rapid thumping sound in left ear

Posted by cinnamon @cinnamon, Apr 22, 2012

rapid thumping sound in left ear

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I went to many Ear Nose and Throat appts and when I went my 3rd time, the doctor said " well this really must be bothering you". I was referred to Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN and they did an MRV and apparently mine is from having a narrowed vein in my head. Most people's main vein is on their right side, but mine is on my left. He told me to try losing weight (I'm 5'6" and 180 PDs at the time). Otherwise there is a surgery to have done to put a splint in but I'm trying to work around it....I'm too nervous to do it as I have 3 going kids. However if I get to a point where I can't handle it, I'll have to look into it more. They do a spinal tap to check the pressure in your head and that's risky plus the surgery itself.
I wish you well with your doctoring and hope you can update us with what you find out.

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@variegata

Thank you for your thoughts and sympathy. "Affliction" sounds just about right. I liken this to having one's head pressed up against the big drum in a marching band while the drummer pounds away. OK, maybe a tad overstated -- but not in terms of effect on being able to sleep or get used to it. I had jack-hammering going on next door to my house years ago to remove a big river of rock and it was just about as pleasant. And at least it stopped before bedtime.

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Hi, not sure how much of this thread you have read...but it seems
Like there is always a Cause. I’ve had pulsatile tinnitus for like 3 years. I was diagnosed with a Dural arteriovenous fistula. Despite embolization, it came back. And now I have to get checked every 6 months by cerebral Angiogram. In fact, I go next week. I know how this sucks, mine is always worse when I lay down for bed. I went to an ENT first and he got the ball rolling, but I ended up at a neurosurgeon’s office who finally made the diagnosis. Good luck!

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@gregk

About 2 weeks ago I noticed the same thing in my right ear. I hear it more when I just wake up. It’s isolated in my right ear. It’s not rhythmic, more sporadic and fast so it’s not linked to my pulse. When I fully plug my ear it goes away, maybe because of the pressure.

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My fluttering started 2 days ago. It's 24 hours a day. Only in my left ear. And, like you, when I plug my ear, I hear nothing. What is it?

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@stacmac

My fluttering started 2 days ago. It's 24 hours a day. Only in my left ear. And, like you, when I plug my ear, I hear nothing. What is it?

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@stacmac Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

Would you tell me more about yourself?

Have you had any issues with your hearing in the past or is this a completely new occurrence?

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@variegata

Did you get a diagnosis / solve this? I have the same thing only when in bed. Like the percussion section in my ear -- thumps 7 - 12 times in a row and then pauses for about 30 sec. only to resume. No change in head or body position - even trying to sleep sitting up -- will stop it. So no sleep. Bad. Going to make ENT appt tmw.

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@ Variegata I too experience exactly what you describe. I am wondering if my experience is linked to blood sugar b/c it seems to occur most often after I eat (anything at all doesn't seem to correlate w/ refined sugars). When I don't eat all day, it tends to disappear. Obviously not eating for days on end is not an option. I don't drink alcohol/use caffeine so diet wise, the only "culprit" might be blood sugar. I wish I knew who to see -- maybe like @lizm2 --- a neurosurgeon? I wish I could address --- it's hard to live with.

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@thumpingear

@ Variegata I too experience exactly what you describe. I am wondering if my experience is linked to blood sugar b/c it seems to occur most often after I eat (anything at all doesn't seem to correlate w/ refined sugars). When I don't eat all day, it tends to disappear. Obviously not eating for days on end is not an option. I don't drink alcohol/use caffeine so diet wise, the only "culprit" might be blood sugar. I wish I knew who to see -- maybe like @lizm2 --- a neurosurgeon? I wish I could address --- it's hard to live with.

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@thumpingear Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You are experiencing "thumping" in your ear after you eat and you are unsure of the cause and which kind of provider to see.

Below I have linked a similar past discussion that members @kittyrushing @lizm2 @mdrake2020 were part of.

- Thumping in right ear, only triggered by sound https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/thumping-in-right-ear-only-triggered-by-sound/

In this previous post, tinnitus was mentioned. I have linked a Mayo Clinic article on tinnitus below. You may want to clarify with your provider if this diagnosis is a possibility.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tinnitus/symptoms-causes/syc-2035015

I'm wondering if you have reached out to your primary care provider regarding the "thumping"?

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@thumpingear

@ Variegata I too experience exactly what you describe. I am wondering if my experience is linked to blood sugar b/c it seems to occur most often after I eat (anything at all doesn't seem to correlate w/ refined sugars). When I don't eat all day, it tends to disappear. Obviously not eating for days on end is not an option. I don't drink alcohol/use caffeine so diet wise, the only "culprit" might be blood sugar. I wish I knew who to see -- maybe like @lizm2 --- a neurosurgeon? I wish I could address --- it's hard to live with.

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Hi, please see my post at https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/thumpingdrumming-in-right-ear/?pg=2#comment-441992 Just posted uan update today 11/18

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@stacmac

My fluttering started 2 days ago. It's 24 hours a day. Only in my left ear. And, like you, when I plug my ear, I hear nothing. What is it?

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Hello. Have you learned anymore about this. Mine started two months ago, and oddly I was told my BP was a little high. (When I went in about it.) I went to my Family doctor (suggestion was to lose 5 pounds and eat more fruits and vegetables). I went to an ENT whom told me that is was a muscle spasm. It seems to get worse for about 10-12 days around menstruation.
I told both the ENT and my doc that when I plug my ear the noise goes away. The ENT looked at me like I didn't know what I was talking about. My family doc listened and said it sounded interesting. Why would external pressure relieve the rapid (seems like 4x my heart beat - like I hear all 4 chambers) beating I hear. I read something about poor posture. Today my husband agreed to start eating better with me. Right now I can hear the regular heart beat flow. But when I burp and don't swallow right away it is a speedy, rhythmic pulsating. I'm so afraid. I don't wantbto have surgery.

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@melissac13

Hello. Have you learned anymore about this. Mine started two months ago, and oddly I was told my BP was a little high. (When I went in about it.) I went to my Family doctor (suggestion was to lose 5 pounds and eat more fruits and vegetables). I went to an ENT whom told me that is was a muscle spasm. It seems to get worse for about 10-12 days around menstruation.
I told both the ENT and my doc that when I plug my ear the noise goes away. The ENT looked at me like I didn't know what I was talking about. My family doc listened and said it sounded interesting. Why would external pressure relieve the rapid (seems like 4x my heart beat - like I hear all 4 chambers) beating I hear. I read something about poor posture. Today my husband agreed to start eating better with me. Right now I can hear the regular heart beat flow. But when I burp and don't swallow right away it is a speedy, rhythmic pulsating. I'm so afraid. I don't wantbto have surgery.

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We must have the same doctor. , . 5 pounds and more fruits and vegetables! Whooshers.com is an arm of the American Pulsatile Tinnitus Association. They say that if your doctor tells you to get used to the noise, you should get a new doctor. I had gotten a new doctor but before I could see him, he contracted Covid-19 and is now on a ventilator. I will let you know what happens if I am able to see him.

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@kittyrushing

We must have the same doctor. , . 5 pounds and more fruits and vegetables! Whooshers.com is an arm of the American Pulsatile Tinnitus Association. They say that if your doctor tells you to get used to the noise, you should get a new doctor. I had gotten a new doctor but before I could see him, he contracted Covid-19 and is now on a ventilator. I will let you know what happens if I am able to see him.

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Oh wow..... I am so sorry to read about your doctor. 🙁 I think there may something to what she has said though. I have been reading quite a bit. I read a NIH doc and it seemed all the patients did not have narrowing of the arteries but, that having acupuncture might provide some relief. They had done all these different pressure points. This is my second month with it. As I mentioned previously, I had a brief reprieve. I think it went away for two weeks. I started eating a heart healthy diet. If anything, it can't hurt. 🙂 I will keep you updated of I learn anything! Take care, Melissa

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