Recently Started Hearing Pulsing and Squeaking Noise

[stopthebeat]

I noticed it for the first time on the morning of Nov 2nd 2017. I woke up and at first I thought I heard the sound of breathing. I googled the symptoms and came across pulsatile tinnitus. I saw my GP who said my right ear (the one I heard the noise on initially) was redder than my left and prescribed me a 10 day does of amoxicillin 875mg twice a day. I didn't have any ear pain, fever or usual symptoms of an ear infection but I am taking it. I am about half way through the dose and I cannot say it's any better, I have however noticed that I can faintly hear the noise on my left side. When I was at the appointment my Dr listened to my jugular and did not hear anything but his exam room is not quiet.

The noise I hear changes from a whooshing to a squealing or squawking sound, it's very annoying especially at night, and the volume and sound changes pretty constantly. I am hoping that it just goes away but it sounds like that is pretty uncommon.

 

[Karen]

Hi,@stopthebeat,

I hope the amoxicillin will work for you, but if it doesn't, you might want to have it checked out further. There are tests that can be run to help determine the cause, including an ultrasound of the carotid arteries, an MRI, or a CT scan.

Please give it some time, and see if anything changes. Then, if it doesn't, you might want to try going to an ENT or possibly a specialist, such as a neurologist or neurotologist, for further consultation.

A couple of questions: Have there been any changes in your health recently? Any new medications that you're taking? Or have you recently gained or lost weight? There are many factors that might have brought on your pulsating. In my case, the pulsating started after taking a blood pressure drug for the first time.

I'll be interested to hear how you are doing after you complete the 10 days of the antibiotic.

Take care, and please keep us posted on how you're doing.

Best wishes,
Karen

 

[stopthebeat]

Hi thanks for your reply!

So today (11/21/17) is the last day of taking my prescription. The noise is still there. It sounds like foot steps in snow. I can hear it in both ears but it's quieter in my left. On Sunday (11/19/17) I was able to record the sound that I am hearing using the microphone on my iPhone. I held it to the Internal Jugular vein next to the Tragus on my right ear. It created a pretty good recording. I felt a little relieved that I was able to record it.

I also started monitoring my BP every day and noticed it's a bit high and I wonder if it may be a cause but you say yours happened after you started on a bp lowering medication.

After I made the recording I sent a message to my Dr and told him I still am hearing the noise I was able to record it and that I've noticed my BP is high and the response back from him was to keep monitoring my BP and follow up with the office if my symptoms do not improve.

I am 38 5'11" and I have lost 70 lbs over the past two years. I initially started a low carb diet September 2015 and have maintained a weight of 168-170 for at least a year. Only medicine I started taking recent was the amoxicillin my dr prescribed for what he thought was an ear infection.

About two weeks prior to the PT I had a physical with labs and my results were ok except my overall cholesterol being high at 230. But it has come down.

As a kid I was diagnosed with TMJ because I could pop my jaw out of socket. I wore a device to correct it. I mentioned it at my PT Drs visit and he checked my jaw and thought it seemed alright.

I had a choking sensation earlier in the year that I suspect was anxiety. I had a sonogram on my thyroid and they discovered a 5mm module but the ENT was not at all concerned and thought my issue was silent reflux. The sensation has improved tremendously.

I used to take a multivitamin, fish oil, b12, magnesium supplement stopped for awhile but I started taking these again after my PT symptoms started. I also added in a milk thistle (liver protection from antibiotic use) probiotic and colostrum supplement to repair the good bacteria that the amox will have killed in my gut. At night I take a melatonin to help me fall asleep.

My diet consists of protein, fruits and veg some bread but try to be mindful and not gorge and I exercise nearly every day. However, I have stopped excercisng for a few days because I'm afraid I'm going to rupture something (annuerism?) from strenuous activity. Do you think that is anything to be afraid of?

I have been reading about ways to lower my bp naturally and it said excercise is a good way to lower it. I've also been trying to eat a 3 bananas every day and I also read that the potassium from eating 3 white potatoes with the skin should give me a high dose of potassium. So, I'm going to give that a try.

Yesterday afternoon there was a period in the day where I don't think I heard the noise at all but then at night it start roaring back and also in the morning. It wakes me up and it's difficult to go back to sleep.

So you think it's ok to take a let's see approach or should I demand to get my veins checked?

Recent BP Checks

11/15/17 left 8:40am 127/84

11/19/17 left 10:43am 158/86

11/20 1:02pm left arm 155/92

11/20 6:07m 145/89

 

[stopthebeat]

I saw an ENT today. I explained my symptoms. I told him I had recordings of the noises but he didn't care to listen. He said he could not hear the noise when he put the stethoscope into my ears, but that he was hearing something in my carotid. He is going to schedule an appointment to get an ultrasound of my carotid arteries.

 

[Scared111]

I saw an ENT today. I explained my symptoms. I told him I had recordings of the noises but he didn't care to listen. He said he could not hear the noise when he put the stethoscope into my ears, but that he was hearing something in my carotid. He is going to schedule an appointment to get an ultrasound of my carotid arteries.

can you put the recording on here?

 

[stopthebeat]

Let me know if this works

Pulsatile Tinnitus Recording

 

[Scared111]

Let me know if this works

No one could hear it if they pressed their ears near yours? It sounds like car wipers. Mine sounds like ringing heartbeat. Sometimes like soldiers marching .... but I can't record it. I don't know what to say as I haven't gotten anywhere with my pt as well.
Does the noise change if you run or yawn?
THere is a lady here on tt who was able to record her sound as well and did the cerebral angiogram but no cause was found. It is a very strange phemenon as I know my sound is objective as many things influence it as running and yawning. it is a real sound but why they cannot find a reason , I don't understand that either.





Pulsatile Tinnitus Recording

 

[stopthebeat]

I was able to record it by putting the mic of my iphone to the right of my tragus on my right ear. I believe it's the carotid artery that runs there?

My wife says she is not able to hear it. I had her put a stethoscope to the same place I was able to record it.

The noise changes to a screeching noise like birds squawking, and sometimes it sounds like footsteps in snow.

I notice that when I run up a flight of stairs to my bedroom to get dressed my heart rate increases and so does the noise.

I try to do a 30 minute workout on an elliptical machine every day and excercise seems to quiet down the noise to some extent possible because my heart rate is increased even more and the blood is pumping with less turbulence.

Yawning does not seem to do any thing. If I hold my breath it quiets it down some, but once I stop it increases. If I tense my abs or try and strain it increases the noise.

The dr I sent yesterday said it is very uncommon for anyone else to be able to hear it but I was somewhat surprised he did not care to hear the recordings.

I have an appointment with a different ENT on Monday. I'm curious to see what he thinks and if he's more inclined to listen.

Here is another recording

 

[stopthebeat]

I forgot to say that I also had my 11 year old son put his ear against mine and he could not hear it.

 

[Scared111]

I can't access the second recording but it is strange how you can record it but no one can hear it.
Mine also gets louder if i strain my muscles. Can you stop the sound by pressing on a blood vessel somewhere near the ear or on the neck? If you can, it's more likely to be some sort of vascular issue.. When i squeeze the blood vessels around the neck area , it's louder but i can't stop it . I am actually not sure if it's due to the boood vessels or muscles i am squeezing. It sure is hard to sleep for me though.. how are you doing in that sense?

 

[stopthebeat]

When I try pressing on veins in my neck it sometimes seems to change the sound but I'm not sure if it's the pressing or just a coincidence because sometimes pressing doesn't do anything. I just read about tensor tympani spasm which is a muscle spasm in the ear. If this is what I have I don't know if I'd be able to record. On occasion I get eyelid twitches, it sounds like tensor tympani spasm may be similar to that but in the ear. However, the eye twitches I have had are not constant like the pulsatile Tinnitus I am experiencing. The more I read about it I am more inclined to think it's vascular and not a spasm.

Fixed link to other Recording

 

[stopthebeat]

Yeah, going to sleep is more difficult. I have been sleeping with relaxing music.

 

[stopthebeat]

Wow, this ENT I saw today was awesome. He was thrilled to hear the recordings. Completely different and amazing experience from Friday. He is going to get me scheduled for an MRI / MRA.

The ENT I saw on Friday was very dismissive and told me I've been reading too much on the internet when I asked if I need an MRI or MRA. He was supposed to get an appt to get my carotid checked but I've not gotten a call to schedule that yet. The dr I saw today said to still go through with that check though.

I felt that the dr I saw today really cared and was very thorough and reviewed what I wrote down and really listened to me and explained some inner workings of the ear. He was even willing to look at stuff I printed out from whooshers.com.

Before seeing the dr they did an incredibly in depth hearing test which I passed, yay, but it was really difficult with the PT.

 

[Scared111]

Wow, this ENT I saw today was awesome. He was thrilled to hear the recordings. Completely different and amazing experience from Friday. He is going to get me scheduled for an MRI / MRA.

The ENT I saw on Friday was very dismissive and told me I've been reading too much on the internet when I asked if I need an MRI or MRA. He was supposed to get an appt to get my carotid checked but I've not gotten a call to schedule that yet. The dr I saw today said to still go through with that check though.

I felt that the dr I saw today really cared and was very thorough and reviewed what I wrote down and really listened to me and explained some inner workings of the ear. He was even willing to look at stuff I printed out from whooshers.com.

Before seeing the dr they did an incredibly in depth hearing test which I passed, yay, but it was really difficult with the PT.

That's great! I had all those tests done but still nothing was found...

 

[stopthebeat]

That's great! I had all those tests done but still nothing was found...

That stinks. Do you regret doing any of them? I saw some posts where some said the MRI made their tinnitus worse. I have the carotid doppler today in about 2 hours.

So I guess Drs are telling you that you have to live with it? There is nothing else you can do right? That seems to be the thing I hear the most. I guess it's somewhat reassuring that they say there is nothing wrong that they can see in your noggin.

 

[Scared111]

That stinks. Do you regret doing any of them? I saw some posts where some said the MRI made their tinnitus worse. I have the carotid doppler today in about 2 hours.

So I guess Drs are telling you that you have to live with it? There is nothing else you can do right? That seems to be the thing I hear the most. I guess it's somewhat reassuring that they say there is nothing wrong that they can see in your noggin.

Honestly the docs never think it's as bad as how I feel. They cannot even begin to understand that this can be devastating. I don't know what's causing mine to get worse but very slowly it did. i got reg t in both ears after a while on top of the pt in the left. the pt hasn't changed but the t ever so slowly got more noticeable. I don't know if it ll continue to go that way or not . the volume is still below reg tv. But it doesn't seem like there's any help for it.

 

[stopthebeat]

Have you tried having any chriopractic work done? I'm willing to try anything at this point. I also read ginkgo biloba has helped some I wonder if a low dose aspirin might help also as a blood thinner to maybe help with the turbulence. I believe Ginkgo acts as a blood thinner as well. I have not tried any of these yet but I'm considering it. I forgot to ask the last ent I saw if it was ok to try.

Just finished my Doppler. It was pretty cool seeing the blood pulse through the artery. I'm no dr but it looked like smooth tubes and I could not see any obstruction, but again I'm no expert.

They said they may have it reviewed as soon as tomorrow.

 

[Scared111]

Have you tried having any chriopractic work done? I'm willing to try anything at this point. I also read ginkgo biloba has helped some I wonder if a low dose aspirin might help also as a blood thinner to maybe help with the turbulence. I believe Ginkgo acts as a blood thinner as well. I have not tried any of these yet but I'm considering it. I forgot to ask the last ent I saw if it was ok to try.

Just finished my Doppler. It was pretty cool seeing the blood pulse through the artery. I'm no dr but it looked like smooth tubes and I could not see any obstruction, but again I'm no expert.

They said they may have it reviewed as soon as tomorrow.

yes chiro, acupuncture with varies practitioners. b vitamins, ginkgo.. tried it. no difference. i had taken 3 10 mg of flexeril 1 day and 2 10 mg the next. silenced t and was barely there for the next 4 days . didn't affect the pt though.

 

[stopthebeat]

I just got a call and was told the Doppler test was normal.

 

[Karen]

@stopthebeat

I'm glad to hear that your Doppler test was normal, but sorry you don't have any answers. I've had that same test, and nothing was found for me, either. I've also had an MRI/MRA with and without contrast, as well as a CT scan. Nothing remarkable was found. None of the tests caused my tinnitus to get worse, but if you do decide to get an MRI, be sure to bring earplugs, because there is some noise involved.

Best wishes, and I hope you are well today. I have both PT and T in my right ear; I've had it about 7 1/2 years now, and it has not gotten any worse. In fact, I have become somewhat accustomed to it, and can kind of keep it under control with exercise, diet, and keeping busy.

 

[stopthebeat]

Thanks, I've been doing pretty well. Same with me as far as keeping busy it's barely noticeable, it's just when it's quiet, or if I wake up in the night it's harder to get back to sleep.

I am scheduled for tests Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week. My insurance requires I break the tests up and cannot do them all on one day. First I've got an MRA-Neck, 2nd day MRA-head and 3rd is IAC.

The first two are with iodine contrast injected into my arm. I'm a little worried about the iodine and if it will cause any reactions plus the confined space of the machine. I've never had an MRI/A before. As far as I know I'm not allergic to iodine. The drs I've talked to have said many times there isn't anything uncovered by these tests.

 

[squeakyear]

@stopthebeat,

Any update on your tests? I came across your squeak recording and your symptoms are similar to mine, your recording is identical to what I hear.

 

[stopthebeat]

I did the MRIs last week with and without contrast and I just heard from the dr a few minutes ago. He said there is a malformed blood vessel/fistula that's developed. He is pretty confident it can be fixed. He's going to get me scheduled to visit with another dr and to review the procedure and risks. He said afterwards I'll need to decide if it's something I can live with or if it's worth the risk of trying to get fixed.

 

[Scared111]

I did the MRIs last week with and without contrast and I just heard from the dr a few minutes ago. He said there is a malformed blood vessel/fistula that's developed. He is pretty confident it can be fixed. He's going to get me scheduled to visit with another dr and to review the procedure and risks. He said afterwards I'll need to decide if it's something I can live with or if it's worth the risk of trying to get fixed.

wow they found it. you hear it in both ears ? where is the malformed vessel? I think it is very rare to have pt in both ears due to vascular problem... where would the malformed vessel be to be heard in both ears? on both sides? hope it can be resolved. keep us updated.

 

[stopthebeat]

wow they found it. you hear it in both ears ? where is the malformed vessel? I think it is very rare to have pt in both ears due to vascular problem... where would the malformed vessel be to be heard in both ears? on both sides? hope it can be resolved. keep us updated.

I'm pretty sure I only hear it on my right.

Early on when I first started to hear it when I plugged both ears it was difficult to tell which side it's on but when they did the IAC the MRI tech asked me which side I hear the noise and I said my right, which is primarily where I hear it.

I'm not sure which MRI showed them what they needed to see. I did a head/neck and then IAC. They were all done with and without contrast.

Hope I get to see the scans when I visit with the next doctor.

Anyone know how risky of a procedure it is to fix a fistula. I've been reading this site http://neuroangio.org/patient-information/patient-information-brain-dural-fistula/

 

[stopthebeat]

I met with a neurosurgeon today and he diagnosed me with a Condylar vein dural fistula which he said is a rare fistula. He's pretty certain it's just the right side. We reviewed the MRIs together.

He talked with me about treatment through transvenous process using coils. He actually did this procedure to someone else within the last 8 months that had the heart beating noise and said that they were now doing well. He was going to see if they would be willing to talk to me about the procedure.

He said I could choose to live with the sound and monitor it and that it's a possibility it could resolve itself but it is also possible for it to get worse and lead to a stroke, seizure or rupture and bleeding into the brain...

I told him I would think it over a bit. My wife doesn't think it's worth the risk and would rather I monitor it but she isn't dealing with the noise.

 

[stopthebeat]

I received a second opinion. Here is a summary:

The symptoms are directly related to the arteriovenous malformation. This has probably been present for many years. It will not likely resolve on its own, it's also unlikely to rupture or cause any sudden complications.

There is no immediate urgency in treatment, however it's likely to grow and become more complex.

Recommends embolization with interventional radiology. There is a small risk of complications (1-2%). These complications could involve hearing loss, facial weakness or swallowing difficulties. Please note, however, there is at least a 98% chance of no complications.

 

[Scared111]

I received a second opinion. Here is a summary:

The symptoms are directly related to the arteriovenous malformation. This has probably been present for many years. It will not likely resolve on its own, it's also unlikely to rupture or cause any sudden complications.

There is no immediate urgency in treatment, however it's likely to grow and become more complex.

Recommends embolization with interventional radiology. There is a small risk of complications (1-2%). These complications could involve hearing loss, facial weakness or swallowing difficulties. Please note, however, there is at least a 98% chance of no complications.

Did u end up the doing the surgery?

 

[stopthebeat]

So, good news, I did not have the surgery and the whooshing went away on its own, sometime in middle or late July.

I kept having the symptoms up to May/June of this year my PT was pretty noticeable and I was contemplating the coiling procedure. Also around this time I started getting Chiropractic adjustments. I still had cold feet on an operation and I decided to continue to wait it out.

The Chriopractic adjustments didn't make it immediately go away. I don't know if the adjustments had any connections to fixing it. My Chriopractor would ask me if I still had the whooshing after a several weeks of adjustments and I would tell her I still had the whooshing so it may have taken 2 - 2.5 months of Chiropractic adjustments before I noticed it went away.

Not to say it won't come back, but I'm trying to be optimistic.