My pulsatile tinnitus, tinnitus, anxiety and wanting to face my fear

[alonso713]

First time poster - and it's going to be a long one! Feel free to skip it, I just wanted to write this down to get it out of my head and maybe get some tips.

Last April I decided that I needed to do more exercise so I did a HIIT workout. Biggest mistake ever! A few hours later, I started hearing a whoosing in my ear. It was annoying, but I figured it would go away in an hour or so. It continued into the evening and when I woke up in the middle of the night still able to hear it, I googled "pulsing in ear". Cue panic as I read articles about it. Go and see your GP immediately -> vascular problems -> heart disease. My dad had died from heart disease the year before so, despite being a relatively healthy 34-year-old, I became convinced (and obsessed) that I had something wrong with my heart. I ended up at A&E twice over the following days after having what I now know were panic attacks but what I thought at the time were heart events. I went to the GP, expecting some sort of urgent response to the pulsatile tinnitus. Nothing. "Tinnitus is something a lot of people have. You'll get used to it". I went back a few more times as it persisted over the weeks, but still nothing, despite me showing them the NHS page about it and other sources. They did prescribe some propranolol for the anxiety though (which I refused to take). I ended up going private and saw an ENT consultant who arranged an MRI, which came back fine. On the back of an ECG taken on one of my A&E visits, I got a cardiology appointment for an echocardiogram and ECG. They too came back fine. The pulsatile tinnitus eventually subsided after nearly two months. However, it left me with all-consuming health anxiety. I'd sit there, waiting for it to start up again. If I felt any sort of sensation in my ear, I'd tense up and start googling why I could feel something. Of course other anxiety symptoms crept in - tight chest, dizziness, vibrating limbs, numbness, burning skin etc. All of it I linked to the pulsing ear and my heart. I did gradually learn to manage the anxiety (with the aid of bereavement counselling) and got to a stage where I was feeling good again...

And then, in November, I got a cold. Cue tinnitus. Constant in both ears. It took a week to figure out what the buzzing in my head was. I thought it was just head fog from the cold. Of course I eventually googled it. It can be caused by vascular problems also. I've latched onto that and am now in a state of anxiety again. Despite the fact that I know it's probably been caused by the cold, or the fact that I've just had my braces removed so there might be a jaw issue, or the fact that my neck has been bad for the last couple of months. I got an ENT referral for this tinnitus in December, but have at least another month to wait to get an appointment. If I'm busy, then I can ignore it, but when it really gets its claws in there is absolutely no escape. And the one thing that I really want to be able to do is to do some exercise. I want to go for a run or do an aerobics class. But I fear doing anything that might cause the pulsatile tinnitus to start again, or that might make the current tinnitus worse. And the whole time I'm thinking, if you're not exercising then you're arteries are going to be clogging up. It's such a vicious cycle that I can't see any escape from until I get in front of a consultant and tell them (in my very rehearsed speech) that I will not leave until all serious potential underlying threats have been ruled out.

Sorry that's very rambly! I have no one else who understands. Thought I'd get it out here. My mum says she wishes she had it and not me - I've told her that she really doesn't want it!!

[Woodentop99]

Hi rabido, your story is sort of similar to what happened to me, firstly do not despair as I know how you feel, life over , it’s the end and the anxiety WOW it really is gripping,I deffo would try and expedite your ent appointment as from there they will refer you to audiolgy depth, then there’s another wait,,they will obviously test your hearing as they did in November with me, I cannot tell you how bad I was then the anxiety took over WOW which is worse mr T or the anxiety, people on here gave me hope that I didn’t have plus the audiologist immediately put hearing aids “ maskers” in both my ears , this really helped, ok , one noise replaced by another but at least I can think straight, I desperately wanted to follow the advice given here but I was 100% off my head, 4 months ( an eternity) down the line I am happy with my aids much more used to them and don’t fiddle with them like I used to I am not saying they are the bees knees but part of the solution , yes, absolutely, along with a very understanding gp, medication and a counselor who herself has T plus relaxation techniques on YouTube I found the 14 min 14 sec video by Adrienne extremely helpful I just googled meditation relaxation and she was the second video I did this religiously morning and night every day for months plus extra if needed throughout the day, today my anxiety 90% reduced I can , think, watch tv and most importantly sleep again as when me T chose to visit I got 39 mins in two whole weeks I was off my head attended a/e to no avail, they thought I was a psycho, probably was, but there is HOPE I promise you as I have returned from the darkest place possible believe me on that , hold on there, face the fight and get seen ASAP. Good luck. Sorry I meant to say ,, 30 minutes sleep and “ meditation for anxiety “

[Owley]

Hi Rabido.

I completely empathise with you as your situation is so similar to mine.

Since October i have had tinnitus whicj started 2 days after i saw a chiropractor.

Whether it was coincidence i dont know.

I have lost both my parents in the last 5 years. Dad was 89 and Mum 91and iam an only child. My dad had health anxiety and i have it too.

My Gp was useless and like you i got fed up and paid privately, not because i wanted preferential treatment because i wanted reassurance and hopefully an end to my anxiety which is as crippling as the tinnitus.

again like you i have pulsatile tinnitus and buzzing which are both intermittent and hissing which is constant.

The ENT did tests scans etc all came back ok. I also saw a Neurologist. All tests were ok there too.

This failed to reassure me especially when the buzzing was roaring in my head at 2am. I had reiki, reflexology to try to relax me. It didn't really help but was a treat!

I went back to my ENT a couple of weeks ago as a Dr friend of mine said the pulsing could be vascular or be a stenosed (narrow blood vessel) in my head. I asked the ENT for a cerebral angiogram to check this but he refused saying it was an invasive procedure with risks and my scan showed no indication of this and when he had listened to my carotid arteries on my neck with his stethoscope the sounds were normal.

He told me to get some help with the anxiety.

I was at the end of my tether and had severe sleep deprivation.

Then on this forum someone mentioned a name of a speialist who could help me and he has. My tinnitus is now quieter and not bothering me.

If you want i can send you info but i would rather do it to your private email address if you want to give it to me.

He has honestly been my saviour!

[6spidermonkeys in reply to Owley]

Would you be able to send me that doctors details as well cheers

[Nickolas12 in reply to Owley]

Hello Owley, can you please send me the specialist name and address please? EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED BY MODERATOR

Thank you

[NicTinnitus in reply to Nickolas12]

Hi there - please don't share email addresses on the forum. I have deleted it.

Thanks!

Nic (BTA Communications Manager and Forum Administrator)