Pulsatile Tinnitus

[DJR2020]

Does anyone know if it's normal for tinnitus to become pulsatile tinnitus, or are they separate conditions ? I developed tinnitus from platinum based chemo (Sept 20). In the last 6 months I've noticed the whooshing in my right ear, which is getting progressively worse. So at night on top of the tinnitus, I have the whooshing. Reading up about it, I should contact my GP (who is impossible to contact), and I was wondering if anyone else had both conditions. Thank you, Diane

[Happyrosie]

Sorry Diane I don’t have this (fortunately) but no one has replied yet so I thought I would. One of the beauties of T is that it is so variable, both for the individual and between individuals.If you’re in the UK, why not phone the experts British tinnitus association?

[DJR2020 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you Happyrosie... I'll do that tomorrow, much appreciated. Diane

[Feb0618]

Hi Diane, I’ve experienced this the other way around. I’ve had pulsatile tinnitus for about 2 years, been seen by ENT , had an MRI etc but no cause found. Earlier this year I noticed I also now have a high pitched noise in the same ear.I called my GP practice just to make sure there was nothing to worry about. Was seen by the Advanced Practice Nurse who felt I should be referred back to ENT.

Within a few days, I had a letter from the hospital basically saying they would see me at some time in the future if I really wanted them to, but otherwise they were enclosing a leaflet to read and would not be back in touch unless I requested the appointment.

I have decided to just get on with it - if they’re not concerned then I’ll find ways to cope with it!

Hope you manage to get an appointment and at least rule out any possible causes.

[RobertCLL]

I also developed pulsatile tinnitus a number of years ago, but in the last few years I now have both. My normal tinnitus is bad at the moment.

[Dobradee]

Hi, I’m the same as Feb0618, started with pulsatile & then it occasionally moves into a high pitched noise then back to pulsatile- I’m waiting for an angioMRI, god knows what’s going on!

[DJR2020]

Thank you all for your kind replies... I'll have to get in contact with my GP at least to rule out anything serious. I've realised the pulsatile is all day long, you just can't hear it during a normal day, so it becomes ultra loud at night (and quite worrying). I'll let you know how it goes. Thank you, Diane

[DownUnderInAus]

Like a few others here, I experienced pulsatile tinnitus (it started 2 years ago in my left ear) first and then about a year later I developed a hissing tinnitus which is also in my left ear 24/7. So my day / night consists of thump thump thump combined with a constant hiss.

[DJR2020]

Thank you DownUnder - that made me laugh. Did you ever get it checked out for anything sinister, or do you just tolerate it ?

[DownUnderInAus in reply to DJR2020]

Hi, I've had an MRI, a CT Scan of the Temporal Bones, numerous blood tests, 2 carotid ultrasounds scans, a hearing test etc and they are all normal. Where to from here? I have no idea.

[PABLR]

I started with Meniere's related 'normal' tinnitus - a high whine in my left ear which is seriously hearing impaired, a good number of years ago. Pulsatile tinnitus (whooshing) began in that same ear in 2017 or 18. I had an MRI and nothing found. I had another MRI last year and some abnormality was found in a vein, but nothing to worry about and probably not the cause of the pulsatile tinnitus as that had not been found before. Then I suddenly lost most of the hearing in my right ear in March 2020 just as the pandemic was getting going so it took a while to see anyone, but apparently this is pretty typical of Meniere's. Tinnitus started in that ear as well, a high whine at a slightly different pitch and softer than the left ear. Then the pulsatile started in my right ear as well but this time it's a clanging sound, imagine a very gentle railway crossing sound! At any given time I can hear from a minimum of two to a maximum of five sounds going on. Fortunately most of the time it's not too horrible, or I've got used to it to a certain degree. But short answer: it could be something, it could be nothing. Getting it checked is definitely a good idea.

[DJR2020 in reply to PABLR]

Thank you PABLR, that's very interesting. When the tinnitus started last year I had no idea that it would progressively get worse, it's been an eye opener for me. My mother has tinnitus and Meniere's, and all these years she was suffering and ignored. She currently has NHS hearing aids which are useless, and I've already road tested the £2k ones... it looks like I'll be heading that way for sure. At least the hearing aids take the edge off the tinnitus, but are tricky to wear at night, which is why I didn't buy them. And thank you all for your replies, at least I'm not alone with this double horror whammy !

[mmmgggsss]

I have had Pul T since May 2020 and it hasn't been that bad. Although for some it never goes away or gets worse over time that is not always the case. I have it in my left ear and it varies, sometimes its just more noticeable in quiet settings, like when your sleeping. Your anxiety will drop dramatically once you confirm there is no serious medical issue going on, which is almost always the case. Pul tinitus varies greatly, I have had weeks with no symptoms at all and then it comes back. I have done everything I can to try and find out what the triggers are and so far can't figure it out. I am in a band and after band practice after all the loud noise I have no symptoms-which is weird. Other times I notice its there and I have done seemingly nothing to bring it on and have been in a quiet setting all day. I think eating certain foods brings it on for sure especially mustard and carbonated drinks. At night I just use some white noise and I cant hear it, or keep the TV on. Ultimately you will probably be OK with it and get used to it, it bothers me very little any more.

I'm in the US and have had access to great DRs in Boston and have had every imaginable test-its all normal. I even had my wisdom teeth out and lost 20 pounds- it did nothing. The leading theory is that a perfectly healthy vein or artery is just make contact with something in your body and the sound is traveling to your ear. Just like playing telephone with 2 cans and a string. The cause doesn't even need to be in just your head or neck-sound travels. This is especially likely if its just in 1 ear. Something changed in your body, as with all of us, and you now have this new audio connection. Everything in your body changes over time and veins and arteries and small arteries move around a bit, which also explains the variation in sound, intensity and frequency. Furthermore the connection of the audio nerves to the brain are very sensitive and impossible to "observe" but very prone to disfunction. Just as it came it could possibly go....Good luck.

[DownUnderInAus in reply to mmmgggsss]

I like the theory of the "something touching something".., I even suggested this to one of my Dr's. Mine is louder when I twist my neck right, bend my neck downwards towards my chest, sleep on my right side etc. If I maintain good posture it is near impossible to hear it .

[surreycccfan]

I don't have pulsatile T but I know a few people who do have pulsatile and 'normal' T. More info can be found here tinnitus.org.uk/pulsatile-t.... Have you discussed with an Audilogists or ENT, if not then maybe have your GP refer you?

[Swimmizz]

I hope you have found relief Diane. l developed regular ringing tinnitus several years ago and learned to live with it, listening to cricket sounds at night. But a month ago, after months of TMJ and pressure in my temple from a cancer drug, I began having loud pulsatile tinnitus. Both tinnitus were due to inflammation from cancer drugs, plus possibly a pre existing condition of a thinner bone in that part of the ear near the brain. That is what I understand so far. I recently had a CT scan of the head, showing I have a rare condition abbreviated SSCD. It is not reversible. The drugs for my leukemia caused pressure and weakened the bone, and a recent flight, first in years, caused enough pressure for a burst in the bones. So I hear all the whooshing sounds now in my brain. I have an MRI in two weeks. There may be a surgery but very risky, especially for older folks. Trying to figure out how to keep some sanity! Walking, exercising, breathing deeply, music, laughter, and loud masking sounds at night. I miss the good old days of just the cricket recording! SSCD is rare. After my many complaints of head pressure to a good number of doctors no one thought to test for this until I developed the pulsatile...Many doctors have never hear of SSCD. I have been taking Benadryl to get some sleep. Hope to wean off that and take some natural things. We shall see.