What does Pulsatile Tinnitus "feel" like?

[daverussell]

The last few weeks have been like a game of symptoms bingo and I feel close to a full house. I've been given a full alphabet of suggested diagnosis by different medical professionals. The rest is anyone's guess, but anything serious has been ruled out so that's something.

My symptoms all relate to hearing. e.g..Hyperacusis, Tinnitus, vertigo and dizziness, but including some memory loss and processing. Not to mention added stress and anxiety. Note: I'm under the care of a neurologist and awaiting another MRI scan on Friday, so all as good as it can be.

My main question is do I have (or is one of my symptoms) also Pulsatile Tinnitus?

I'm asking on this forum as those of you who have Pulsatile Tinnitus might be able to relate to what I'm trying to describe. I'm aware it's a symptom of something else, as I say it's all in hand. I'm just curious about Pulsatile Tinnitus.

So...

The typical description of Pulsatile Tinnitus suggests you can "hear" your heartbeat. I specifically ask what does it "feel" like as what I'm experiencing is not so much a sound but a sensation/feeling. So, as I've learnt with subjective tinnitus, there's nothing textbook about it - mainly because it includes so many comorbidities.

I can best describe it as a pulsating down both sides of my head and my inner ears, or towards my inner ear.

This "feeling" accompanies my dizziness and vertigo - until recently this was hardly, if rarely, and barely noticable. But in the last week or two, it is being triggered more and more by up and down movements (I do circuit training classes - and adapt as much as I can). It also occurs when I turn my head to the side, when ascending/descending steps.

I previously thought the what was a mild sensation was caused by stress/anxiety, but now this is more likely causing stress/anxiety.

Can Pulsatile Tinnitus suffers here relate to this? Maybe I got this wrong! I'm just curious.

[Upbeatmap]

Hi Dave

I have a condition called SSCD which results in many of the symptoms you described, including PT. It is very much audible (a bit like sleigh bells being continuously rung behind my head) but I also feel it a bit like pressure in my head is pulsing with the sound. It is worse when my heart is beating faster and also when I stand up quickly.

It may be worth you looking into SSCD as it is not picked up by an MRI. Diagnosis involves having a CT scan at a specific angle as well as something called a VEMP test.

If you have it, the good news is that it can sometimes be resolved through surgery. The bad news is that I had the surgery 3 times and it didn’t completely resolve it for me. I was told that those that have it on both sides (which I do) tend to get an unfavourable outcome from the surgery.

Hope this is useful. Take care

[daverussell in reply to Upbeatmap]

Very useful. Thank you.

Can I shout HOUSE? Well maybe not yet. It's the first time I've heard a suggestion that can be cured. Well I can at least stamp one of the our corners for a bonus, so even if I get a top or bottom line that's far better that this crap I'm feeling. I'm getting bored of it now.

Thank you very much.

[Angelicscripts6]

I've pulsating tinnitus caused by I'm lead to believe by my neck ..ENT explained due to my neck All disc's gone with ostepyhes on all sections lost curvature of neck. What's happening is the blood vessels are bouncy of inner ear So I've constant pulsating tinnitus Yes it's a constant thud even as I'm writing its going thud thud up my left-side Ear does my bloody head in ! Audiology did hearing test to discover I'm slightly deaf in left ear too .They prescribed ear pieces to minimise to no avail after an hr it makes it worse . I do try to ignore but some days are worse than others ...Good luck

[daverussell in reply to Angelicscripts6]

Thank you for the reply and sharing your experience. I have subjective Tinnitus 24/7 so understand completely.

[OceanSun]

Hi Dave,

I have pulsatile tinnitus on the left side only, in addition to the constant high-pitched ringing. I experience the pulsatile tinnitus as a low-pitched, whooshing noise in rhythm with my heartbeat. It's almost like the sound of wind rushing past my ear. This generally happens only when the blood flow to my head increases, i.e. when bending forward, straining etc.

MRI scans haven't identified the cause in my case.

Take care

[daverussell in reply to OceanSun]

Thank you. Very interesting.

The sensation I have is almost certainly blood flow given movements that trigger it. I just wasn't sure if I could call it "Pulsatile Tinnitus", as I could hear it as such.

[Comeonyouspurs]

I though that it was the noise in your head but in the rythm of your heart beat rather than one continual noise.

[daverussell in reply to Comeonyouspurs]

Me too. But it does feels like a pulsating sensation rather than a continuous noise. For me, it is triggered by movement that would suggest it could be linked to my blood flow/increases blood pressure.

[Angelicscripts6 in reply to daverussell]

I've cerebrovascular brain disease it's quite severe for my age & on blood thinners cannot take statins. Narrowing of cartoid artery doesn't help either You mentioned bending down makes it worse ..high blood pressure I've got & have some weird symptoms.. blood forced through veins pulsate with each heart beat...have blood pressure checked 😉

[daverussell in reply to Angelicscripts6]

This is certainly something I will request when I get my latest MRI results and depending on the outcome. Many thanks and best of luck on your recovery/journey.

[dutyhog]

My right ear only PT is certainly whoosing in syncronisation with my pulse. It's louder without the hearing aid in (I suppose that's because aids amplify sound around me and somewhat mask the PT), and quieter when I rest that side of my head down on a pillow at night (or otherwise block the ear).

[Tlflom]

Pulsing Tinnitus is due to an association with a blood vessel or artery. This can be more easily treated. Steady tinnitus is more associated with damage to damage to the thread like nerve that communicates with the brain. A study was done on deaf people with tinnitus. This nerve was severed and the tinnus was either the same or worse. Proving is is not a hearing problem. There are many research results that can be found online. I am having some results from an energy healer. She is a highly recommended reiki master. I hope your journey leads you to positive results.

[lifeseeker]

Hi Dave,

How are you now? You had a lot going on. The fact you dont come on here, is a good guess you are a lot better xx

[daverussell in reply to lifeseeker]

Hi @lifeseeker I am a lot better, but it still has it's moments. I find social and busy situations difficult. In fact, last week I was at an 80th party for my father-in-law. They're very loud, so I kept out of the way. I was also having a conversation about a weekend away with friends, which I'm avoiding as it's probably going to be loud with lots of drinking.I've found a new job and reduced my sertraline from 150mg to 25mg. From speaking to a therapist and research a majority of the problems Im faced with are an addiction to sertraline. By my nature, the last thing I needed was a pick-me-up. After two years it's been a battle dropping the dosage. My therapist, is excellent (but more of a life coach). Not cheap, but it's helped massively which I cannot put any value on. These have all helped hugely, but part of acceptance and moulding new habits. Part of looking at a new lifestyle was also rebuilding habits. I wondered whether, this forum may have drawn me into bad habits of overthinking - it just something to re-evaluate and rebuild.

I do often think of all you guys. In fact, I was going to find time to put something together about my journey.

Thank you for getting in touch. More importantly I hope you are well.