Pulsatile Tinnitus on One Side — Ideas?

[ElenDL]

Hello everybody!

Since about six weeks ago I have pulsatile tinnitus. The GP seems quite clueless, so I would like to get some tips, like to which specialist I should go?

When it started, I had a mild cold. I don't know if it is related.
I hear it in my left ear only, and I can stop it when I press the artery behind my ear (then I feel the pulse quite strongly under my finger).
The GP found out that this ear was nearly blocked by earwax; I was already sent to otorhinolaryngology to get it cleaned, first (in the office) I thought it helped, but then I realized it came back, only less often. And after a week or so it is back like it was before.

I am the low end of normal body weight, my blood pressure is more like low (between 100/70 and 120/80), and I don't have any health problems except for scoliosis, RSI from mouse clicks and shortsightedness. Accidentally (to rule out connection between scoliosis and wrist issues) I had a MRI of cervical spine in June, and they didn't find anything interesting. I also had a thyroid examination this spring and they recommended using iodine (this information was lost until yesterday, so I am going to buy some today).
Except for the iodine, I started taking ibuprofen "just in case it has something to do with inflammation".

Any more ideas what I can do or what should I ask for (it is an insurance thing, I have to go to a GP first before going to a specialist, so I don't want to waste my next appointment)? Thank you for any ideas or experiences!

 

[ElenDL]

Soooo I found out that other people can feel difference (with a fingertip, no special technology) between the left and right "behind the ear artery".

Ideas where to turn next? (which specialist)

 

[GJSCAR]

Hello ElenDl. Start with an ENT (ear, noise and throat) specialist. They will order tests (hearing) and images (MRA, CTA and possibly a Cerebral Angiogram) to rule out any vascular or other vessel or artery issues. Stay patient and rerun to this forum because everyone here with PT knows what you are going through. There's some real good info here however remember each one of us has our own experiences. Good luck.

 

[ElenDL]

Thank you!

Yes, I think I will need a new papers for otorhinolaryngology (I thought the cleaning helped, because I got up and sat down and didn't hear any pulse, which was not the case before, so I just told them it is OK and it returned like one hour later).

I don't hear it often though... but I hear it every time when I lie down, so I'm wondering if it can be somehow related to blood pressure, even though mine is low. Alcohol or coffee doesn't make a difference though

Apart from that, cca two weeks ago I started taking everything that could be related to thyroid (selenium, vitamin C, iodide, vitamin E), simply because I am the case of "can eat everything and won't gain weight" plus I had a cyst in the area, but nothing happened so I guess I will just finish the packages.

 

[Rafaa]

Soooo I found out that other people can feel difference (with a fingertip, no special technology) between the left and right "behind the ear artery".

Ideas where to turn next? (which specialist)

What do you mean by feel the difference between the left and right? I just touch my neck and the pulsing stops!

Also interested in your thyroid theory, what relation has it with PT ?

 

[ElenDL]

What do you mean by feel the difference between the left and right?

I mean lightly touching the artery, like when measuring pulse or checking if someone is alive - on the right side, the pulse can be felt (I am alive, yay!), on the left it is "stronger", maybe "turbulent" would be the right word to describe it

Thyroid theory I just found randomly on the internet, no special knowledge behind "some people are talking about it, a doctor suspected a thyroid issue for different reasons, and the vitamins are pretty safe so why not".

 

[Rafaa]

I mean lightly touching the artery, like when measuring pulse or checking if someone is alive - on the right side, the pulse can be felt (I am alive, yay!), on the left it is "stronger", maybe "turbulent" would be the right word to describe it

Thyroid theory I just found randomly on the internet, no special knowledge behind "some people are talking about it, a doctor suspected a thyroid issue for different reasons, and the vitamins are pretty safe so why not".

I believe it's normal that one side has a larger artery, just had that diagnosis on a CT scan. However hasn't been explained to me yet, maybe somewhere knows more.

About the thyroid I was wondering what correlation it has with hearing the blood flow in your ear. Not sure if they think an enlarged thyroid interrupts the artery.