OK, Pulsatile Tinnitus, What Next?

[Jake0030]

So my avatar is a speaker because my pulsatile tinnitus sounds just like bass coming from a rude neighbor's subwoofer half a mile away. I also feel it just like you would feel bass. I have an appointment set with my doctor to try to rule out anything wrong pathology wise, because it is distinctly coming only from my left ear.

Stress and upping my pain medication are the only things I can think of as a cause because I have perfect hearing. Never been to a rock concert, never suffered prolonged loud noise. It's a mystery.

Would love to hear from anyone else who is experiencing similar sounds/sensations from their tinnitus. Do you know what caused it and have you had any luck in finding a way to resolve it?

The only solace I have is that I do know now it's coming from me. I actually drove around the country side where I live, which is quite rural, trying to find the source of bass. After a few experiments, I confirmed that the noise is being generated either by my brain or some kind of damage to my left ear. At least I don't have to roam the neighborhood like a mad man anymore. And it's absolutely ok for anyone to laugh at that, because I certainly am.

Hope we all find relief sooner than later.

 

[astaff14]

Hey, hope you can find some relief. Along with regular old ringing tinnitus & hyperacusis i now seem to have the pulsatile t coming from the left ear as well. does it get worse for you in any certain situations? do you hear it constantly throughout the day?

 

[Karen]

Hi, @Jake0030,

I've had pulsatile tinnitus for almost 8 years now. When mine first started, I also experienced feeling it throughout my body, not just in the ear. Mine started after taking a blood pressure drug, so I believe it is possible that yours could have been caused by your increased pain medication.

Before the pulsating started, I already had regular tinnitus in my right ear. After taking the blood pressure drug, my regular tinnitus worsened, and the pulsating began.

Today, I still have both the pulsating and the ringing, but it has gotten more bearable now. I no longer feel it throughout my body; I only feel it in my right ear, and it is worse when things are quiet. I've learned how to sleep (most of the time) with the pulsating going on. I try to sleep on the opposite ear, so that I don't notice it as much.

Recently, I experienced a sort of bass drum pulsating in my other ear, and it sounded a lot like what you described (like hearing a distant drum). However, it was not in sync with my pulse, and it soon went away. I believe that could have been tensor tympani syndrome, which is a vibration, not truly pulsating.

I'm glad you're going to see a doctor, just to rule out any physical problems.

I hope you'll update us on what your doctor has to say.

Take care, and keep us posted!

Best wishes,
Karen

 

[BB_in_KS]

Hello Jake,
I'm 8 weeks or so into T. My pulsing started after having tubes put in my ears, to address eustachian tube dysfunction.

I hear two different sounds now depending on the angle I'm holding my enormous head. The first is exactly the bass "bump" you hear. It's not as bad as many here have though. The other is a whooshing sound, sort of like I can hear blood being dispersed out in the vessels. It's really amazing hear and softer than the bass sound.

Mine may improve when my tubes come out, or not. That's kind of the unknown right now. The thing that I have struggled the most with sleep. That's getting better though.

They will probably want to do a CT scan or something like that on you, to rule out bigger issues. I wish you the best of luck with all of it!

Brent

 

[Jake0030]

Astaff14: Full disclosure: I've been on blood pressure medicine, lisinipril for over 3 years with no ill effects. I've been on a benzo called clorazipate dipotassium for over two years for anxiety and to treat chronic insomnia (non 24 hour). I've been on opioid pain killers on and off for the past decade, but my dosage going back 3 months has been higher and more regular. What I am hearing started before I upped my pain medication, but has become worse as of late and honestly I believe it is due to stress. Also, if I play white noise (youtube video of beach waves) or watch a movie or listen to anything else at normal volume, I can't hear it at all. The quieter my environment, the worse it gets. It came and went starting just over a few months ago, but has been ever present for the last month.

So, Taking a blood pressure med, a benzo and Hydrocodone at the same time, all of which I have been taking for a while with no ill effects.

Karen: I have had what is described as normal ringing in my ears for years. Apparently, as we age, we all have a ringing that our brains tune out. Every once in while I will experience this. I imagine there is an old style volume knob next to my ear. I literally hold my hand up to my ear and mime the physical action of turning it down and the ringing goes away. I have never and still do not ever experience constant ringing that lasts for more than 30 seconds tops.

I have no problems sleeping because of the benzo I take. Will definitely check out tensor tympani syndrome. Thanks. Doctor's appointment in two days. I 'll let you know how that goes. Second rotator cuff surgery, Tenodesis being done in one week(major source of my anxiety and stress).

BB_in_KS: Fuller Disclosure: I was a mouth breather until age 18 when I had corrective surgery to remove polyps from my nasal cavities. Now I have virtually no sense of smell, but can breathe probably about 3/4 as well as normal people do though my nose which in my opinion was worth it, because imagine what food tastes like when you have a cold. That's how food has always and still does taste to me. Before surgery, I could swim down 14 feet in a pool head first and feel no difference in pressure whatsoever, after surgery, it hurt really bad to swim that deep. I had an ear infection (same ear) with a swooshing sound about 7 years ago. Doctor said he could actually see liquid behind my ear using a regular optical scope stuck in my ear. Gave me an antibiotic and put me on steady regimen of decongestant and antihistamine. Swooshing sound went away.

Thank You for your responses. I will keep you updated.

 

[Jake0030]

Back from doctor with clear diagnosis of pulsitile tinnitus. In his experience the most likely of three medications I have been taking as a possible cause and the only one he is concerned with is the blood pressure medicine Lisinopril. He is taking me off the blood pressure med for a week or two. If the pulsitile tinnitus does not resolve, I will be sent to a specialist for advanced imaging. He rolled off 3 or 4 other extremely rare medical conditions (should have wrote them down) that require contrast scan or something else to confirm.