Recently Developed Pulsatile Tinnitus

[kaylarose43]

Hello, my name is Kayla and I developed pulsating tinnitus a little over a week ago. it developed suddenly in my right ear while laying in bed one night.

I realized that by pressing on my carotid artery or by turning my head in a certain direction, I could make the noise stop.

I immediately went to the ER to get a scan because my mother and brother have venous abnormalities.

Mom had a brain aneurysm and hydrocephalus and brother had an arterial venous malformation. My cat scan came back clear.

I then went to the ENT and my hearing was normal and so was the pressure test on my ear drum. I had an ultrasound on my carotid artery and I am still waiting on the results. I also have a MRI being scheduled.

I am terrified of finding out I have something life threatening. I know it has only been a week and a half, but my family history taught me to never ignore signs of an aneurysm.

Does anyone have any advice on how to ease my anxiety while waiting on answers? I am barely able to sleep because the noise.

 

[GregCA]

For anxiety you can try breathing/relaxation exercises, as well as CBT, and if you need chemical help you may want to talk to your doc about anti-anxiety meds.
You're probably better off if you can manage your anxiety without meds though.

 

[Karen]

Hi, @kaylarose43,

For most of us with pulsatile tinnitus, the causes can vary, and most of them are not dangerous. The odds that you may have a condition such as a brain aneurism are pretty low. I'm glad you're going for the MRI, and hopefully it will ease your mind. Please do let us know what the results are when you receive them.

I know how hard it is to sleep with pulsatile tinnitus. Do you have it in one or both ears? If you have it on the right side, try sleeping on the opposite side, and you won't notice it as much.

As GregCA suggests, you could consider asking your doctor for an anti-anxiety drug, which you can take for a short period of time. It's possible that your pulsating could settle down over time, as mine has. I still have pulsatile tinnitus in my right ear, but it is not as bothersome as it was in the beginning. I had a lot of tests, but no conclusive cause was found, so I have been living with it. It took me several months, but the pulsating finally did stabilize to a calmer, more steady level.

I hope you are able to get some sleep, and that your doctors can help you identify a cause. In the meantime, please try calming supplements or pills, distraction (keeping your mind active, but focusing on things outside of your tinnitus), and even CBT (cognitive behavior therapy).

Good luck, and please keep us posted on how you're doing.

Best wishes,
Karen

 

[Dizzy 64]

I have pulsatile tinnitus and have found putting a audible ticking clock in my bed room has helped me to sleep.
Whereas before I had tinnitus I wouldn't of been able to sleep. Hope this helps.

Also I've got Eustachian Tube Dysfunction in my other ear have had it for 10 days and have been given Beconase which doesn't seem to be doing anything and very painful. Any suggestion's please?.

 

[kaylarose43]

I am going in tomorrow to get a CTA and will be meeting with my ENT on Friday. I will update with results. My carotid Doppler came back looking fine. Thank you for all the support. I will try sleeping in different positions. I noticed if I turn on a white noise machine or my fan then I can almost ignore the noise.

Oh and it is only in my right ear.

 

[kaylarose43]

Update: I have a vascular loop near my Eustachian tube. I don't know what this means or what can be done about it. I'm scared to death so If anyone knows anything about this please let me know.

 

[Scared111]

Update: I have a vascular loop near my Eustachian tube. I don't know what this means or what can be done about it. I'm scared to death so If anyone knows anything about this please let me know.

I think it just means you got a blood vessel loop around the area. Can they do anything about it?

 

[AuntSally]

Hello @kaylarose43 I have pulsatile tinnitus. I had an mri scan and the ent specialist ruled everything out but noted I had a couple of vascular loops, but they were unlikely to be if any significance. I wonder if that is why I have pulsatile tinnitus. I think I might go back and see if this question can be answered. I have had pulsatile tinnitus 9 months now. It started in one ear but now I have it in both.

 

[Scared111]

Hello @kaylarose43 I have pulsatile tinnitus. I had an mri scan and the ent specialist ruled everything out but noted I had a couple of vascular loops, but they were unlikely to be if any significance. I wonder if that is why I have pulsatile tinnitus. I think I might go back and see if this question can be answered. I have had pulsatile tinnitus 9 months now. It started in one ear but now I have it in both.

The loop is on both sides? that's kind of rare. it sounds more systematic if it's on both sides. are u hearing a whosh whosh... or is it higher pitch? have u check thyroid, iron etc levels.... has the symptoms calm down a bit ?

 

[AuntSally]

@Scared111 yes both sides. its different on each side. the right is louder and wooshes 24/7 more often like a pulsating hiss. the left is higher pitched, kind of like cymbals or sleigh bells, not so loud usually, and more intermittent. I have had blood pressure checked. it's normal. I have had thyroid checked three times over the last nine months. normal. I'm not aenemic either. I've had no answers. thinking about following things up again. Both ears dont feel right either. they pop and crack loudly when I swallow like they never did before.

 

[Scared111]

@Scared111 yes both sides. its different on each side. the right is louder and wooshes 24/7 more often like a pulsating hiss. the left is higher pitched, kind of like cymbals or sleigh bells, not so loud usually, and more intermittent. I have had blood pressure checked. it's normal. I have had thyroid checked three times over the last nine months. normal. I'm not aenemic either. I've had no answers. thinking about following things up again. Both ears dont feel right either. they pop and crack loudly when I swallow like they never did before.

yes i remember you getting the pusaltile tinnitus around the same time I did. I still have no answers after so many different doc visits. How have you been dealing with it? It really sucks!
does squeezing your blood vessels in your neck area make any differences to the sound? or pressing on them?

 

[kaylarose43]

I also have vascular loops on both sides. One is constricting a nerve. I was diagnosed as having empty sella syndrome which means I have intracranial hypertension. My blood pressure in the rest of my body is low. Both of these things can cause pulsatile tinnitus. I would ask if there is any way one is pressing on a nerve. There is a procedure to fix the pulsatile tinnitus, but it is a delicate procedure that a lot of doctors are not recommending. It's called a vascular decompression. If at all possible, I would try to find a second person to look at your scans. If the pituitary gland is squished, then sometimes intracranial hypertension is missed. Now I noticed you said MRI scan. Have you also had an MRA or CTA?

 

[Scared111]

I also have vascular loops on both sides. One is constricting a nerve. I was diagnosed as having empty sella syndrome which means I have intracranial hypertension. My blood pressure in the rest of my body is low. Both of these things can cause pulsatile tinnitus. I would ask if there is any way one is pressing on a nerve. There is a procedure to fix the pulsatile tinnitus, but it is a delicate procedure that a lot of doctors are not recommending. It's called a vascular decompression. If at all possible, I would try to find a second person to look at your scans. If the pituitary gland is squished, then sometimes intracranial hypertension is missed. Now I noticed you said MRI scan. Have you also had an MRA or CTA?

I thought they can relieve intracranial pressure with a shunt? so, are u going to do anything about the tinnitus? or just live with it..the vascular decompression does sound too serious of a risk though.. you are so young but it doesn't sound like it bothers you that much?

 

[kaylarose43]

My mom has a VP shunt and it has failed multiple times, but she had hydrocephalus. I'm trying to lose weight and if that doesn't work there is a medication to decrease spinal fluid. I would choose a procedure to open a ventricle before I have a shunt. The pulse isn't so bad now that I've gotten used to it. The only time it's terrible is at night and It makes sleeping difficult. it helps knowing I'm not alone dealing with PT.

 

[Scared111]

How loud is it? is it whoosh whoosh sound? or something else? wow, you got used to it fast. I find it hard to get used to. I agree night time is the worst. Hopefully, reducing the fluid helps. Keep us updated.

 

[kaylarose43]

It sounds exactly like an ultrasound heart beat of an infant in the womb. I keep a white noise machine on constantly and I always distract myself. I never lay down at night unless my white noise machine and fan on right next to my head. I hope you find something that works for you. Have you find the cause for yours?

 

[Scared111]

mine is weird. it sounds like a ultrasound kind of like yours but only when i bent down. when i lay down or turn my head side to side it sounds more like some kind of ringing heartbeat. and if my head is straight, it's not very audible. No cause was found . I am guessing it's some kind of brain auditory malfunctioning maybe? if i squeeze my neck are i can make the sound vibrate in my ear. It's a very strange phenomenal . i havent really heard of something like this from the forum. i had all sorts of tests done but nothing so i gave up.

 

[kaylarose43]

that is odd. I'm sorry you're going through this. It's been my experience that doctors know next to nothing about pulsatile tinnitus. Hopefully someday this changes. It can be so debilitating. I was told to try magnesium and NAC supplements to help with the woosh noise.

 

[glynis]

Some people cope better with pulsatile tinnitus with a mild betablocker and hearing aids...I would have a chat to your doctor...lots of love glynis

 

[Bidyut saha]

I hv PT in my left ear. When I stand or walk I can't listen this heartbeat tone. always when I sit down on the floor to pray or do yoga and laying on the bed I notice it. I said very much times to my GP abt this problem but always his answer was " may be d coz u r dipressed "

 

[volsung37]

Once you get over the panic you'll be OK. We never know how strong we can be until we have no choice in the matter.

 

[kaylarose43]

I started taking sumatriptan for my migraines and 30 minutes after taking it, the wooshing stopped. Now I can turn my head and everything and still no whooshing! I wish it would last but I'm sure once the medicine wears off it'll come back.

 

[GregCA]

I started taking sumatriptan for my migraines and 30 minutes after taking it, the wooshing stopped. Now I can turn my head and everything and still no whooshing! I wish it would last but I'm sure once the medicine wears off it'll come back.

That's great news though, even if it comes back after the meds wear off. It means that you have a lead about how to make it stop, and if taking the meds forever isn't an option, you at least can understand the mechanism behind resolving your T so you can potentially devise an alternative mechanism.

 

[Scared111]

that's great. at least it can be stopped.

 

[RawrrMarisa]

I have PT as well.

Thank you for this post, next time I go to my doctor I want to mention these things and see if I can get it figured out. It's slowly driving me inside

 

[kaylarose43]

I have PT as well.

Thank you for this post, next time I go to my doctor I want to mention these things and see if I can get it figured out. It's slowly driving me inside

Trust me, I know it's hard. I started out seeing a doctor and getting Flonase which didn't help at all but eventually I found someone who listened. I'd research as much as you can and go in understanding that many doctors do not even know what Pulsating tinnitus is. I wish you luck in your journey. If you get a diagnosis, please come back and share. I think it helps people to see that they may not have to hear the pulse forever. If there is anything I can help you with, please let me know.

 

[EatMoTacos]

I've had my PT for over 7 years now. Mine started while I played flag football one cold morning. Intresting enough I can stop it when I move my head opposite of the ear I have it and if i press behind my ear it goes away then sloooowly comes back. But I can definitely make it go away. I'm wondering if mine is somewhat like yours?

 

[Riya]

Hi @kaylarose43

I too have pulsatile T which increases when I press my carotid artery. In my other ear I have regular high pitched tone T which doesn't bother me. But, PT is like a thumping noise or gets very rapid in the evenings like a fan motor with ribbons on them...so difficult to avoid and carry on! also when I wake up in th morning it is comepelety quite and starts slowly through the day... none of my ENTs are able to help me reduce the PT.. has Your MRI revealed anything? Also did u do an MRV? Any help?

 

[Purva]

I also have vascular loops on both sides. One is constricting a nerve. I was diagnosed as having empty sella syndrome which means I have intracranial hypertension. My blood pressure in the rest of my body is low. Both of these things can cause pulsatile tinnitus. I would ask if there is any way one is pressing on a nerve. There is a procedure to fix the pulsatile tinnitus, but it is a delicate procedure that a lot of doctors are not recommending. It's called a vascular decompression. If at all possible, I would try to find a second person to look at your scans. If the pituitary gland is squished, then sometimes intracranial hypertension is missed. Now I noticed you said MRI scan. Have you also had an MRA or CTA?

Hi

is your tinnitus from vascular loop only? Or what else is causing it? Did you take any neurologist opinion about vascular loop?