1. < Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)

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.

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

Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sepdvm | Jan 30, 2023

A friend of mine had this and an aneurysm was discovered with an MRI. It was repaired with a minimally invasive surgery and has been gone since the procedure. Just an example of why pursuing an issue is important.

REPLY
1 reply
adr | @adr | Jan 30, 2023
In reply to @lizm2 "It was like a 3-4 year process with many doctors and me dragging my feet every..." + (show)
@lizm2

It was like a 3-4 year process with many doctors and me dragging my feet every step of the way! i look back now and could kick myself for not getting to this point quicker, but oh well. I’d never had an mri, surgery, or anything before so I was terrified. And I’m extremely claustrophobic…good times. Please keep going to the doc until someone figures it out. Have you had an MRI yet? If yes and it didn’t show anything, did doc say anything about cerebral angiogram? That’s what finally led to my diagnosis. They originally thought it was stenosis brought on by blood clot. That’s what MRI looked like because it doesn’t show the whole picture. Good luck, I hope you get a diagnosis real soon!

Jump to this post

Thank you. And I still applaud you!

I am waiting on mri and mra with and without contrast. It's a two appointment ordeal. Also claustrophobic. But I think I can take something to get through it.

Having any procedure done can take time especially if you are not sure about it. I can understand because I'm that same way. Don't be too hard on yourself. You did it and that is what matters.

REPLY
lizm2 | @lizm2 | Jan 30, 2023

Ativan will get you through it! Also, ask for the wide bore machine…a little more room. 👍🏼

REPLY
jerrysgirl3 | @jerrysgirl3 | Feb 6, 2023
In reply to @morninglory "I completely sympathize with you. I have had the thumping/whoosh sound for years with no relief...." + (show)
@morninglory

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.

Jump to this post

Just curious. Has anyone tried using a foam earplug in their ear at night to stop the swooshing sound? It helped stop mine. No clue why as I know it sounds ridiculous.

REPLY
2 replies
morninglory | @morninglory | Feb 6, 2023
In reply to @jerrysgirl3 "Just curious. Has anyone tried using a foam earplug in their ear at night to stop..." + (show)
@jerrysgirl3

Just curious. Has anyone tried using a foam earplug in their ear at night to stop the swooshing sound? It helped stop mine. No clue why as I know it sounds ridiculous.

Jump to this post

Am leaving the computer and going immediately to find a piece of foam! Will try Anything! Thanks for passing on your remedy and will let you know if it works for me. So far it's just been using one of my vacuums when the sound starts slowing down, the sound frequency of one of my 5 vacuums works. Crazy, I know but it works for me. Thank you again for your solution and sharing./

REPLY
1 reply
jerrysgirl3 | @jerrysgirl3 | Feb 6, 2023
In reply to @morninglory "Am leaving the computer and going immediately to find a piece of foam! Will try Anything!..." + (show)
@morninglory

Am leaving the computer and going immediately to find a piece of foam! Will try Anything! Thanks for passing on your remedy and will let you know if it works for me. So far it's just been using one of my vacuums when the sound starts slowing down, the sound frequency of one of my 5 vacuums works. Crazy, I know but it works for me. Thank you again for your solution and sharing./

Jump to this post

Make sure it's a foam earplug. Buy at drug store or on Facebook really cheap. The foam on earplug expands in the ear. You first squeeze and roll it then quickly put in ear and it expands. Good luck !!

REPLY
1 reply
adr | @adr | Feb 7, 2023
In reply to @jerrysgirl3 "Just curious. Has anyone tried using a foam earplug in their ear at night to stop..." + (show)
@jerrysgirl3

Just curious. Has anyone tried using a foam earplug in their ear at night to stop the swooshing sound? It helped stop mine. No clue why as I know it sounds ridiculous.

Jump to this post

I am going to give it a try!

REPLY
1 reply
jerrysgirl3 | @jerrysgirl3 | Feb 7, 2023
In reply to @sepdvm "A friend of mine had this and an aneurysm was discovered with an MRI. It was..." + (show)
@sepdvm

A friend of mine had this and an aneurysm was discovered with an MRI. It was repaired with a minimally invasive surgery and has been gone since the procedure. Just an example of why pursuing an issue is important.

Jump to this post

Interesting because my husband has had tinnitus for awhile and they are doing an angiogram next month to double check on an aneurysm. Thank you.

REPLY
adr | @adr | Feb 7, 2023
In reply to @jerrysgirl3 "Did it help ??" + (show)
@jerrysgirl3

Did it help ??

Jump to this post

I ordered some from Amazon, waiting for their arrival. Will Keep you all posted. Curious to know if anyone else finds them helpful. Will post after I try them.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.