Thumping/drumming in one ear

I will definitely post updates!

I got these symptoms suddenly one morning and it woke me up from sleep. I've noticed them occasionally. My two theories on the cause are 1) My high cholesterol or 2) I've been listening to white noise at night, maybe a little bit too loud. #2 is the main reason I am posting here. Curious if anyone else here listens to various forms of white noise or sound for long periods of time? Maybe that could be a contributing factor, perhaps I'm never giving my ears a chance to rest and it's causing some strain in there? I've turned the volume way down at night and I haven't actually experienced it again in weeks. It would be alarming if white noise was a common tool we were using to block out the thumping sound in our ears and it was actually contributing to making symptoms worse through some kind of strain/overuse. But, equally compelling to me is that I need to lower my cholesterol through healthy diet and exercise, high cholesterol seems to damage all sorts of things in the body. Appreciate any feedback if anyone else thinks white noise for long periods of time could be a contributing factor, and also just wanted to throw that out there as a possible caution for others. Lastly, this doesn't really add much to my main question, but just for the sake of telling my whole story, another strange trigger for me is hearing fast clicking sounds, like if I hear someone reeling in a fishing pole suddenly my right inner ear starts thumping and fluttering uncomfortably and I want to get away from the clicking. Maybe its so strained that particular sound sends it into a spasm. Best of health to you all!

I have started with these symptoms today and it is terrifying as a 65 year old RN who knows what COULD BE. I have first degree AV block and had a very low potassium and magnesium level earlier in the year and was started on both. The rate is definitely NOT my HR. it’s almost double. I am considering going to the ER.

Omitted - I am also stage 3 CKD

To Health changes. For any years I have have been listening to white noise all night using ear buds and a Walkman device. I put it on just loud enough to mask part of my tinnitus. It doesn’t help with the low pitched tinnitus which may be the noises you hear and the fluttering you feel, both common for tinnitus. I have done extensive reading on tinnitus but never encountered your question until today but I have often wondered about it. My opinion is that if I am
careful with the volume it is safe but I would also like to hear from others on the topic. Any one out there have answers?

Hello @missemily789 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see you have replied to @tootie42 regarding having similar symptoms. If your hear rate is concerning you, and is nearing double your normal rate, I think going to the ER is the right call.

Are you tracking your HR?

Signed up just to add to this thread. What stood out to me here was some folks saying that closing off their ear made it stop, which is the case for me. The thumping started at night on Sept 18 while I was trying to sleep. It was sporadic and I thought it was my daughter stomping around on the floor above me. I went upstairs to check and everyone was asleep. It returned the next night, also sporadically. A few days later it came back, but was much more rhythmic and rapid, which is how it has been ever since. It comes ago and goes, apparently without any trigger that I'm aware of. In fact, it stopped just as I was starting to write this after being constant for the last few hours. I sometimes put in an earplug in the right ear, which tends to muffle it. Also being out and about makes it so I don't notice it, even if it is occurring. And as pointed out by some others here, if I close my ear off by pressing the flap with my finger, it goes away completely. Definitely not in time with my heartbeat. I have a slow resting HR and the thumping is quite rapid. I have suspected that it is related to sinuses, but I don't have any other symptoms for that. ... And now it has started up again as I write, but faint. So for me, it comes and goes, is rapid and muffled drumming-like, and can vary in loudness. I'm 60 but in excellent health; had COVID in July with mild symptoms and nothing since. While writing this, I thought I would try putting on Bose headphones that I have sitting here (not listening to anything) and the thumping stopped. So now I have another tool to deal with this, I suppose. I wish you all the best with your situation and that it is maybe annoying for you, but not worse. And that it goes away.

Since my symptoms sound very similar I thought I would chime in and give you a ray of hope. Long story short Is I started wearing an ear plug everywhere I went and after about a month the thumping quietet down. This past week the noise seems to have completely disapeared. I saw an ENT doctor and he wasnt much help. He didn't really know what was going on. In fairness to the doctor, by the time I saw him the noise had gone away. One thing you might check on the internet is an ear dysfunction called MEM. Also, there are plenty of noise generators online that will help you emulate the noise you are hearing so you are better able to show others what the noise sounds like. Good luck!

For the past few weeks I’ve had a thumping sound in my left ear. It is not in sync with my heartbeat and comes and goes. It usually thumps once and then I’ll get another one ten minutes later. It can do that for hours. Sometimes it’s at night sometimes during the day. It is driving me crazy. Has anyone else experienced this before and is there a solution? I made an appointment with an otolaryngologist for next week.

Welcome @tamshe3, thumping in one ear can drive one crazy. I'm glad you've made an appointment with an otolaryngologist. I moved your message to this existing discussion:
- Thumping/drumming in one ear: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/thumpingdrumming-in-right-ear/

I did this so that you can read the previous posts and connect easily with fellow members like @ericvt @garyb @willows @healthchanges101 @nrd1 and many others, who have also dealt with ear thumping.

I'll be interested to hear what you find out after your appointment with the specialist.