Pulsatile tinnitus

Posted by beatricefay @beatricefay, Jun 2, 2018

Started getting heart beat sounds in right ear only. Got an MRA to check the arteries (no results yet). Strangely the sounds start in the evening and continue when I go to bed. I have no idea why it's quiet during the day. Has anyone else had this experience. If my arteries are okay in my brain then I have to look for other causes. Any ideas. I checked medication side effects but that doesn't seem to be the cause. One night I exercised in the evening and I had no sounds, but that didn't work yesterday. I'm perplexed.

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@kittyrushing

I hear heart beats in both ears and have been to a cardiologist and an otolaryngologist. Have you had a test to determine if a blood vessel in your brain is the culprit? How do you know if you need to have it?

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@kittyrushing i had a head mri which showed some kind of issue with a vein in the outside covering of my brain close to my right ear. At this point the ENT referred me to a neurosurgeon. He automatically recommended a cerebral angiogram to see the cause of the pulsatile tinnitus. Diagnosed with a dural av fistula. Getting ready to go have another angiogram to make sure nothing has changed.

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@beatricefay

Thanks for your reply. I was feeling very alone with this problem. It's interesting that you have a diagnosis. I'll have to look into it for myself. Is there any treatment?

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Hi
I have had pilsatile tinnitus for almost a year in my right ear. Been to PCP and ENT and both have no clue why this suddenly started. I had facial shingles two months later on the same side as the tinnitus but no one can give me a definitive answer as to if that was the cause. Trying to get into a neurosurgeon. You are not alone but I wish none of us had to suffer this terribly exacerbating condition. Good luck in your pursuit of a cure and let us know if you make any headway.

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I have had a small, constant ringing in my ears for the last two years. It started about the same time as a I had a huge subarachnoid cyst that needed surgery. Is there any possibility these two conditions may be connected; i.e. the tinnitus might be the ongoing result of the damage caused by the cyst. This cyst also led to the development of Transient Epileptic Amnesia, although the cyst problem itself is gone.

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I have similar occurrences with pulse in the ear in the evenings and even more so at bed time.PCP has no idea what is causing this so am seeing a vascular surgeon next week.Did you ever get relief?

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@sarniaalward

I have similar occurrences with pulse in the ear in the evenings and even more so at bed time.PCP has no idea what is causing this so am seeing a vascular surgeon next week.Did you ever get relief?

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Hi I have that happened to me also in the evenings and it almost hurt and the jumping in the air so when you go to the vascular surgeon would you let me know what he tells you thank you so much

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Posted by Kitty Rushing. It has been six months since I last posted about my pulsatile tinnitus and nothing has changed. I still have it and my heart beat pounds in my head 24 hours a day. I have now had an mra and another kind of scan. I have received the same advice from my internist, cardiologist, and two otolaryngologists: “So sorry. You will just have to accept it.” It began 2/3 years ago with a swooshing sound when I quit taking a daily .81 aspirin after 30 years. It soon became a Heartbeat. On a doctor’s advice, I have been back on the aspirin for a year or two but the pounding continues, especially at night. I also was prescribed Losartan and Metoprolol for high blood pressure although I did not have high blood pressure but the pounding does seem to be a little slower. I am sure that every cause for this condition is different but Thanks for letting me vent.

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@kittyrushing

Posted by Kitty Rushing. It has been six months since I last posted about my pulsatile tinnitus and nothing has changed. I still have it and my heart beat pounds in my head 24 hours a day. I have now had an mra and another kind of scan. I have received the same advice from my internist, cardiologist, and two otolaryngologists: “So sorry. You will just have to accept it.” It began 2/3 years ago with a swooshing sound when I quit taking a daily .81 aspirin after 30 years. It soon became a Heartbeat. On a doctor’s advice, I have been back on the aspirin for a year or two but the pounding continues, especially at night. I also was prescribed Losartan and Metoprolol for high blood pressure although I did not have high blood pressure but the pounding does seem to be a little slower. I am sure that every cause for this condition is different but Thanks for letting me vent.

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I completely sympathize with you. I have had the thumping/whoosh sound for years with no relief. It comes and goes, sometimes several times a day or night. I try very hard to ignore it which isn't an easy thing to do. No doctor has been able to offer any way to relieve it and I've heard many different theories about the cause. My theory: no one knows why it happens. Mine does not coincide with my heart beat, I thought it did but aft careful testing, it clearly does not.
If you ever find a solution please come to this board and I will do the same. In the meantime I am wishing you relief.

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@kittyrushing

Posted by Kitty Rushing. It has been six months since I last posted about my pulsatile tinnitus and nothing has changed. I still have it and my heart beat pounds in my head 24 hours a day. I have now had an mra and another kind of scan. I have received the same advice from my internist, cardiologist, and two otolaryngologists: “So sorry. You will just have to accept it.” It began 2/3 years ago with a swooshing sound when I quit taking a daily .81 aspirin after 30 years. It soon became a Heartbeat. On a doctor’s advice, I have been back on the aspirin for a year or two but the pounding continues, especially at night. I also was prescribed Losartan and Metoprolol for high blood pressure although I did not have high blood pressure but the pounding does seem to be a little slower. I am sure that every cause for this condition is different but Thanks for letting me vent.

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Mine is gone. Go see a vascular surgeon. You may have an AV DURAL FISTULA. It can be repaired!!

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Hello @sarniaalward, @mamachama, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.
@sarniaalward, how did you doctor's appointment go? Would you mind sharing what you learned about your pulsatile tinnitus?
@mamachama, what were your symptoms? Were they like what other members' have described, or more? What treatment option did the vascular surgeon suggest for your dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF)?

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@kittyrushing

Posted by Kitty Rushing. It has been six months since I last posted about my pulsatile tinnitus and nothing has changed. I still have it and my heart beat pounds in my head 24 hours a day. I have now had an mra and another kind of scan. I have received the same advice from my internist, cardiologist, and two otolaryngologists: “So sorry. You will just have to accept it.” It began 2/3 years ago with a swooshing sound when I quit taking a daily .81 aspirin after 30 years. It soon became a Heartbeat. On a doctor’s advice, I have been back on the aspirin for a year or two but the pounding continues, especially at night. I also was prescribed Losartan and Metoprolol for high blood pressure although I did not have high blood pressure but the pounding does seem to be a little slower. I am sure that every cause for this condition is different but Thanks for letting me vent.

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I’ve had pulsatile tinnitus for 10 years. Use http://www.whooshers.com for up-to-date medical info. and support.
There are a few MDs who are very knowledgeable about p.t. and you can find them using that site.
There’s a Facebook group, but I don’t use Facebook, so don’t know much about it. Most of us have found ways to deal with it, including me. Start with the Whooshers site. Hope this helped! Lisa

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