How Do You Know You Have Pulsatile Tinnitus?

[Cassidy]

Today I woke up in the middle of the night and noticed a non-constant tone in my ear. High-pitched as always. But I'm struggling to call it pulsatile T because it isn't pulsating along with my heart rate. I hear a constant whine for a few seconds and then it lowers in volume for 1 second etc.

Is this pulsatile T or just a non-constant type of T?

 

[Karen]

Hi, Cassidy,

I have pulsatile tinnitus, and it is constant, and is in time with my heartbeat. If yours is sporadic, it is probably some other form of tinnitus, not pulsatile.

Have you heard of tensor tympani syndrome? That is a sporadic type of pulse-like vibration that is really a spasm. It could be something like that.

 

[Cassidy]

Hey Karen,

Thanks for your reply - yes I didn't quite think it was pulsatile but just wanted to check.

Do you also have a constant (non-pulsatile) type of tinnitus? Which do you think is easier to get used to (assuming the same tone/frequency)?

 

[Karen]

Hi, Cassidy,

Yes, I also have a constant, hissing type of tinnitus. They are both hard to get used to, but for me, the pulsating has been worse. I think it's possible to tune out a constant ringing or hissing tone. It takes effort, but it is possible.
However, I haven't found a way to tune out the pulsating, especially when trying to sleep! Luckily, my pulsating has gotten a bit softer lately, so I am living with it.

I hope yours settles down. Do you still have the non-constant tone in your ear? What is it like right now?

 

[Marlene]

Hi reading your post,heart goes out to you with this pulsating tinnitus ,plus the hissing tinnitus.do you think your anxiety/ stress levels increased with it,as never know if one came before the other ,or did it begin at the same time ?why I ask that. As of late my husbands been saying his tinnitus pulsates if he lays on the louder sounding ear,says it comes and goes.did say to him hope that's not catching,jokingly of course.i did wonder if his asthma inhaler he takes prior to bedtime was doing it.Your much in the know Karen what's your view.Drs probably wouldn't have a clue.

 

[Karen]

Hi, Marlene,

Since your husband's pulsating occurs only when he is lying down, and since it comes and goes, it may be more like a muscle spasm than true pulsatile tinnitus (like tensor tympani syndrome, or muscular tinnitus). Here is a link to some information on pulsatile tinnitus from the Jackson Ear Clinic:
http://www.jacksonearclinic.com/pages/pitinnitus.htm

I'm no doctor, but it could be possible that the asthma inhaler has something to do with it, or it could be that he just notices it when he is lying down. At any rate, it might be something that will go away in time.

Pulsatile tinnitus is constant, and is exactly in sync with one's heartbeat. He could try taking his pulse by counting the beats of his heart for 1 minute, then trying to determine if the sound is in sync with that. If it isn't, he might have muscular tinnitus, as described in the article.

Hope this information is helpful to you!

 

[Marlene]

Thanks Karen will let him read this up,often says he didn't know why it happens laying on his worst ear.hes on statins to but no BP meds,you try and consider everything,the cause,even down to age related.Trials this life throws up hey.Dont stop at tinnitus either.Thanks again.

 

[Karen]

@Marlene,

I've heard that statin drugs may be a cause of regular tinnitus (don't know about pulsatile). Has he been taking the statin drugs for a long time, or did he just start taking them? They cause a lot of other side effects, too, from what I've heard. I don't take statins myself. My doctor noted that my cholesterol was a little high, and suggested I try taking a supplement -- red yeast rice -- to see if that might work first. It has so far brought my cholesterol down quite a bit!

 

[Marlene]

Hubby said to thank you for info,he's been on statins for fair while,he's going to mention this to his dr,his cholesterol is on an even level,he's a slim Jim ,so it's family genes,tell my cousin about Red yeast rice,as she had heart attack 3 yrs ago,another slim one,but high cholesterol.Good tip.Have put in my little red book that site,informative,always us with this tinny can learn from. Ta

 

[Karen]

Hi, Marlene,

If your husband does decide to try red yeast rice, I've read that it can deplete COQ10, so you should take COQ10 along with it. Just thought I should let you know!

 

[Marlene]

Thanks Karen ,as luck would have it ,I have some of them in,my cholesterol has never been checked,husbands is below the 5 marker.Good info from you appreciated.

 

[undecided]

There is a 99.9% certain way to discover whether your T is pulsatile.
Go have a carotid artery triplex (it's basically an ultrasound on either side of your throat).
Ask your doctor to hear the flow of blood (he will probably do it himself, since listening to the blood flow is essential to the examination).
When I heard the sound of my blood flowing through the ultrasound machine speaker I knew that my T was pulsatile.

But I pretty much already knew it since it goes all pulsatile on me when i exercise a bit more than usual