Could Use Some Advice on What I'm Experiencing

[sgriggs3]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to the message board and posted on the other forum, but thought my symptoms might fit better over here. I'm a 27 year old male in great physical condition with sudden sensorineural hearing loss in my right ear that came on unexpectedly 2 years ago. I had an MRA to rule out anything abnormal and it came back clear. ENT specialist said these things happen sometimes as they never figured out the cause. I have been able to come to terms with the regular tinnitus and go about my life.

The reason for my post is in regards to something I've been experiencing even before I had my case of SSHL 2 years ago. Basically, whenever I'm exercising or I raise my pulse rate, I hear my heartbeat in my head. It sounds mostly like it's inside my head. I can't pinpoint if it's actually from one of my ears. It's mostly a "thud.. thud..thud" sound in sync with my heartbeat. I notice it when I stop running or finish a set lifting weights. It last for 20-30 seconds max until my pulse returns to normal. I've always thought this was normal and that everyone experiences this when exercising or doing a strenuous activity. I've had this anomaly for as long as I can remember. The noise doesn't effect me otherwise, as it only happens when exercising or sometimes getting up to quickly from laying down (which sometime causes a 5-10 second whooshing sound then disappears). My fear over this lies in the vascular components I've read on google. I'm nervous there could be a problem with a vein or artery that's causing this. Is this something I should be concerned about, or is my anxiety getting the best of me?

I appreciate any insight!

 

[Karen]

Hi, @sgriggs3, and welcome! I'm so sorry to hear about your sudden hearing loss, and hope that you are managing your tinnitus these days.

Like you, I have hearing loss in my right ear only, and have tinnitus in that ear. About 6 years ago, I took a blood pressure drug, and my mild tinnitus became severe, and I ended up with pulsatile tinnitus as well. Mine, however, is constant. It does sound like yours; I would not refer to it as a whooshing sound, but more like a drumbeat sound.

It is difficult to say what might be causing yours to occur only after exercising or getting up quickly, but it may be that your tinnitus ear is merely sensitive, and is hearing sounds that were not audible before. I have heard of other people on this forum who have pulsating like yours, that occurs only upon exertion. I hope some of them will respond to let you know how they are coping with it.

As for me, since mine is constant, I have to deal with it all day, and also to try to ignore it when I'm settling down to sleep. It hasn't been an easy 6 years, but I am coping with it. I've had a lot of tests, and nothing was ever found.

I wish you well, and hope that some others with intermittent pulsatile tinnitus will chime in.

Best wishes,
Karen

 

[Robert44]

@Karen

but I am coping with it

Glad you are coping with it. Every time I read your story it makes me sad. Be strong, you are not alone. It will make you stronger in dealing with it. We must go on. All the best.

 

[Karen]

Thank you, @Robert44,

I agree that dealing with it will make us stronger. All we can do is go forward from where we are now, and live our lives the best way we can. That's what I'm doing, and I hope you are, as well.

Very best wishes,
Karen

 

[Dominic1955]

@sgriggs3 sorry u are having problem with pulsatile T, luckily it's only for a few minutes, I would think its related to a vascular etiology.
I also had SSHL 5 months ago and I have a great difficulty with high pitched T, how long did it take u to habituate to the chronic T?
Do you
have severe hearing loss?
Thanks

 

[sgriggs3]

Thank you Karen for welcoming me and for the responses. This board has been a wealth of knowledge since I discovered it yesterday.

@Dominic1955. My hearing loss in my right ear is siginificant. I can hear high pitches but everything else is just garbled. If I were to put an ear bud in my right ear and play music, I wouldn't be able to make out the lyrics, just could tell there was music playing. I've also noticed my right ear has become extremely sensitive to any loud noise. It took my about a month to learn to cope. I was pretty devastated at first, but was able to move past the tinnitus and get on with my life.

In regard to my PT, it only comes with an elevated pulse rate and doesn't bother me even then. My main concern is if there's an underlying serious vascular problem that wasn't picked up on the MRA two years ago or could possibly have developed since. Although I seem to always remember hearing my heartbeat in my head when exercising.

 

[Karen]

You're welcome, @sgriggs3! It is hard to say if what you have is a vascular issue, or just increased ear sensitivity from the hearing loss.

If you are very concerned, my suggestion would be to seek out a second opinion from another doctor, such as a neurologist or neurotologist. They might have more knowledge about this type of condition, and/or additional insight into a possible cause.

 

[Dominic1955]

@sgriggs3 MRA is excellent in picking up vascular abnormalities, the ultimate test would be an cerebral arteriography but it's invasive so likely not recommended in your case, I would suggest you see an otoneurologist in view that your pulsatile symptoms have changed.
Did u ask anyone else to listen with their ear to see if they can also hear the pulsation ?
Dom

 

[sgriggs3]

Hi Dominic,

Thank you for the suggestions. I've been honing in on some of my symptoms to see if I can pick up the PT more than what I previously thought. When sitting, if I lean my head to the right side (my side with the ear with sudden hearing loss) I can pick up the PT that way as well. It's not very loud but if the room is quiet I can pick it up. I'm assuming I'd need a referral to see an Otoneurologist? I've never asked anyone to listen to see if they could hear it. I just always thought it was more vibrations in my head.