Pulsatile tinnitus and AF

I awoke a couple of days ago with a rhythmic whooshing sound in my left ear which was synchronised with my heartbeat. It seemed to go after a few hours, but it has returned today a few hours ago. Does anyone know if this has anything to do with AF?

[Harfly]

I suffer from the same thing, some days I don’t experience it at all, other days it’s constant. Now, I recall someone posting in the past that medication can be the culprit so I am putting it down to either my Apixaban or Bisoprolol. Not sure if you take any of these 2 drugs, if so you may be having the same experience as me. Someone may be able to confirm if this is a side effect. 👍

[Hidden in reply to Harfly]

Thanks for your reply. I dont take either, but I will check the Sotalol leaflet to see if it could be implicated.

[Rienij70 in reply to Harfly]

I get that too, but I haven’t been very long on Apixaban, so I rule that out . But I am also on Bisoprolol. So maybe, yo have got a point. I thought it was part of AF symptoms. But you never know. Xx will be following this post with interest. Xx

[Hidden in reply to Rienij70]

Thanks for the reply.

[Tudee]

I too have Pulsatile Tinnitus and have done ever since I had PAF, and now in permanent AF It persists, It is louder and stronger when my B/P is high and HR faster, who needs Kardia ? I know what is happening as it happens. It is very intrusive when trying to sleep and worse when lying on the left side.

[Hidden in reply to Tudee]

I will check my blood pressure to see if it is unusually high. Haven’t checked it for a while. Thanks.

[CDreamer]

Yes it is associated with AF, you just get used to it. I had it 24/7 and think I had it most of my life so didn’t really register that most people didn’t. I used white noise to blank it out at night by earplugs and audiobooks which is when it was at it’s worst in AF episode. Funny thing is that I awoke after ablation and couldn’t hear anything so thought I was dead, rather worrying! It took quite a few moments to realise that the ablation had worked and no more tinnitus. Although the AF returned, the pulsating tinnitus didn’t, but ordinary tinnitus has, I suppose old age. I didn’t have any of the conditions such as high BP which is known to cause pulsatile tinnitus

As far as I know there is nothing you can do about it except not worry about it and blank it out. It didn’t have anything to do with meds for me.

cardiosmart.org/healthwise/...

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

I had it several months ago after a bout of AF. It went after a day or so. Then a few days ago on waking ( I don’t think I had had AF during the night), then yesterday before going to bed and during the night. It seems to have abated now. Very odd. Thanks for your reply.

[secondtry]

There could be various factors at play here and of course we are all different. The ear has the ultra fine blood vessels. In my case when first being diagnosed, my senses became hypersensitive e.g. traffic noise at night and pulsatile tinnitus. Now some 5 years later, I can go all day without noticing the tinnitus (nor is the traffic so disruptive) and then when I sit down quietly in the evening I realise it is still there. I have also found gluten and sugar turns up the volume.

[Hidden in reply to secondtry]

Thanks for your reply. I will reduce sugar to see if that makes a difference.

[Hidden]

I have normal whistling tinnitus and the pulsatile type too. Actually like to lie in bed and hear my heart beating normally after an AF attack.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Not sure Incould adopt that attitude which is a far better one than mine!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I wear hearing aids because of the tinnitus and they are a blessing too! Noisy children, loud music, noisy restaurants- I just take them out and everything is beautifully muted! 😌

[Hidden]

Yes, another poster has mentioned blood pressure. I’m going to check it definitely. Thanks.

[Hidden]

When you go to sleep so often having an episode it’s lovely when it beats normally!

Di

[BobD Volunteer]

It has nothing to do with drugss or blood pressure. I have had it since my AF and it is there regardless of BP. HR. Brexit of any darned thing. As others have said who needs kardia.

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

I think the fact that it’s pulsatile is significant. As I mentioned, I had it after some PAF (on waking) a few months ago. It’s gone away for the moment- oddly just before I posted here!

[CDreamer in reply to BobD]

And yet mine disappeared completely after ablation No1? And It IS associated with high BP in all the medical literature.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to CDreamer]

As you know I haven't had AF since 2008 but still have the PT and my BP is within good limits (not at present during kitchen fitting.lol )

[Xxcc in reply to BobD]

I have had it for years, before I had paroxysmal A/F. I was on atenolol for years and started bisoprolol and apixaban a few months ago so it's not connected to apixaban or bisoprolol. It's intermittent too. Sometimes worse when I wake up..

[Harfly]

I remember now BobD saying it is to do with AF, sorry if I caused any confusion 😬 need to get my memory checked. 😂

[Hidden in reply to Harfly]

No worries!

[Hidden]

Same as others have said basically...

Mild Tinnitus prior to AF rapidly exacerbated with onset of AF accompanied by severe hearing loss too..

[RichMert]

I suffer from this as well but put it down to too many visits to the Hammersmith Odeon in my youth. Got that look from my Doctor when I mentioned it, funny enough, I was taking Bisoprolol at the time (that look always tells me he knows something but not about to say). I do not get it so much now that I am free from the beta blockers.

[emsling]

Hi. Before I was diagnosed with asymptomatic AF I had this pulsating tinnitus for about 2 years and still have. Back then I didn’t take any drugs so I assume it has something to do with the AF. It is annoying when trying to go to sleep. But I have learned to live with it.

[dwright12]

I have pulsatile tinnitus and flutters. I have good and bad days. I had an ablation and still have the tinnitus and no meds that would cause it.

[Polski]

I seem to remember reading once that being low in B vitamins can cause it, for people in general. Whether this is relevant in AF I don't know, but someone might want to test it out!

[loobylou777]

I have AF. I had pulsatile tinnitus whilst I was taking Bisoprolol. When I stopped taking Bisoprolol the tinnitus disappeared. It's never returned. I had read that it can be a side affect of medication

[samuela5]

I get it more if I sleep on left side.