Somatosensory Pulsatile Tinnitus After a Day of Flu-Like Symptoms

[Stu K.]

Hi folks... I see I'm not alone. All you unfortunate folks with the same problem.

I developed somatosensory pulsatile tinnitus in both ears on 11/2020 after a day of flu-like symptoms.

My tinnitus screams when I yawn, put my jaw forward (but not side to side), turn my head to the right (but not to the left). It improves when I bite down and gets louder when I relax my jaw. I can quiet it by 80% if I press my skull hard under both ears. It even fluctuates while I'm walking.

IT IS TERRIBLE and relentless. The only way to quiet it would be to end it all. It's much worse when the barometer drops and when it's raining. Loud noises are painful. I have to plug my ears when I flush the industrial toilets we have at work (99dB).

It has ruined me. I've been to ENT 3 times... useless. I've tried acupuncture... useless.

I'm now on Lexapro for the terrible depression this has caused as well as Amitriptyline at night so I can sleep.

 

[AliasM]

My tinnitus started December 2020. Late January 2021 my good ear (left) became my bad ear. It became pulsatile and highly somatic. The volume in my left ear revs to 10/10 when I turn my head either way to look at something, scrunch up my eyes, yawn, chew, dry my face with a towel, walk, or press on my scalp. Nothing reduces the volume. If I get up out of a chair or bed, my ear goes crazy with the increase in heart rate.

My T was bad, loud and intrusive to start with, but when it became somatic and pulsatile, this is next level bad.

Terrible and relentless is a good way of describing it. Like you I also have hyperacusis. I can't even flush my own toilet. I also take Amitriptyline for sleep, 10mg.

I have no advice or suggestions. I'm lost too. I gave up on my regular doctor because she is beyond clueless. Her suggestion for tinnitus was to listen to loud music through headphones to drown it out. I saw a new doctor 2 days ago and he laughed at me, then told me 'a lot of people commit suicide over that you know' after I told him I had suicidal ideation most of every single day.

How is the Lexapro going for you? I have never suffered depression in all my 42 years before this started. I don't trust doctors though to know what medications will and will not aggravate my symptoms.

We're on our own and only have each other.

 

[Stu K.]

I feel your pain. Thank you so much for sharing!

Best wishes for you,
Stu

 

[AliasM]

Have you had all your scans to rule certain ailments out?

From my reading, I believe somatosensory pulsatile tinnitus is unlike regular pulsatile tinnitus in that it is not a vascular issue. Still worth ruling it out. My somatic pulsatile tinnitus is just my regular tinnitus that pulses quite forcefully. Every day my tinnitus differs e.g pure tone sirens, hissing, chirping etc.

The tinnitus and pulsing is also all over my brain. Is your this way too?

 

[Lilah]

It became pulsatile and highly somatic. The volume in my left ear revs to 10/10 when I turn my head either way to look at something, scrunch up my eyes, yawn, chew, dry my face with a towel, walk, or press on my scalp. Nothing reduces the volume. If I get up out of a chair or bed, my ear goes crazy with the increase in heart rate.

My tinnitus screams when I yawn, put my jaw forward (but not side to side), turn my head to the right (but not to the left).

My tinnitus is high frequency and also worsens with these types of movements, sometimes it is more pulsatile than other times. I used to have a variety of sounds but now not so much. Looking back, I now realize I had somatic tinnitus way before I realized I had tinnitus. My ears would ring slightly whenever I yawned or sneezed.

I believe somatosensory pulsatile tinnitus is unlike regular pulsatile tinnitus in that it is not a vascular issue.

I am still not exactly sure what is somatosensory pulsatile tinnitus, but it is possible I have this, in addition to regular tinnitus. My tinnitus can also be noise induced - I know this for certain as I have opened strawberry plastic containers and the loud pop sound immediately created a new tone which later blended in/went away. I also have mild hyperacusis in the form of burning sensation when exposed to noise. I have done all the tests (MRIs, MRAs, carotid ultrasound) but nothing was found.

 

[Stu K.]

Good to hear from both of you! Since my tinnitus is in both ears it is doubtful that there's a tumor involved. If I have a brain tumor, it's the end of me anyway and a scan wouldn't be much help. The pulse of our tinnitus is similar to the throb of your finger after you smash it. The nerves of the skin of the face and muscles of chewing are hypersensitive for some reason and register the pulse of surrounding arteries.
My tinnitus sounds are always changing; a baseline hiss with superimposed very high frequency sounds like running an old radio looking for a station.

 

[Stu K.]

How is the Lexapro going for you? I have never suffered depression in all my 42 years before this started. I don't trust doctors though to know what medications will and will not aggravate my symptoms.

The Lexapro has been a life savior. I don't go to that dark place, literally curled up in a fetal position and crying.

 

[AliasM]

The Lexapro has been a life savior. I don't go to that dark place, literally curled up in a fetal position and crying.

That is good to hear.