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Thumping in right ear, only triggered by sound
This is a strange problem and difficult to explain so please bear with me here. This has been happening for almost 2 years now.
If both of my ears are completely exposed, 90% of the time I have no issues. Hearing is even on both ears. The other 10% of the time, certain midrange frequencies cause my right ear to thump along with the sound and usually only when they're pretty loud.
Now the main issue is that 100% of the time, if my right ear is partially covered for whatever reason (let's say I'm laying down on my side and part of it is covered, if I wear a hooded shirt over my head, or even if I put my hand over my right ear slightly), the thumping happens along with the sound. So let's say someone speaks a 4 syllable word, I'll get a thump with each syllable. Or if I'm hearing footsteps, each footstep causes a thump. This seems to happen along all frequencies (except maybe the very high ones). The weird thing is the thumping doesn't happen if I completely seal my LEFT ear. It'll only happen if my left ear is completely exposed and my right ear partially covered. It doesn't even have to be covered all the way. I can put my hand about 5 inches away from my ear and it'll trigger this problem.
I unfortunately can't afford to go to a ENT right now so I'm hoping someone has an idea about what's going on here. One thing probably worth mentioning is I've had acid reflux for 4 years. I actually went to an ENT because of pain all on my right side....my ear, throat, neck and head. He did an endoscopy but said he didn't see anything there to worry about, and thought acid reflux is causing my pain so he prescribed me some Ranitidine which I've been taking since then (just stopped a few months ago though). It did definitely help the ear pain when I began taking it but I did still have reflux episodes probably once a month throughout the 4 years. I'm thinking maybe this has caused some ear damage but I'm really not sure.
I appreciate any help I can get.
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This!!! I’m experiencing the exact same thing right now- it started for the first time around twenty minutes ago! The only sound that’s triggering it so far is the sound of my boyfriend breathing. We are in a long distance relationship and he fell asleep on the phone and his mouth is right next to his microphone, so his breathing is louder than usual. My LEFT ear thumps when he breathes. The only reason I know it’s him is because I put my phone down and walked away, and the thumping stopped, and when I pulled my phone closer, it got worse. As I’m typing this, it sounds like he just rolled over and his mouth isn’t near his mic anymore, and the thumping is gone. This is the weirdest thing to me!
Thank you! On looking thru the web I have had this for a very long time. I was thinking it was a perceptual problem since the feeling was only in my right ear, never the left. I thought it was my right ear attempting to balance out my left ear’s auditory information since I believe the language processing part of the brain is usually on the left hemisphere (and thus the right ear). My assumption was that my brain was trying to interpret the information and had to create a sensory experience to be able to effectively process the info. I hadn’t thought of it possibly being also attached to muscular movements (maybe as an anticipatory as a protective mechanism?). Very interesting. Thanks again!
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1 ReactionFound this thread, because my ear is bothering me today. I have not received a diagnosis. After developing Long Covid in 2020 and developing a problem with alot of excess inflammation, I began hearing a whooshing in my ear in rhythm with my heart. This ear has presented with retracted eardrum once and other than that, they keep telling me my ear is fine. Something is different, something has changed. I’ll get up at 4 in am to pee, notice it and take my losartan and Singulair. Both prescriptions I can’t live without. I developed high bp post covid. My ear seems to correlate with inflammation. I’m pretty sure it has to do with my heart and bp. After taking those medications it always goes away. I have not received an mri, but after reading these posts, I’m thinking of going to little urgent care down the street and ask. I’ve been to my primary and ENT twice- ugh. And awful tinnitus with, after and periodically with Covid. Thank you!
Sorry, yes my left ear developed a whooshing sound that correlates with heartbeat. Do have moderate tinnitus (have had this bout since last Covid vaccine a month ago and seem to have developed MCAS or new autoimmune disease from Covid. Not sure yet. Thank you oh and my ear feels as if it has trouble draining. Feels swollen behind ear and in neck underneath ear, but not diagnosed
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1 ReactionHi dreaminasecond, I have had a whooshing sound now for about a year. Went to ENT they did an MRI and nothing wrong, also hearing tests and thats fine. What it is is Pulsatile Tinnitus. Yes sometimes I feel like it correlates with my heartbeat but not all the time. Sometimes it is louder than usual. As I'm typing this I only hear it faintly. It's always there and at times when it's loud is awful. Since I had the tests and everything is fine I just have to live with it. It's hard sometimes since it's always there. I suggest going to an ENT Good luck!! Hang in there!!
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1 ReactionAngie, thanks so much! Yes, I believe that. I also have experienced an echo of my voice in my head and lastly when I had tinnitus very bad recently , I was hearing a banging sound at the end of sentences. Thank you for this info. I’ve always been so average and healthy until now. But when my long covid lifts or i am having a good day, my symptoms can be almost gone. It’s more like an allergic reaction for me. A very lengthy and worsening severe allergy.
Thank you! 🙏🎃
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1 ReactionI went to an ENT with this symptom. She told me it was otological migraine (my neurologist was skeptical). I have chronic migraine, history of reflux, history of pulsetile tinnitus.
There are times when my dog barks and it’s a stab in my left ear.
Hi everyone, I also have pulsatile tinnitus in one ear. About a year. I've noticed it after my covid booster. Don't know if it's cause and effect. But I am concerned since I have an appointment to get my updated booster. Quite a problem.
Scheduled for mri.
Have
I don’t know if you’ll see this reply since you posted this a while ago. but I’m experiencing this. Have for over a year.
thudding in my right ear to the best of words. maybe syllables I try to block it out when it happens but it is so hard to have conversations with men, with deep voices. my sister has a deeper voice and it does act up with her.
I’ve been to two ENT and they have no answer for me. One told me to lose weight and drink water. it’s only in my right ear. and it’s the hardest thing to describe but you described it better than I would have.