Vibrating Pulsing in Right Ear

[Tanya2]

Hello, everybody. I´m new here. I have been experiencing pulsatile tinnitus since May this year.

I have two types of T, but the more bothersome is pulsating, which I feel like something is moving inside my ear to the rhythm of heartbeat - I think it may be the sound of my artery which is going through the ear - is it possible if it is also vibrating?

The second sound is like sea shell, I hear it when I move my neck to the both sides and also when I duck down (sorry for my English if it is not good described). Strange thing is that in the night it goes away - pulsating (another sound I don´t know).

For some seconds or few minutes when I wake up I don´t hear it, but when I start to move it comes back quickly. I had MRI of the brain, but it showed nothing, ENT said that my ears are healthy - audiometry and also tympanometry are ok.

Another thing that I strongly feel is something like my blood is rushing too fast to my head when for example duck down.

I had a sonography of the neck, this showed more turbulent blood flow, but it is according to the doctor normal - I´m 32 years old. I´m very scared, I don´t know what it could be. I feel there is some reason in my body.

Has anyone any idea for me? Thank you very much.

 

[Riya]

Hi @Tanya2

Welcome to the forum. I have a similar condition as yours. I have regular tonal sound in left ear and PT in my right. I have been to ENTs and audiologists and got different tests done. Nothing abnormal. I do have a Hashimoto thyroiditis and I take tabs for them. The days I forget the tabs the pulses which sound like my carotid artery are rapid and some days are bad...feels like a fan motor rotating in my ear. Few things I have started Magnesium supplements 600 mg is what my ENT prescribed, and it helped reduce the fan rotor like symptoms. But the pulses are still there so, then I mask the pulses with a table fan and I cannot feel it anymore. Recently I have started masking aids but I don't know still if it helps! So good luck and please don't panic but try to understand and manage them.

 

[Tanya2]

Hello, Riya.

Thank you very much for your response. I have been thinking about my thyroid examination, I´m going to see my doctor next week and ask him for the test. I come from Slovakia, one specialised workplace for tinnitus takes people after the year of struggling with their symptoms - I don´t want to wait a year... It is so bad for me, sometimes at night I cannot sleep, have heart palpitations from that irritating and always working "something" in my ear -maybe it is also from anxiety. Even in our language I could not find the term "pusatile tinnitus". Everything I know about it is from english websites. I hope I will find some peace as you did. All the best to you. I will write about my test results...

 

[Karen]

Hi, @Tanya2

I too have pulsatile and regular tinnitus, both of which are in my right ear. I've had the pulsatile tinnitus for 7 years now; it started after taking a blood pressure drug for the first time. Before that, I had mild regular tinnitus in my right ear, but it was not bothersome.

I've had an MRI/MRA, CT scan, and Doppler of the carotid arteries, but nothing was found. It could be that some change in your body triggered your pulsating, as mine was by the drug. I should mention that I also have an underactive thyroid, and am on medication for it. The ears could be sensitive as a result of this condition, setting the stage for the pulsating to begin.

Have you experienced any changes in your health recently? Lost or gained weight? Had a baby? Started any new drugs? Any of these changes could trigger the pulsating to begin.

I'll be interested to hear what your test results are.

Best wishes, and let's hope for finding some peace soon!
Karen

 

[Tanya2]

Hello, Karen.

Thank you for your kind answer. One of the main reasons that I´ve subscribed to this site are your answers to many tinnitus sufferers. In my case is it due to MRI neurovascular conflict with AICA and VII. and VIII. nerve. I had a control MRI which showed this... I have also some feelings of pain in my ear, so I went to ENT again. He told me that it is also due to this conflict. This is the most frustrating, because with noises I would live quiet good, but with pain is it worse. He also told me that Tebokan - prescribed by neurologist will not help me, because it can not affect it. I was thinking about hyperbaric chamber, but now I´m demotivated, because it is also only on oxygen base. I don´t know if it has any sense. I´m very sad now and I don´t know how can I manage this. I have depression. I will live, that´s true, but what about quality of mi life...

 

[Tanya2]

I also wanted to ask you if you did not change your drugs, maybe it would be helpful for you...

 

[Karen]

Hi, @Tanya2,

I did change my drugs. I stopped taking the blood pressure medicine, and now I don't take it any more. Instead, I take a natural supplement (Carditone) to control my blood pressure, along with exercise and diet. For me, this has worked very well. However, the pulsating remains.

I'm so sorry you're experiencing pain along with your other symptoms, and hope that you are able to find a solution. A neurovascular condition might be difficult to treat. Have you seen a neurologist or neurotologist? Perhaps they could offer some advice.

Best wishes, and please keep me posted on how you're doing.

 

[Wanttobenormal]

I am new here and I am realizing that my ear problem is more common then I thought. I have pounding and vibration in my right ear. Does it ever go away on its own?

 

[Karen]

Hi, @Wanttobenormal,

That's a good question! I do think it is possible that it can go away on its own; it just depends on the cause.

Do you have any idea what might have triggered your pounding and vibration, or did it just come "out of the blue"?

Mine started after taking a blood pressure drug; other people may have vascular or circulatory issues, and sometimes it can be caused by benign intracranial hypertension.

Did you experience any changes in your health right before yours started?