rapid thumping sound in left ear

Posted by cinnamon @cinnamon, Apr 22, 2012

rapid thumping sound in left ear

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@akacha

I've had this thumping in my right ear for two months and it's more profound when I'm trying to fall asleep. I was checked by my doctor but no results until the day 3 months later, I felt a heartburn coming on and my shoulder started to feel heavy. Yes, I was having a mild heart attack and immediately sought assistance where I spent two days in the hospital undergoing tests and was told a triple bypass was required. Long story short, it became a quadruple bypass that went successfully and the thumping went away. This was 7 months ago. Hopefully this was not the case for you members asking this question but, it's important to not rule out blood vessel blockage either. Have or insist on an EKG test as well. Most importantly, ditch the cigarettes.

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I also had a silent heart attack and had a stent put in and it seemed like the thumping had stopped but now it has come back which has me wondering if I still have some kind of blockage going on. My latest EKG was normal

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@nata66

Hi, I have same problem with my right ear since last week. It get worse at night and when I lay down. I sow ENT , no ear /hearing problem, and he prescribed Prednisone and Zpac, for sinuses. I am finishing tomorrow but do not noticing too much improvement.Still have to use decongestant to get rid of drumming. Is it possible this problem come from neck? Should I see chiropractor?

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Check with an Upper cervical Specialist

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@colleenyoung

Hi @gerardcame, Welcome to Connect, an online community where you can share your experiences and find support from other patients. I moved this discussion to the Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat group to connect you with other members.

I wonder if you might have pulsatile tinnitus. Here some information about tinnitus and pulsatile tinnitus.
http://mayocl.in/1Utj1aQ
http://www.tinnitus.org.uk/pulsatiletinnitus

Have you been to see your doctor about the thumping? When does it happen?

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Hi Colleen, a doctor friend of mine said that he really doesn't know what to tell me(as a matter of fact, no one seems to know much about my pulsatile tinnitus) and that maybe I should go to mayo for some further advice. What do you think? I've been there before for Trigemial Neuralgia surgery and gamma knife radiation treatment

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@jamienolson

Hello @loisde! Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! Thank you for commenting on this thread.

Do you also experience thumping sounds in your ear?

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Yes I do and I'm not sure of the cause or what the treatment would be

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@kanaazpereira

Hi @redmonarch8 and @edfrombk,

Welcome to Connect. It seems that this kind of thumping in the ear could be pulsatile tinnitus ”due to a change in blood flow in the vessels near the ear or to a change in awareness of that blood flow.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tinnitus/symptoms-causes/syc-20350156

In some cases of pulsatile tinnitus a rhythmical sound is experienced, but the sound is not synchronized with the person’s heart beat, (as @redmonarch8 explained).This type of tinnitus is most commonly due to rhythmical contraction of the muscles in the middle ear. https://www.tinnitus.org.uk/pulsatile-tinnitus

I’m tagging @beatricefay @morningglory @lizm2 @tlcnurse1 to bring them into this conversation as they’ve written about similar symptoms in another discussion, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pulsatile-tinnitus-1/

Does the thumping occur throughout the day, or only at certain times? Does it disturb your sleep at night?

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You are the third moderator that I have replied to, I have periodic thumping and occasional ringing in my ear. I suspect that it is caused by an insufficient blood flow, which is possibly caused by an upper cervical subluxation (head.neck injury in a car accident, 30 years ago) or from cardio vascular problems ( I had a heart stent put in in 2017). The ENT specialist along with other practitioners do not have an answer to my problem. Should I make an appointment at Mayos?

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@jamienolson

Hello @loisde! Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! Thank you for commenting on this thread.

Do you also experience thumping sounds in your ear?

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hello Jamie. I thought that I would pass on an experience that I just had. I was abruptly awakened from a deep sleep and my right ear started thumping. It seems like a blood flow problem to me

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@akacha

I've had this thumping in my right ear for two months and it's more profound when I'm trying to fall asleep. I was checked by my doctor but no results until the day 3 months later, I felt a heartburn coming on and my shoulder started to feel heavy. Yes, I was having a mild heart attack and immediately sought assistance where I spent two days in the hospital undergoing tests and was told a triple bypass was required. Long story short, it became a quadruple bypass that went successfully and the thumping went away. This was 7 months ago. Hopefully this was not the case for you members asking this question but, it's important to not rule out blood vessel blockage either. Have or insist on an EKG test as well. Most importantly, ditch the cigarettes.

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It's interesting that you mention your blockage. I also had a stent put in and it seemed like the thumping stopped. That was 18 months ago and now the thumping is back. It makes me wonder if I have more blockage

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@jamienolson

@cinnamon, are you still experiencing thumping in your ear? Have you been seen by a medical professional for a proper diagnosis ?

@loisde, have the antibiotics helped?

please let us know how you are both doing.

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@jamienolson I have reached out to a few individuals on this site but I still have not received any feedback from a moderator or anybody else for that matter. I believe that the thumping in my ear is due to an insufficient blow flow problem. I was in an auto accident where I hit my head on the roof and my upper cervical area (neck) is out of whack which might be causing me to have an insufficient blood flow. The thumping starts almost every time I lie down, I first get up, and also when get stressed out. I've seen many care givers and nobody has an answer so, should I make an appointment at mayo and who should I see? Is this a Rant page or can you actually get some answers to ones concerns and possibly some advice?

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@goodoldboy68

@jamienolson I have reached out to a few individuals on this site but I still have not received any feedback from a moderator or anybody else for that matter. I believe that the thumping in my ear is due to an insufficient blow flow problem. I was in an auto accident where I hit my head on the roof and my upper cervical area (neck) is out of whack which might be causing me to have an insufficient blood flow. The thumping starts almost every time I lie down, I first get up, and also when get stressed out. I've seen many care givers and nobody has an answer so, should I make an appointment at mayo and who should I see? Is this a Rant page or can you actually get some answers to ones concerns and possibly some advice?

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Hello @goodoldboy68, Thank you for your post. I apologize for the lack of communication on my end. Also, I'm so sorry to hear you were in an auto accident that left you with the thumping you are experiencing in your ear.

I will mention that Mayo Clinic Connect is a member to member patient support group that allows you to speak with other community members regarding your health experiences. If you would like more information about the community, I have found the following thread extremely helpful. Please take a moment to check it out. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/newsfeed/mayo-clinic-connect-your-safety-and-privacy/

Next, I need to make you aware that I am not a medical professional and our guidelines state that Mayo Clinic Connect does not offer medical advice.

I think advocating for yourself in the sense that finding an answer to your problem seems to be a top priority for you. Here is the link to the appointment line at Mayo Clinic if you are indeed wanting to make an appointment. http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63.

You mentioned above that you have seen a medical professional in the past- What did they say about the thumping? Do you notice it get louder or more frequent and bothersome with exertion?

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Have you taken any new meds lately?

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