Just Introducing Myself

[Jana2016]

Hello everyone,

I am new here and just wanted to introduce myself.My name is Jana and I have been living with what I believe to be tinnitus for 6 years now, I have not been officially diagnosed and have just been coping with it this whole time. I have had lapses where it temporarily goes away but for the most part this is something that I experience daily.

Most things I have read seem to make it out that people only hear ringing with tinnitus, but I have 2 sounds that I hear and the ringing is the lesser of the two evils, although I do hear that in both ears, the one that bothers me the most is the "swooshing" sound. the only ways to describe it are like the sound of blood flow or the sound of a babies heartbeat on the Doppler or ultrasound machines. That sound I only experience in my right ear and its very strange but when I press on the right side of my neck the sound goes away, or if I open my mouth very widely the sound goes away. Does anyone here experience anything similar?

I have seen an audiologist who did some tests and looked at my ear with like a camera and he did say that my ear drum is heavily scarred, and that I do have lower than normal hearing for my age. I did suffer from chronic ear infections as a child and ended up having tubes put into my ears so maybe that's what has caused this damage for me? I don't know. I just hope to find more information and support now that I found this website and I know that there are other people out there who are living with this nuisance everyday too.

 

[AnxiousJon]

The swooshing is called pulsatile tinnitus. There is a section of the forum dedicated to this. It has many possible causes. Make sure to tell an ENT or a doctor who specializes in the cardiovascular system about symptoms in detail. Rarely pulsatile tinnitus can be caused by a life restening condition, but can also be caused by benign tumors which can be removed, or some other cardiovascular irregularity.

 

[Karen]

Hi, @Jana2016

Welcome to Tinnitus Talk! I'm one of those people who can hear the swooshing sound in my ear (mine is in my right ear only), in addition to regular tinnitus in the same ear. I've had the pulsating tinnitus for about 5 1/2 years now, and have had a number of tests, but no cause has been found to date. Of the two types of tinnitus, I agree that the pulsating is much harder to live with.

As Anxiousjon says, there are many possible causes for pulsatile tinnitus, and it's a good idea to get checked just to rule out any dangerous conditions. Most of us, however, don't have a tumor or fistula or other such cause, and it is hard to identify what may be the source of the problem. Many people who have pulsatile tinnitus are able to temporarily stop the sound by pressing on the jugular vein in the neck; however, I'm not one of them. Since you are, it would be a good idea to rule out any vascular causes.

Yours may very well have been caused by having the tubes and grommets in your ears. I've heard of other people who have had tubes in their ears who also experienced either regular tinnitus or pulsatile tinnitus.

If you do decide to go to another doctor to be checked out, you could start with an ENT, but may end up going to a specialist, such as a neurologist or neurotologist. These doctors may have more knowledge about pulsatile tinnitus and possible causes, and could order some tests for you.

On the Whooshers.com website, you'll find more information about pulsatile tinnitus, as well as a list of questions and possible causes to print out and take to your doctor when you go for your appointment.

I hope this information is helpful to you!

Best wishes from a fellow "whoosher"!
Karen

 

[Jana2016]

Thank you both for the extra info. I am definitely going to have to see someone about it but right now I am 8 months pregnant and just want to get my baby here without fear that something terribly wrong may be happening inside of me. I am looking forward to speaking with other fellow "whooshers" and am glad to know that I am not alone although I hate that others are suffering through this annoying symptom as well. May we all find relief from this somehow.

 

[Bryan101]

Hi Jana,
Though this site cannot cure "T". I found it one of the best coping mechanisms and places to go for relief. Knowing I'm (we) are not alone. We can all connect and discuss our pain and frustration.
I hope a cure/treatment is SOON! I don't care what it is anymore. I'd rather it wasn't drugs... I'd prefer an electronic modulation of some sort. But at this point - Anything!

 

[Karen]

Hi, @Jana2016

I just read your follow-up post, and noted that you are 8 months pregnant. When did you first notice the swooshing sound? It could be that your pregnancy has brought on the pulsating sound, and for some women, their tinnitus symptoms calm down after their baby is born. Your ears were already sensitive because of your previous ear infections, and perhaps the pregnancy exacerbated your condition.

Take care, and don't worry right now about anything else except having a healthy baby!! Then, if you are still having the pulsating symptoms several months after your baby is born, you might want to see a doctor about it.

Best wishes,
Karen