AFib and pulsatile tinnitus

[ChrissieMT]

Does anyone else suffer with both atrial fib and night time pulsatile tinnitus? I wondered if the two are connected in any way? I have had hearing problems for many years but the pulsatile tinnitus seemed to occur round about the same time that my AF started. I did visit my GP and was referred for a head scan but nothing untoward was found. I do find it really affects my sleep patter and causes sleep loss and subsequently tiredness in the daytime.

[JudiHalf]

Hi yes I’ve had it for quite a few years. I’ve not mentioned it to my GP. Sometimes it’s very loud but I always manage to sleep, I guess I’ve just got used to it, I do use the sleep timer on my tv and have that as a distraction. I’m not sure if it’s connected to AF but think it’s a common problem.

[Colutd]

yes. I have AF and tinnitus.

[secondtry]

I would say fairly common with AF, exact reason not sure and of course may not be the same reason for everybody.

I find the only answer is to keep busy and eventually the mind will screen most of it out so you can function/sleep without too much hassle.

[Dave678]

Yes, I’ve had pulsatile tinnitus all the time in my right ear for about 8 months + paroxysmal AF which I’ve had for a couple of years. Strange when you have AF as can also hear your irregular heart beats + often a good way of checking your pulse! I’ve also had a head MRI + no irregularities so guess stuck with it as not aware of any cures. I sometimes play calming wave music etc when trying to sleep but after a while I’ve tended to get used to it and manage to drop off to sleep OK….until my heart meds make me get up for a toilet trip!! Good luck!

[CDreamer]

I used to have it, very disturbing when you have a high heart rate and you hear every irregularity. I took to wearing ear buds at night and listening to audio books which enabled me to sleep, it had to be the most boring book you can imagine, audiologist told me white noise helps.

After I came around after my first ablation I couldn’t hear anything - but that was really scary as I thought I had died and asked a face peering over me if they wee an angel? It’s funny now but it didn’t feel like that at the time as I had become SO used to hearing every beat.

The best explanation I came across was that the what you hear is the changes of blood flow in the blood vessels in the neck which run very close to the auditory nerve pathways.

Interestingly enough I’ve never had it since, even when I revert to AF 🤷

[ChrissieMT in reply to CDreamer]

I too think it must be to do with the vessels in the neck, thankfully I only get pulsatile tinnitus at night when I lay down. I have had other types of tinnitus in the daytime but for some reason that hasn’t been too bad of late. It seems there are a lot of issues for us AF sufferers to contend with!

[OzJames]

I get it from time to time and in my case it’s like a tapping but not copying my pulse rate so could be an ear issue… anyway my wife read a Chinese acupuncturist article which sates if you put firm pressure on the corner of your nail of your ring finger for 3-5.minutes twice a day it can sometimes stop it. It’s the corner closest to your pinky. I’ve tried it a few times so far and it worked quickly on 2 occasions. Apparently there’s a spot in your ear too!

[mobyfool]

Hi I suffer from at fib and ectopic beats,suffer with permanent tinnitus for the past 6 years, because I,m on 3.75 bisoprolol, which can bring my heart rate down to low 40,s at time, I find that I know the rate of my heart through the tinnitus, if it's low I hear a slow whirring noise in the ear,if it's a normal rate,I get a higher whirring noise in the ears,drives me up the wall. At night I use a compact disc player or plug into radio to listen to low music,find it does help.The gp did say to me that this often happens with people with tinnitus.

[Herbie30]

I developed tinnitus after about a year of taking Bisoprolol. It disappeared within 48 hours of moving from Bisoprolol to Diltiazem. Fortunately it hasn’t returned.

[Redmakesmehappy]

I developed tinnitus few months after glaucoma diagnosis and started using eye medication. I have been to two ENT, both told me there was nothing to be done about it, just have to live with it. I find mine get louder when weather is changing and a front is coming through. After the weather changes, it goes back to its regular noise. I did get fitted with hearing aids , I hate them but will sometime put them in when the tinnitus is very loud and somehow it blocks some of the noise. I believe it’s cause by the drugs we put in our eyes. I also have Atrial Fibrillation but my tinnitus started before I developed A Fib.

[Debjimmay]

I had pulsatile tinnitus for many years before I was diagnosed with Afib. So in my case, I don’t believe the the tinnitus is from my Afib. My tinnitus is constant and its best described as white noise. Very annoying as I hear every single beat of my heart….even the skipped ones.

[domhnalldubh]

With me, it is not just at night. The tinnitus gets so loud that it's impossible to have conversations. One temporary solution I read about is to cover your ears with your palms and tap your fingers on the back of your head. With your ears covered, the sound of the tapping is quite loud. When you stop, the background noise seems to decrease.... for a while. The explanation offered was that your brain is receiving false signals and the additional noise is something of a corrective .

[SkyBluePInk47]

Yes, I have both. First developed Pulsatile Tinnitus, avoids few years ago (maybe 2019?)

have had some Afib for approximately 2 years.

My doctor sent me for CT scan and MRI of my head and neck and then I was eventually diagnosed with Sigmoid Sinus Stenosis in both left and right sides of brain (narrowed veins). I may eventually need a stent or two.

I get 24/7 Pulsatile Tinnitus in left ear only. I also happen to have tinnitus in both ears for decades. I hear mine 24/7 and if I hold my left side of my neck, the PT noise is reduced drastically. If I press my right side of neck (by vein) the PT sound is much louder. I can hear if I have tachycardia, AFib, etc. in my ear.

I recommend you at look up whooshers.com online and on facebook page and look up Dr Athol Patsalides in New York. He diagnosed me.

It is hard to get diagnosed accurately. Many doctors treat Pulsatile Tinnitus as Tinnitus and it isn’t the same thing or even close. Some PT is not anything to be concerned about and others can be deadly, most is not. There are a number of medical conditions that can cause it.