I’m new to this forum but have been on the UK Atrial Fibrillation (AF) forum for a year.
I don’t know what came first but certainly my tinnitus was dx first and I was told by an audiologist not to focus on sounds!
A year on and still symptomatic I’ve noticed my acute sound sensitivity (like I have bionic hearing for low sound) mostly comes on when I’m experiencing AF!
I think it’s the vagus nerve could be affecting both conditions.
Any thoughts?
Your post is interesting to me as I have tinnitus and AF but have never really connected the two - the T came a good ten years before the AF diagnosis. I also went through a phase of acute noise sensitivity, known as hyperacusis, a few years ago. It was in the aftermath of some kind of hearing 'event' (possibly caused by a virus) in which I had an episode of ear pressure and partial hearing loss in one ear. With the hyperacusis it seemed that everything was louder than it should be, sometimes to the point of being uncomfortable, although there was no pain as some people have. It went away after a few months but I think it is back again mildly now, along with heightened T.
Almost immediately after my hearing event, I was also quite poorly generally, feeling weak and sometimes faint, with symptoms of poor blood circulation. The Doctors thought the betablocker for my AF was slowing down my heart too much, although I had been taking it for ten years with no ill effects. I don't know whether the two conditions arrived more or less together by coincidence or they were connected in some way.
I had never heard of the vagus nerve but it is food for thought. I will look into it when I have more time.
I found this article interesting caringmedical.com/can-repai...
Mi T appeared after a stomach surgery that did not go very well, I suspected that they damaged some nervers (posibly the Vagus nerve). My T got worse and I developed hyperacusis too. I am sure there is a link but it is difficult to investigate. And no treatments out there.
I too had surgery, cut down the middle to remove a small intestinal tumour. When they put me back together they couldn’t close my mesentery so used mesh. The feeling in that area never returned (been 5 years) so obviously nerve damage and agree it’s to the vagal nerve as also developed atrial fibrillation along with tinnitus. This feed also interesting if you can access it: healthunlocked.com/afassoci...
My story is long but I will quickly get to the diagnosis which very much concerns the vagus nerve.
After starting tinnitus in 2013 …every reason / cause was investigated and every treatment that I wa s happy to try was tried.
I began to manage it through acupuncture, natural supplements ( working with a nutritionist ) breathing classes, pilates, yoga …and sleeping tablets when I get desperate.
I never felt great though. i was a changed person, a lost personality
Then earlier this year everything started to get worse…my tinnitus screeched and went into into ears, headaches, nausea, extreme fatigue, involuntary actions not functioning properly, no voice, lack of use of neck.muscles, dizziness, lack of concentration, poor digestion, very low blood oxygen levels, .The list goes on.
In April I was so ill that my husband literally carried me to the doctors .I was immediately taken to hospital in an ambulance and I saw various specialists. The outcome was that I had a non-covid virus but nothing specific could be found that was wrong with me.
It was very difficult to spot what exactly was wrong but eventually it was realised it was a neurological problem and I had a brain scan.
And yes it showed long term damage to the VAGUS nerve….which pretty much controls all involuntary actions . With 4 areas of inflammation in the brain where the Vagus nerve enters the brain.
That answer ticked a lot of boxes.
So my vagus nerve is now being repaired …or rather my body is being assisted to repair its own vagus nerve…...with natural supplements prescribed by the neurologist, rest, healthy eating , learning to slow down, the correct form of exercise etc etc.
That was June. It’s now September I am feeling better day by day…and next MRI will be end October to hopefully see improvements in the areas of inflammation.
But yes, without a doubt, the VAGUS NERVE is key to all of this…in my case
I hold out a remote hope that my tinnitus might eventually improve too
Hope this might be of interest of even hope to some of you
wow what a story! I’m sure your medical history is unusual and it’s good that the cause was found
Hi, your story is interesting. I’ve had T for 40 yrs. it’s now pretty chronic Ispecially after a Covid vaccine of which I’ve had 4 doses. I’m learning to live with the T though it does get scarey . This Vagus nerve theory is likely as when I’m poorly ( after a Covid booster ) my T is through the roof and quite frightening. I’ve always felt it was a motor issue and nothing to do with my ears although I destroyed my ears with a Sony Walkman in the seventies. I’m 70 tomorrow. Tried an antidepressant for a week which made it worse (as stated on the information page accompanying the medication so why they asked me to try it only heaven knows? Whisky used to help but not any more!
Do keep us posted on the vagus theory and good luck.
I didnt realise an mri can see the vagus nerve. What natural supplements were you prescribed?
Sorry, I think maybe I didn’t press post ! The MRI didn’t show the vagus nerve itself but showed 4 areas of inflammation in the centre of my brain where my neurologist says the vagus nerve enters the brain .
Supplements are a simple regime but high quality from The Natural Dispensary which my nutritionist uses.
CoQNOL. 100 for brain function.
Magnesium with Hawthorn complex
A high quality multi vitamin ( I have PURE )
Vit D3 Complete 2,000iu
Rhodiola
I dont know what age or gender you are so this was prescribed specifically for me a ( usually) fit, healthy eating 64 year old woman .
Hope this is of help
Going into panic mode
Can’t mask T to sleep 
Yay new sound today 😐
Looking for any help with this unbearable noise.
Pulsatile tinnitus more troublesome around noise
