1. < Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)

Thumping/drumming in one ear

Posted by kerryf88 @kerryf88, Mar 15, 2019

It started about a week ago, I was walking my dog and suddenly I hear this rapid drumming sound in my right ear, twice, it doesn’t match my heartbeat at all, the second time it happened I covered my right ear with a finger and it’s gone. And since then I’ve been having occasional rapid thumps (3-4 thumps) in the right ear, maybe once or twice a day or sometimes none in a day, no common trigger, just happens randomly during the day. I don’t know why? When the thumping happens it feels like that ear is partially blocked like under water.

I’m currently experiencing slight dizziness due to bad postures from a few weeks ago, which leads to sore neck and shoulder, not sure if this could be related?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Support Group.

Ethan McConkey, Moderator | @ethanmcconkey | Mar 16, 2019

Hi @kerryf88 and welcome to Connect. That must be frustrating having this thumping in your ear.

i wanted to introduce you to fellow Connect members @kittyrushing @goodoldboy68 and @miscy13 as they have all mentioned ear thumping in the past and may be able to offer you support.

Back to you @kerryf88 when you cover your ear with a finger does that get rid of the thumps or do they go away on their own?

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3 replies
morninglory | @morninglory | Mar 16, 2019

Sure hope someone has some helpful information for this, I don't and have suffered with this for months on end. Mine just eventually stop but can go on for over an hour.

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kerryf88 | @kerryf88 | Mar 16, 2019
In reply to @ethanmcconkey "Hi @kerryf88 and welcome to Connect. That must be frustrating having this thumping in your ear...." + (show)
@ethanmcconkey

Hi @kerryf88 and welcome to Connect. That must be frustrating having this thumping in your ear.

i wanted to introduce you to fellow Connect members @kittyrushing @goodoldboy68 and @miscy13 as they have all mentioned ear thumping in the past and may be able to offer you support.

Back to you @kerryf88 when you cover your ear with a finger does that get rid of the thumps or do they go away on their own?

Jump to this post

It will go away when I cover my ear, and will also go away itself after a few thumps

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kittyrushing | @kittyrushing | Mar 17, 2019

My thumping never stops. Thumps all day and all night.

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scottybach | @scottybach | May 9, 2019

I have a very rapid thumping in my left ear that started in the last couple of weeks. When I cover or plug my ear it stops. It feels like pressure oscillations. It may start at any time and go on for an indetermined period of time and is constant. Not sure what to do about it.

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1 reply
jbondzich | @jbondzich | Apr 30, 2020

I have been noticing a weird thumping/pulsating sound in my right ear. If cover the ear, it stops.
Also found that when I watch tv on my cell phone (LG Stylo 2), that is when the thumping occurs (Spectrum TV app). Doesn't happen with any of my other devices, nor with PlutoTV, TubiTV, YouTube, or Netflix.
But if I turned the program off, the thumping stops. I put an emf counter by my phone and it is emiting up to 24.4 while the other devices are emitting 15 on the high end.
So I am assuming WIFI plus using the video somehow is creating a sound wave that I have described.
I just wonder, why only the right ear?? Why not both ears??

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2 replies
Juli | @julinguyen | May 1, 2020
In reply to @jbondzich "I have been noticing a weird thumping/pulsating sound in my right ear. If cover the ear,..." + (show)
@jbondzich

I have been noticing a weird thumping/pulsating sound in my right ear. If cover the ear, it stops.
Also found that when I watch tv on my cell phone (LG Stylo 2), that is when the thumping occurs (Spectrum TV app). Doesn't happen with any of my other devices, nor with PlutoTV, TubiTV, YouTube, or Netflix.
But if I turned the program off, the thumping stops. I put an emf counter by my phone and it is emiting up to 24.4 while the other devices are emitting 15 on the high end.
So I am assuming WIFI plus using the video somehow is creating a sound wave that I have described.
I just wonder, why only the right ear?? Why not both ears??

Jump to this post

Hello @jbondzich, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.
It's certainly frustrating to not know what's happening to yourself. While searching for the forum, I've found a discussion about pulsatile tinnitus that has similar symptoms of thumping/pulsating sounds like you described. Here's the link to the discussion: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pulsatile-tinnitus-1/

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mackmoving | @mackmoving | Jul 20, 2020

I have had this problem for 90 plus days, teledoctors have put me on antibiotics thinking it was an infection, and it was not. I went to the ENT doc and he said wait another 60 days and see if it goes away on its own. When I put an earplug in my left ear, I hear a light drumming noise as fast as someone could drum. When I take the ear plug out, there is no drumming noise, just the constant ringing noise. My blood pressure seems to be about 10 points higher than it normally would be (maybe stress). The ENT said if it does not go away in 60 more days we will do a MRI of the brain, which scares the hell out of me. This came on during the Pandemic, out of work, bills piling up, unemployment income was only helping so much, dipping into rainy day savings account to make ends meet. I asked my ENT doc if there is anything I can do, he said just wait and see if it goes away. I am not sure if I can accept that answer. Is there anyone else who had ringing in the ear start during this Coronavirus Pandemic? I am very mentally sharp, business professional, and hate to think this is all brought on by stress, please share any news or solutions, the ringing in the left ear is driving me nutz!

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4 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 20, 2020
In reply to @mackmoving "I have had this problem for 90 plus days, teledoctors have put me on antibiotics thinking..." + (show)
@mackmoving

I have had this problem for 90 plus days, teledoctors have put me on antibiotics thinking it was an infection, and it was not. I went to the ENT doc and he said wait another 60 days and see if it goes away on its own. When I put an earplug in my left ear, I hear a light drumming noise as fast as someone could drum. When I take the ear plug out, there is no drumming noise, just the constant ringing noise. My blood pressure seems to be about 10 points higher than it normally would be (maybe stress). The ENT said if it does not go away in 60 more days we will do a MRI of the brain, which scares the hell out of me. This came on during the Pandemic, out of work, bills piling up, unemployment income was only helping so much, dipping into rainy day savings account to make ends meet. I asked my ENT doc if there is anything I can do, he said just wait and see if it goes away. I am not sure if I can accept that answer. Is there anyone else who had ringing in the ear start during this Coronavirus Pandemic? I am very mentally sharp, business professional, and hate to think this is all brought on by stress, please share any news or solutions, the ringing in the left ear is driving me nutz!

Jump to this post

Hi @mackmoving, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You'll notice that I moved your message to this existing discussion about thumping or drumming in one ear. I did this so you can connect with @kerryf88 @kittyrushing @scottybach @morninglory @redhead63 @mikemcewen @akacha @cls91383 and others.

You might also be interested in reviewing these discussions:
- rapid thumping sound in left ear: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/rapid-thumping-sound-in-left-ear/
- Thumping in right ear, only triggered by sound https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/thumping-in-right-ear-only-triggered-by-sound/
- Pulsatile tinnitus https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pulsatile-tinnitus-1/

Mack, stress could be the cause or the contributor to the drumming and ringing that you're experiencing. Either way, one thing is for sure. You are dealing with a lot and reducing your distress will help your health. Easier said than done during these times when so much is out of our control. I encourage you to read through the past posts and ask questions.

It may seem simplistic to ask, but what are you doing to try and reduce your stress levels?

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tonyinmi | @tonyinmi | Jul 20, 2020
In reply to @mackmoving "I have had this problem for 90 plus days, teledoctors have put me on antibiotics thinking..." + (show)
@mackmoving

I have had this problem for 90 plus days, teledoctors have put me on antibiotics thinking it was an infection, and it was not. I went to the ENT doc and he said wait another 60 days and see if it goes away on its own. When I put an earplug in my left ear, I hear a light drumming noise as fast as someone could drum. When I take the ear plug out, there is no drumming noise, just the constant ringing noise. My blood pressure seems to be about 10 points higher than it normally would be (maybe stress). The ENT said if it does not go away in 60 more days we will do a MRI of the brain, which scares the hell out of me. This came on during the Pandemic, out of work, bills piling up, unemployment income was only helping so much, dipping into rainy day savings account to make ends meet. I asked my ENT doc if there is anything I can do, he said just wait and see if it goes away. I am not sure if I can accept that answer. Is there anyone else who had ringing in the ear start during this Coronavirus Pandemic? I am very mentally sharp, business professional, and hate to think this is all brought on by stress, please share any news or solutions, the ringing in the left ear is driving me nutz!

Jump to this post

Hi @mackmoving. Many years ago, I experienced the ringing in my ears. Surgical options were discussed but that scared the hell out of me. It turned out to be stress related from my job but went away on its own. I don't remember how long it took but I had experienced the ringing for several weeks before I saw an ENT. There is no cure for tinnitus but there are things that may help. Unfortunately, they don't pay the bills. You may want to check out the Pure Tinnitus YouTube channel for some informational videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuH8CgFikmhRc2ALsI0j4uQ
Tony in Michigan

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