Pulsatile tinnitus and AF

[A_fi_bR]

Are they commonly linked or am I looking at a separate issue?

[CDreamer]

The explanation I was given is that the fluctuation in BP caused the pulsatile tittinus for me but there are other causes which should be investigated. When the AF stopped, the pulsatile tittinus stopped but that may not be the case for all.

[BobD Volunteer]

Had it for years but no AF since 2009. Funnily enugh it seemed to get worse after the last AF ablation.

[Teresa156]

Hi GarryArry,

Are you on any beta blockers by any chance? Bisoprolol?

Since being on Bisoprolol I have had tinnitus which is the reason I ask and it’s a side effect. Most beta blockers can cause tinnitus , but not all are affected by it.

Teresa

[A_fi_bR in reply to Teresa156]

No. Not beta blockers for me. Sounds like it's fairly common though, whether it's side effects or BP related. It's an "ultrasound" type noise rather than a high pitched ringing.

[Teresa156]

Hi Garryarry,Ah, can’t blame them then 😊 if I have an attack I don’t get any new noises in my ears, but like you say, it seems to be a ‘thing’ shows we all experience different things with this condition!

Teresa

[Izzle]

I've had PAF for over 25 years and Pulsatile Tinnitus only a few years less. Initially the tinnitus was only apparent when I laid down my head on one side. For that reason I don't believe it is related to PAF.

Now, over 20 years later the tinnitus is continuous, 24/7 as they say, even when I'm asleep. I consider it an asset as I immediately know when I go into AF or revert to NSR. A Dr once described it as my built in ECG.

I have my own theory about what the tinnitus actually is, but that's another subject.

[A_fi_bR in reply to Izzle]

I'm not convinced it's linked tbh. Yesterday it was quite strong and i had an episode of fast beats and there was no change to the whooshing at all.

[Frances123]

I have had continuous tinnitus for years. Only started since PAF. Some years ago whilst at GPs for something else I happened to mention it to doctor (locum) as it was getting a tad worse and he said “well you know Flecainide causes tinnitus don’t you” No says I. It was news to me after so many years. Still on Flecainide so no way of knowing if it does.x

[A_fi_bR in reply to Frances123]

Yep, also wondering if it's a meds side-effect 👍

[Tudee in reply to Frances123]

Ive had it for years too Francis , it tells me when my B/P is high, the volume increases, Im in persistent A.F.

[Hidden]

Pulsatile tinnitus is not a “true” tinnitus - it is the noise of the blood flow, usually one ear only, and rarely can be caused by nasty underlying issues such as a defective blood vessel or a growth / rumour so ideally you should be checked out by ENT / scans. It often just appears. I blamed the trauma of a major op that went wrong leaving me in pain and temporarily disabled and very distressed. But no one really knows. I find it maddening or boring background in one ear, depending on my general well being. Sleeping on that side helps as do headphones with “pink noise” (like a softer white noise).

[A_fi_bR in reply to Hidden]

Got an ENT call on the 18th. That's it, it's only in the left ear and it's not wax or hearing loss, not ringing and if I press the base of my skull/back of neck, it temporarily stops it. I've also felt some 'movement' inside my ear...😮

[bantam12 in reply to A_fi_bR]

I’ve been under ENT clinic for a while and had all the test including 2 CT scans to check arteries and blood flow in head and neck but no cause of my tinnitus has been found.They referred me to Audiology and I was given Bluetooth hearing aids with a tinnitus function, I chose breaking waves sound and it does help block out the constant whooshing but in the end it’s just replacing one noise with another.

The consultant told me there is really nothing they can do for tinnitus if there is no physical cause so we just have to live with it.

[secondtry]

From what I have read here over the years, I suspect Flecainide or stress are the causes. One interesting opinion given by a member was that due to hyper alert when first diagnosed (with all the worry and tests that go with it) the brain detects the flow of blood through the tiniest of ear vessels which normally wouldn't be done. I can see some logic in that as when my brain is diverted in the day by other matters I forget about my tinnitus i.e. I don't hear it.