeat in my ear for about 30 seconds and then it went away. Throughout the day, I've been feeling like I've heard an occasional single heart beat. It's very hard to pinpoint if it's PT or not.

 

[Djurov]

have you checked your blood pressure?

 

[Kerry H]

@Djurov - Not recently. Back in September I had it checked and it was really really good. At that time I was biking 17 miles a day and working at a hardware store slinging 5 gallons of paint all day. In November I got a desk job and no longer bike. I also developed high anxiety, depression and then T following. I had my blood pressure check again in Nov. and it was pretty high which was weird that it changed so fast.

All that being said, I haven't had it checked since late November. Do you think that could be a cause?

 

[Karen]

@Kerry H ,
Yes, it's possible that your blood pressure could be a factor. That's how my pulsatile tinnitus started. I've now gotten my blood pressure under control, and the pulsating has gotten much better.

Maybe you could go to a doctor and get it checked. I have a blood pressure monitor at home, so I check mine regularly, and have noted that the pulsating is much better when my blood pressure is lower.

 

[Kerry H]

@Kerry H ,
Maybe you could go to a doctor and get it checked. I have a blood pressure monitor at home, so I check mine regularly, and have noted that the pulsating is much better when my blood pressure is lower.

@Karen - Glad to hear that taking care of your blood pressure has helped! I will definitely schedule and appointment soon. Thank you.

 

[Kerry H]

So this morning, this sensation has come back. Right when I got to work I noticed a thumping like sound. At first I thought it was in time with my heartbeat, but the more I check it's a little more irregular. It's about as fast as a heartbeat, but instead of being a constant beat it's more of a "thud, thud, thud-thud-thud, thud, thud-thud" It kind of feels more like a muscle spasm....

Does this sound more like TTTS rather than PT? I have a doctor's appointment on Saturday and I'm going to bring this up. I also had an MRI yesterday so I'm waiting for the results of those as well.

 

[Mpt]

Hi Kerry,

Do you still notice your regular tinnitus, I know at one point you said you noticed it only at night-- is that still the case? or can you find it during the day-- like if you listened for it or stuck fingers in your ear would you hear it during the day?

 

[Kerry H]

Hi Kerry,

Do you still notice your regular tinnitus, I know at one point you said you noticed it only at night-- is that still the case? or can you find it during the day-- like if you listened for it or stuck fingers in your ear would you hear it during the day?

Actually I went almost all day yesterday without hearing my regular T, even when I check for it. It's been a lot more quite lately. It's still louder at night though.

 

[Mpt]

that's great -- so you can check for it in silent places and not even hear it?- do you think it is intermittant now-- like its just not your perception, but that its gone entirely for chunks of time-- like if you plugged your ears with fingers, ear plugs you wouldn't hear it?- gone to that extent during the day or just quieter to where you don't notice it?

 

[Kerry H]

that's great -- so you can check for it in silent places and not even hear it?- do you think it is intermittant now-- like its just not your perception, but that its gone entirely for chunks of time-- like if you plugged your ears with fingers, ear plugs you wouldn't hear it?- gone to that extent during the day or just quieter to where you don't notice it?

I think it's just really, really quite during the day. If I am in a quite room and really try and focus on it, I can hear a very faint ringing. Some days sound like it's not there, others not so much. But it does get to full blast at night.

 

[Littlebailey]

@cullenbohannon and @Karen - Thank you both for the replies. I agree, I don't necessarily think it is PT, I was just worried that maybe it was a warning sign. Also, it could be TTS, but this was also pulsating with my heartbeat, so I'm not too sure. I'll try not to worry though. Thanks again.

I had something like that yesterday too. After blowing my nose real well, I could hear my heart beating in my ear. It didn't last long, and I had to cup my ears to hear it, but it was there. And it sort of seemed to maybe fit in with my theory that maybe my T is/was caused by my nose and Eustachian tubes sort of failing on me. But I haven't done enough homework to know if that makes enough sense. I've always had crappy ears, not in terms of hearing, but in terms of seeming fragile with regard to being nice and clear, handling airplane descents, etc.

I can't remember, is pulsate T better or worse than regular T? As far as potentially beating it and maybe going away.

 

[Karen]

Hi, Littlebailey,

Pulsatile tinnitus is highly treatable, IF a cause is found. That's because PT is usually caused by some problem with the vascular system. If a person is tested and the cause is found, often surgery can be performed to correct the problem. That's a big IF, however! I have PT myself, and it is constant and very annoying (life-changing), and I have hissing tinnitus, as well. Of the two, I would say that the PT is more bothersome. I've heard of some cases where the PT goes away on its own, but I don't know how often that happens. I've had various tests and am still looking for a cause of my PT. Most doctors don't really understand what PT is all about, so you have to find a specialist who is knowledgeable and willing to order several tests to find a cause.

I hope this helps to answer your question!

 

[Littlebailey]

Hi, Littlebailey,

Pulsatile tinnitus is highly treatable, IF a cause is found. That's because PT is usually caused by some problem with the vascular system. If a person is tested and the cause is found, often surgery can be performed to correct the problem. That's a big IF, however! I have PT myself, and it is constant and very annoying (life-changing), and I have hissing tinnitus, as well. Of the two, I would say that the PT is more bothersome. I've heard of some cases where the PT goes away on its own, but I don't know how often that happens. I've had various tests and am still looking for a cause of my PT. Most doctors don't really understand what PT is all about, so you have to find a specialist who is knowledgeable and willing to order several tests to find a cause.

I hope this helps to answer your question!

Thanks for the reply. I hope you're doing well.