No Solution Found

[Christine32114]

Hi! I'm 42 years old and a female. I have had Pulsatile Tinnitus in my left ear for about 3 years now, I can hear my heart beat 24/7, if turn my head to the left the sound almost disappears and if I put pressure on my neck the sound almost disappears.

I had a MRI, MRA and Catheter Angiography, all tests come back negative. I

've been to an ENT and a Neurologist and have spent a lot of money with no results.

I'm just wondering if I'm not seeing the right doctor. Do I need to see a Vascular Doctor or Heart Doctor? Has anyone else taken these test with the same outcome, no answers? If so, did you find a solution?

I'm really getting desperate and I'm tired of all the tests and doctor visits with no answers. Hoping to find a cure.

 

[Lost life]

i have done all the test as well still no answers

 

[Gabri]

I feel my pulse in ears same time tinnitus started, when is very quiet, all tests are fine. Also have constant migraines, I had some concussion before tinnitus, but nobody cared as my tests were fine. I think it might be related to fact that hearing system is hypersensitive and we hear more the body sounds as some filters are broken.

 

[Christine32114]

Thanks for your replies! I think I'm going to start with having my films viewed by a neurointerventional radiologist (NIR). I'll keep you posted if I get any answers.

 

[melbournejeremy]

I have pulsatile T as well. Tests all negative. It's back to the somatic pulsatile tinnitus by Levine. Worth a read, you can google it. He has a website with PT and the mechanisms behind the pulsatile aspect. It's been mentioned countless times across this forum but it's not well known amongst ENT/Neuro etc.

 

[melbournejeremy]

This might sound a bit crazy to many. Probably many will disagree with me. But a way to narrow down the PT is to take a benzodiazpine like Valium which is a Gabba agonist and if it reduces your PT for a few hours you can infer that it is likely from overactive Neurons in the DCN or similar area indicating somatic element (somasomatic pulsatile tinnitus - Levine) Conversely if you take a glutamate like found in MSG and it makes it louder or more irritating it can help you realise it is somasomatic.

 

[Christine32114]

Melbournejermery,

That's a lot of information that I will definitely look up. I appreciate your time and feedback.

 

[Jake0030]

Hi Christine, I'm a 42 year old male who has been experiencing tinnitus for only a few months. I have an appointment set up to see my doctor because I haven't had a diagnosis yet. Just curious, does the sound you hear match your pulse exactly? Because what I am hearing does not seem to match at all my pulse. I've tried putting my hand on my heart and checking my pulse at the carotid artery and what I hear does not match my heart beat.

 

[Christine32114]

Hi jake0030!

Mine is in sync with my heartbeat.

 

[Jake0030]

Hi and Thanks. Looking forward to my doctor's visit.

 

[Starthrower]

I'm just wondering if I'm not seeing the right doctor. Do I need to see a Vascular Doctor or Heart Doctor?

I found this article to be rather informative Christine. You may want to make an appointment with the two specialists you mentioned above.

You have had a lot of tests so far but maybe the specialist needs to pay attention to the different little veins that are close to the ear. Sometimes they will get crossed or bent affecting the blood flow to the ear and that is a reason for hearing the heart beat inside your ear.


https://www.askdoctork.com/is-it-unhealthy-that-i-can-hear-my-pulse-in-my-ear-201307195158

 

[Jazzer]

In my opinion, the discussion over whether to listen to Tinnitus sounds, or not to listen, doesn't make too much sense.
As you settle down to meditate there is not the slightest doubt that you will hear it.
You can call that - hearing - or listening - it makes no difference. IMHO. x

 

[Karen]

Christine,

I'll be interested to hear what you find out if you decide to go to a neurointerventional radiologist. I've had all the tests, too. I've had PT since 2010. Mine started after taking a blood pressure drug for the first time. I've heard of others who have experienced PT after taking a drug, too. It's possible there is some connection.

Please do keep us posted on what you find out!

Best wishes,
Karen

 

[SarahLynn]

@Christine32114
Hi, female just signed up etc
Pleased to meet you.

I think my tinnitus started about four-years old it's been diagnosed since o was six.
Gone over it with doctors and audiologists since my late teens all to no avail.

Your words are encouraging to me and I would like to hear more as you get results.

Funny thing is… I was looking for piercings that could lessen the intensity, it's really bad tonight, much more than usual.

Take care

 

[Christine32114]

Hi Everyone! Today my ENT doctor sent a referral to a Neurointerventional Radiology team to get a 2nd opinion on my films. I will definitely bring up what you posted Starthrower.

Karen, I've never been on prescription medication except for maybe a antibiotic for a short period of time.

SarahLynn! If you find a piercing that helps let me know, I'll try anything!!!

Jake0030, keep us posted.

 

[attheedgeofscience]

I'm just wondering if I'm not seeing the right doctor. Do I need to see a Vascular Doctor or Heart Doctor? Has anyone else taken these test with the same outcome, no answers? If so, did you find a solution?

The Diagnostic Flowchart by TRI is essential reading for both patients and clinicians during the early stages of a diagnosis and possible intervention (see left-hand side for pulsatile tinnitus):

 

[Christine32114]

That's interesting! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Jake0030]

Hi again Christine. Saw my doc last Thursday and he diagnosed me with pulsatile tinnitus. Of the three medications I take, the blood pressure med lisinopril is the only one he suspects as a possible medication cause. From our conversation, it sounds like it is more common than people realize to suffer some form of tinnitus after taking blood pressure meds. I've been off blood pressure meds for 3 days now. When I first get up in the morning, I can't hear the sounds, but after about a half hour, I can hear it again. I want to say there has been ever so slight improvement, but I think it's just wishful thinking at this point. The tinnitus is still definitely there and my doc said if it is the blood pressure med, it will probably take a week or so to resolve. I've been monitoring my blood pressure regularly. Its high, not go to the ER high, but definitely too high.

He did roll off 3 or 4 names of other conditions he said are extremely rare, affecting maybe 1 in 10,000 that could be causing it. I should have wrote them down, but the only one I can remember is a form of Carotid Artery Aneurysm. He said all of the conditions he named off would require cat with contrast or some other advanced imaging. I'll keep everyone updated. If my pulsatile tinnitus does not resolve within a couple of weeks, he will be sending me to a specialist.

Good luck with your second opinion. Here's to hoping we all get relief sooner than later.

 

[Christine32114]

Hi Jake0030! I hope that just being off blood pressure meds helps. Pulsatile Tinnitus is not Tinnitus tho. Are you on Facebook? If so, I recommend joining the Whooshers group there are people from all over with Pulsatile Tinnitus and give great information. I went and saw Vascular Interventional Radiologist last week and he thinks he sees a fistula but there was equipment in my image a cord and button looking thing, can you believe that? So now I have to have a 2nd Angiogram done. Waiting on the insurance company to approve it.

Hoping for a cure for all!