New to Pulsatile Tinnitus

[Welliboots93]

Hi people,

I'm new this new, and very anxious as I have no understanding of my condition and would love some info so I know I'm not being dramatic!

Here's my story:

I'm 27, and I was extremely poorly Dec 2019, like incredibly poorly for about 6 weeks and a doctor didn't know why I was ill for so long (I reckon it was covid, and a few professionals have hinted it could of been but no testing)

Anyways, I spent 2020 with bad ears, headaches, constant fatigue, muscle weakness and then this heartbeat sound in my right ear developed!

So in July 2019 I went for a hearing test and it came back that I had some hearing loss but nothing major. Sept 2020 I went for another hearing test because of this pulsing and it came back I had moderate hearing loss/premature hearing loss and pulsatile tinnitus so I got referred to ENT.

Now, since then I have a headache everyday, like it never goes, Ive tried medication and it's not worked. The headache is like pressure in the head, my pulsatile tinnitus is the sound of my heartbeat and I can hear my blood flowing! Almost as if Im hearing an ultrasound scan of someone's heartbeat!

Loud noises hurt my ears, and I struggle with environmental noises such as people talking, the TV being on and someone trying to talk to me or me talk to them etc (these are not sensory problems BTW!) Too much noise makes my headache and tinnitus worse!

It gets worse at night or when I feel pressure in my head, I've put the headaches and tinnitus as the reason to why I'm now depressed!

Sometimes, I get like a shaking in my brain it's as if my brain Is pulsing side to side if that makes sense!

So, I've bought a blood pressure machine because I thought maybe it's down to high blood pressure. But, it's 127/85, normal blood pressure is like 120/80 so not really high.

I'm waiting for my ENT, it's not until 9th Feb and I've not been given any info as to what it could be causing this, so in my mind it's all brain related!

Can anyone please give me indications as to what it could be, am I being dramatic? Is there anyone else with similar tinnitus and symptoms etc, any info is brill!

Thank you ❤️

[Happyrosie]

I’m so sorry, Welliboots, that you’re suffering. I think you are seeking a diagnosis of your problems. We, on this forum, are just people who have tinnitus, so we cannot diagnose for you.

Yes, Tinnitus is brain related, it’s your brain doing something it thinks is the right thing.

Please read up about tinnitus, such as the British tinnitus Association website. Remember there is no cure for this condition, so don’t believe everything you read on websites that are trying to sell you things. Just go to sources you think are trustworthy, such as charities and proper medical websites.

You sound very anxious so breathing techniques might help you.

[rabbits65]

Good morning welliboots It’s not long now foryour ent appointment . Let’s hope they suggest an mri scan and a CT scan . I have had both of these scans. This should help to put your mind at rest. I get a lot of head pressure too, it’s not nice . I’ve had my tinnitus since last March and yes mine is worse in the evenings . Maybe it’s harder to cope with when we get more tired. I wish there was more research into this distressing condition , I don’t think there is any funding .

I had my first appointment with a private specialist because the waiting list was so long due to Covid. I’m back on the NHS now. My mri scan cost me about 750 pounds . My CT scan was on the NHS. In November. Nothing structural was reported.

[Lynne-H]

Hi Welliboots93

Apparently there can be many causes of pulsatile tinnitus - the BTA have an information sheet all about pulsatile tinnitus.

One of my noises is pulsatile and I also can hear the sound of blood circulating - loudly when I am stressed.

In 2014 after having a virus I lost some of my hearing - so I now have moderate hearing loss and that`s when my pulsatile tinnitus started.

I had a hearing test and was given hearing aids. I also had an MRI Scan and a Doppler Scan on my neck and was eventually told that because of my hearing loss I was picking up these sounds from the carotid artery which apparently runs very close to the hearing nerve. This of course may not be the cause of your tinnitus but hopefully you will get some answers when you have been seen at ENT.

Lynne

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

Hi Welliboots, I'm glad to see that the lovely community here have been helpful and suggested great ideas for reducing any anxieties that you might have at the moment.

It sounds as though a number of issues are affecting you currently and in lieu of a definitive answer from your ENT consultation, I guess we can only share our personal experiences and resources with you to offer support.

As Lynn suggests below, looking at the Pulsatile Tinnitus guidance on our website might offer you some reassurance about the condition - tinnitus.org.uk/pulsatile-t...

On a broad level, we view PT as indicating either a change in blood flow in vessels in the neck or ear or an increase in your awareness of that blood flow. If you are acutely aware of the pulsing or rhythmic sounds, they can cause alarm as the sensation can feel alien.

We can view it as a secondary indicator that your vital systems are still functioning and there's not necessarily a problem with them, but it's understandable that people do find PT hard to come to terms with.

It can often be emphasized by a mild level of hearing loss - this is referred to as conductive - as the auditory system shifts towards emphasizing easier to hear internal sounds in lieu of being able to process external sounds in the same way.

ENT is arguably the best place to go to have potential causes investigated - hang in there and know that the community and tinnitus support team here at the BTA are available to talk to.

[Jane131]

Hi I have had pulsatile tinitus starting August last year . I have hearing loss . Had mri , seen private consultant as well as my nhs and they said it’s connected to my hearing loss . I hear a constant boom boom boom don’t think it’s my heartbeat as quiet fast . Try not to worry I know it hard I have health anxiety has well . . I try and think it’s my wiring in my ears gone wrong , I can forget it’s there but it’s as if my brain tells me to stop and listen to see if it is 😟the more you worry I find more it’s there xxx

[Chilledartist]

Liam stops tinnitus...........youtube

[BubbleC]

Did you get any answers? I'm also only in my 20s.have had pulsatile tinnitus for 2.5yr but recently I get a pressure/fuzziness that varies in intensity on the right side of my head, alone with my ear feeling fuller and low tone hearing loss. No answers still and getting fobbed off by Dr's as they say its anxiety!!!

[Bridgettt]

Hi, pulsatile tinnitus is not tinnitus, you need to join that forum..... whooshes.com. They have a great website and Facebook page. You will find people there with similar symptoms and this will help you find the right doctor. Look up inter cranial hypertension.... your symptoms sound a bit like this.... just a thought as I am no doctor.