I have a right jugular bulb that showed up on the MRI.
Basically, this causes pulsatile tinnitus. I tend to experience pulsatile tinnitus (a loud thudding heartbeat in my ear) when I am bending down or after strenuous activity. It is a separate sound/experience from the ongoing ringing that is tinnitus.
This is a little technical explanation
The jugular bulb is a venous structure, that can be located close to the inner ear. The jugular bulb is not present at birth but develops over time.
I was actually relieved to have something show up on the MRI!
Something to explain ...well, something...
This was after years of living with tinnitus and not really feeling seen nor even believed. Tinnitus can somehow make some "sense" if one was a musician or a war veteran.
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camino9
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I have been reading about it as mine came up large, apparently if it pressing on the middle ear at all, it can cause pulsatile tinnitus and I read that it may be able to be operated on ?
Yes, that is what I was told Abba...But most doctors view this as a final resort as all operations close to the brain carry risk (I was not infused with confidence when I heard this)
Hi camino9 I saw this on your profile and wondered what it was .. Thanks for explaining. I know what you mean about T making sense. I've struggled with all the whys. Is there anything the docs can do for you - in relation to your jugular bulb?
Hi dog lover. Yep, for sure a struggle with the whys in relation to the ongoing ringing. I was exhausted from the questioning and also the ringing. Thus acceptance is my way of sanity and enjoying a quality of life..
Regarding HJB, Yes, I believe an operation is something that is "viable"...meaning a risk as anything close to the brain is. Most doctors/specialists don't recommend this or see it as a desperate last resort. Perhaps someone else has a differing viewpoint..
How interesting…I have only recently developed Tinnitus & I was convinced it was caused by the Covid 19 vaccinations…..& that It would hopefully fade away.
However years ago I had surgery on my cervical spine after a whiplash car accident & over the years I developed the loud thudding heart beat( & palpitations) you describe are caused by a HJB, if I lie on my back at night.
Tbh I believed It was the pressure of my skull on the pillow pressing on one of the damaged nerves….. But maybe not?
I mentioned it to my doctors when it first started & they didn’t seem concerned…..however I wouldn’t have contemplated surgery…..now I’m an old lady ….I regard it as a nuisance … & as I’ve lived with it for so long now…I’m working on the premise - if it ain’t too broke- leave it alone.
Yeah, I get that aged crone. Crones may be crinkly, but they are wise. As I understand it, HJB is an anatomical abnormality; Something that one is born with, but produces the T later on in life.
It will show up on an MRI.
The constant ringing is debilitating, but I am managing. I am still here, so to speak. The pulsatile tinnitus is something added on to this experience (but not all the time, thank goodness). I find that I am less inclined to be social these days. I need a lot of solo time. a lot. Today is my birthday. I have no plans apart from going to a yoga class.
Thanks for sharing this. Out of interest, which parts of your head did the MRI scan cover? Just the brain and inner ear? I've had a thudding/whooshing pulsatile tinnitus for 3 years now in one ear, which sounds similar to yours (in rhythm with my heartbeat and happens when bending down, after strenuous activity or sometimes when lying in certain positions). It started at around the same time as some other neurological issues, which are all still ongoing and unexplained, and an MRI scan showed only a "vascular loop", which was deemed unrelated at the time.
Do you also have any persistent high-pitched ringing?
Good morning (or evening), Ocean Sun!The head--so, I assume the brain and ears.
Yes, I have a persistent high-pitched ringing. This is 24-7. Of late it has even grown louder. It can really be so very difficult. Having solitude is the only way I can cope.
The pulsatile tinnitus is like a heart thudding in my ear. Like you experience. This is not all the time--but yeah: bending down, and lying in a certain position is, high strenuous activity. I would say "vascular loop" is absolutely related!
Just appears there is no substantial research (sigh).
This article may not directly address your situation, but it is fairly recent and you may find it helpful. All the best to you. Take care
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