I'm Mel and New to This Forum — Is a Throbbing Sound Considered Tinnitus?

[MelA]

About a year ago, I started to hear a throbbing sound in my right ear after I drank about 3 glasses of wine. Last night, I woke up with the same throbbing sound after not drinking any wine or any alchohol during the day. Is a throbbing sound considered to be tinnitus or could it be something else?

Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[Candy]

Hi Mel it could be a form of Tinnitus called pulsatile tinnitus, which is different to subjective tinnitus. If it is you will feel a physical sensation and hear your heart beat rather than just head noise as far as I know. There is a section in here for pulsatile tinnitus, and a website called whooshers or something like that...hopefully it swill resolve itself or come and go and I think it's more treatable than tinnitus.

 

[MelA]

Candy, Thanks for your quick reply. The thumping rate is very much faster than my heart beat. This morning, the thumping stopped as soon as I got out of bed, dressed and walked around.

 

[Candy]

Do you feel it mainly when your neck is in a certain position?

 

[MelA]

It has not been position sensitive in the past. However, it did quickly stop when I arose and became vertical this morning.

 

[Candy]

Would go to GP and see if they can hear anything, they may not in any case but can advise...sounds like pulsatile tinnitus, sometimes due to blood flow restriction people can hear it in a certain position only, maybe that's why you hear it when lying down.

 

[MelA]

The rate of the throbbing is about 2 to 3 times faster than my heart rate so it does not seem to be related to my blood flow. I have also heard it the past when standing up and when I triggered it by drinking 3 glasses of wine.

 

[Candy]

Interesting...you might want to post in the pulsatile tinnitus section on thus site.

 

[MelA]

I have done some searching on the Internet today. The symptoms sound a lot like middle ear myoclonus which is rapid, involuntary contractions of a muscle of the inner ear. I will have my GP check it out as you recommended. Guess that I will have to drink 3 glasses of wine prior to that doctor's office visit.

 

[GregCA]

The symptoms sound a lot like middle ear myoclonus which is rapid, involuntary contractions of a muscle of the inner ear.

I think you mean a muscle of the middle ear. There is no muscle in the inner ear. There's a bunch of hair cells in there though.

 

[MelA]

That was a test and you passed with flying colors. Just joking. Of course you are correct.

 

[vermillion]

Maybe TTTS?

 

[MelA]

When I searched TTTS I found this link: http://hearinglosshelp.com/blog/do-i-have-tonic-tensor-tympani-syndrome-ttts/. I have not pain. The only one of the many symptoms which I have is the thumping after drinking 3 glasses of red wine. However, I will check with my GP on the possibility of TTTS. I will also try white wine to determine whether it is the alcohol or the other ingredients in red wine.

 

[vermillion]

@MelA
I'm sure you will figure it out!
All the best.

 

[MelA]

Vermillion, Thanks for your confidence and good wishes!