Throbbing ears.

[river]

Several years ago, before being diagnosed with Lupus, I went to my GP as I had a persistent feeling of pressure and throbbing/pulsing in my ears which as they throb causes background sound to be momentarily blocked out. I was told I was hearing the sound of my own heartbeat. It has driven me mad especially at night. I saw a GP this week and was told the same reason, but I know it is not the heartbeat as the throb is at different rate to my pulse rate. He was reluctant to send me to the ENT specialist. Does anyone else suffer this please ?

[kittykat68]

yes i do but ive not told the drs its a horrible throbby and it aches/hurts, someetime the skin is really scaley there and black, i spoke to gp about the blackness and that a lupuy thing but im at the stage where i feel if i tell the dr he changesreduces/ups my and i just feel like a guneapig doing cold turkey :s

[Riverbird]

Hi,

Yes I get this, it is almost in time with my heartbeat but not quite. I understood that it was a form of tinnitus. Some days worse than others and when worse I can hear it over other noise, but having the radio or TV on helps to block it out. Worse at night for me because it is quieter in the house. The Target-tinnitus.co.uk website have an online assesment test and also sell devices that you wear in your ear to help the noise, but not sure how much they are. Think they are a private company and there are a few others selling similar devices and also several organisations offering suggestions for free and help on the internet.Best to ask your GP if he thinks this is what you have and then get him to refer you to the tinnitus dept. at the hospital. Good luck.

[river in reply to Riverbird]

Thank you Riverbird. Yes, it makes going to sleep difficult, it feels as though there is a pressure in my head. The throbs even cut out the sound of my car engine each time they pulsed yesterday, thought the engine was missing for a moment!!! I am also giddy and unsteady on my feet, it seems to cause me a balance problem. Hey ho, such is Lupus.

[Suzie]

Is this a constant throbbing? Does it happen in both ears at the same time? if not then It could be a type of hiccup in your ear, a stapedial reflex. I sometimes get these with a flare, I also suspect hormones play a part. Annoying as they are it is rarely caused by significant pathology. Anxiety and stress are triggers like all inflammatory problems which can also lead you to be lightheaded and feeling a little dizzy. So try to relax as much as possible, NO fizzy drinks, alcohol, chocolate, red meats and see if this helps. If not then ask for a referral to a hearing therapist who can help.

[river in reply to Suzie]

Hi Suzie, Thank you, yes it is both ears at the same time, almost like when in a train tunnel, but just pulses for a fraction of a second about every two seconds.

[collette]

Hi ya hun I have been suffering from this also. I was told it was tinnitus, I hate it but unfortunate there is little they can do to stop it

[Olibop]

Yes I have had the same problem for years been back and too to ent with no explanation from them !!

[river]

Thank you all.