Hello,
Two months ago I discovered that I have pulsatile tinnitus. I had no idea what pulsatile tinnitus was, I just thought it was tinnitus that I contracted as a result of taking lots of Aspirin for my migraines.
After researching my symptoms, I realized that the noises that sounds like a field of crickets chirping in rhythm is called pulsatile tinnitus. In the RIGHT ear the whooshing noises are louder than the LEFT, but it's in both ears and the intensity of the noises are so loud that I have vertigo and nausea. I can't exercise, work, or function in daily activities because of this.
I find that caffeine and/or foods with sodium or salt make the noises even louder and more intense, which gives me intense anxiety, which raises my heartbeat, which makes the noises even more intense and faster, etc. A horrible feedback loop. I had to start taking Xanax 3 times a day to calm my nerves which minimizes the perception of the whooshing noises, but the Xanax is just temporary until this pulsatile tinnitus issue is resolved since Xanax is highly addictive and my body is already building a tolerance to Xanax after just 1 week.
I have seen my primary doctor, Neurologist, Audiologist, Neurologist, Urgent Care (several times), been to the ER 7 times in the last 6 weeks for this pulsatile tinnitus, extreme dizziness, nausea, (felt like I was about to faint or have a stroke), and so far none of the doctors or specialists can figure anything out except the ENT doctor who's trying to work with me on this. But even the ENT doctor said that this might even be outside his scope since the underlying condition is vascular (or "veinous in nature" as he put it) and said that I have turbulent blood flow in the jugular vein. He did a compression of the jugular vein on the RIGHT side of my neck which temporarily stopped the noises on that side and same with the LEFT. Also, when I tilt my head to the RIGHT the noises on RIGHT side stop but the LEFT side is loud. And same thing when I tilt my head to the LEFT, it stops the noises on the LEFT but the right side is extremely loud.
This is how the ENT doctor realized that this a venous issue. He looked at my Uktrasound Carotid Bilateral and said he saw a high-riding jugular bulb on both sides, particularly on the RIGHT, which is the ear with the louder noises.
I also researched pulsatile tinnitus and saw that there is a UCSF Pulsatile Tinnitus Clinic here in San Francisco. Since UCSF is a 3rd party outside the network of my health plan I have to get a doctor's referral and it has to be approved with prior authorization from my health insurance. I am waiting for that referral to be approved. I hope it happens soon because the torture of this pulsatile tinnitus is so loud and so horrible that I am contemplating suicide out of desperation to make it stop.