So glad…

[Headbanger23]

…that I’ve found this forum! I’ve suffered with T for over 10 years but the last 12 months or so it seems to have worsened and after reading many stories, I do believe I have Pulsatile Tinnitus. I go to bed tired, fall asleep, then about 2-3 hours later I wake up with a pounding in my head, whooshing in my ears, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, pain in back of the neck and tightness and pain on top of my head. I get the weirdest sensation and I’ve thought in the past it was a stroke symptom…very scary! I don’t sleep well afterwards and am exhausted all day. Can anyone relate to my symptoms? I’ve been told my cholesterol is quite high, 5.9 and doc wants me on statins. Does anyone know if there’s a link between the 2? I hate the idea of statins but wonder if they’ll relieve these symptoms as apparently, cholesterol is produced at night.

[Happyrosie]

as far as cholesterol goes, my doc persuaded me to take them some years ago (I was very sceptical). It brought my chol down from the very top of normal down to a more acceptable level WITH NO SYMPTOMS. Made no difference to T.

There was a small study done a couple of years ago where a statin was given to half the participants and a dummy to the rest. There was no difference in the symptoms that the participants reported, the conclusion being that if you want to get side effects from statins then you will.

And the older you get the more your sleep gets disrupted, statistically.

[Headbanger23 in reply to Happyrosie]

Many thanks Happyrosie for your feedback. Did the participants of the study you mentioned all have tinnitus??

[Happyrosie in reply to Headbanger23]

You’ll remember that some years ago people were reporting side effects from taking statins so this study was to test whether the side effects were, in fact, from statins. As I remember it, there was little difference between those taking statins and those taking the placebo. Tinnitus wasn’t, to my recollection, one of the side effects reported, more to do with pain. I read the report in newspapers so I’ve no idea how to find the study and reread it!

[Fridays_Child_62]

It seems to me that your Doctor needs to investigate the underlying cause of this nightly ordeal, as the tinnitus appears to be just one symptom. Or have they decided it's high cholesterol?

I took statins for a little while. The Doctor initially prescribed atorvastatin, which is one of the most common. However, I found that it is ototoxic (poisenous to the ear) and can cause tinnitus and dizziness - one article had it in the Top 20 drugs linked with tinnitus. So I didn't take it and asked to be switched to rosuvastatin - although also ototoxic, the possible side-effect seems to be linked more with dizziness.

[Maydays]

These symptoms sounds just like me and because they change so much it is hard to adapt. I am awaiting for an ENT app. I don't feel confident of a helpful outcome. White noise machine enables sleep so I do recommended if you don't have one. I wish you peace

[sonnshein]

I'm pleased you mentioned the other symptoms of your T as I thought it was only the noises. I get many sensations including ears feeling completely blocked, a kind of an electrical buzz that most disturbing, over sensitivity sensation of the ears and on occasions a panic attack. I often think are they part of T or is there something else amiss and T is a symptom of something else.

I do find relaxation techniques helpful and listening to some of the calming classical CDs that are on the market.

[Hidden in reply to sonnshein]

I have it just like your comment. I have an appointment at the hospital in 4 weeks.

[Headbanger23 in reply to Hidden]

It will be interesting to know the outcome of your appointment. Please can you let me know as it’s impossible for me to get an appointment to see a doctor! Good luck 🤞

[Hidden]

That is a problem here too, my appointment has been cancelled3 times. I need to know what is going on in my head,I have the exact same problem as you and worry in case there is something else going on in my head. I will probably have an MRI! I went to see a doctor at the hospital last year, I had a MRI then never heard anything from them, I was moving house so I let it go, my tinnitus has definitely got worse so I got to get it checked. My GP looked for any follow up in my last check on the computer but there was nothing about it at all. I have no confidence in NHS at all nowadays.

[Headbanger23 in reply to Hidden]

You have my sympathies, it’s a terrible situation with the NHS! Of course the more we worry about our symptoms, the worse they get. I had an MRI on my neck last year as i have issues there as well and they said it was arthritic. My osteopath who treats me is convinced the pains, dizziness, nausea and whooshing etc in my head is all neck related. It does seem to ease after I’ve had a treatment from him but it’s only short term. It’s the awful nights when you can’t sleep, the heart is racing (because we worry more) and are convinced something awful is going on which I hate. I do deep breathing, meditation etc which helps temporarily but I guess the comfort I get from this is knowing we are not alone and so many others are experiencing the same symptoms. Do you have neck or posture issues? That may be worth checking. Anyway good luck with your appt and I’d be most interested to hear how you get on.