To be worried my tinnitus could kill me?

[Thudthudthud]

I have had really loud pulsatile tinnitus in my left ear for the past 4 weeks. It started off only being there at night, and although still bad at night, which is why I’m not sleeping now, it has progressed to being there every day especially when I go from sitting to standing or lying to sitting.
I went to the GP who referred me to the ENT because apparently it can be caused by narrowing of the carotid artery and/or an embolism in the artery. I was told I would be seen soon.
Today I had a letter from the hospital saying that in the current coronavirus situation my appointment was postponed. But if it is caused by a blocked artery or similar how can I wait? I’m terrified I’m going to have a stroke.
Has anyone been through similar before?

I just wish I could make it stop. I can’t drown the sound out and that alone is driving me insane.

Sorry your having to deal with this it must be unbearable and worrying for you. I have no advice but didn't want to read and run.
I think if you have have had no other symptoms of heart issues etc then keep a close eye on it just now.
I would be inclined to contact GP again to say it's getting worse and you need some support and testing. Of course they are busy with the virus etc but this sounds really troubling for you and you need some treatment

I've had this on and off for nearly two years. I haven't been to a doctor about it and nothing bad has happened to me so far, if that's any reassurance.

TakeMeOn do you get yours during the day also? What do you think causes it? How do you cope with the constant noise?

Also let’s say I do have a stroke would I even be able to get treatment at the hospital at the moment?

Yes I get mine during the day, but it's much more frequent at night when I'm lying down. In bed I find it helps if I change position and lie on my other side. Sometimes I have to turn a few times before it stops - maybe it just stops on its own, but I feel like I'm doing something by turning.

I can go for a few weeks without it happening, it's not happened for a while now but I expect it will start up again. I do find the noise irritating, but I don't think it bothers me as much as it does you. Maybe mine is quieter, or maybe it's because I'm used to it now.

Sometimes mine makes more of a fluttering sound. The first time the fluttering sound happened, I was queueing to pay in a shop. I was convinced there was a fly right next to my ear and started batting my hand around to shoo it away. I got some strange looks and it was quite embarrassing.

Before the fluttering I had only ever heard it as more of a beating sound, like a pulse. Originally I had put it down to wax in my ear dripping down (I don't know how I thought that worked but it was the best I came up with). I imagined it to be dripping like a leaky tap and thought the sound I heard was the wax hitting the bottom(sorry for the visuals of dripping ear wax). Eventually I googled it, learned about pulsatile tinnitus and realised it matched the description.

To be honest your concern has made me think that I really should go to the doctor about it when things are running more normally. I have a tendency to sweep things under the carpet when I shouldn't. I know it doesn't help with the noise, but I hope knowing that I've had it for a while and not come to any harm is a bit reassuring at least.

I’d be asking myself what aren’t I listening to? What does my inner voice want to say?

I’ve gone through periods of it, and it’s always an emotional cause.
What happened 4 weeks ago that may have triggered this?

Here’s an interesting link:
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140625184901.htm

If you were at serious risk they wouldn't have postponed it but Ask the Gp for a telephone appointment to discuss your understandable worries

I think A & E in most hospitals is quieter than it's ever been because of people having the same concerns as you OP.
As a tinnitus sufferer myself, I'd suggest masking the noise with a white noise app and doing some deep breathing.
If you're showing other stroke symptoms then of course get to A&E asap, but there is a fair chance its "just" stress (which in itself can be very difficult). I hope you feel better soon.

Can you start taking a 75mg aspirin each night?

Also let’s say I do have a stroke would I even be able to get treatment at the hospital at the moment?

Yes, you will still get treated.

Low B12 was the cause the pulse sound/ringing in my ears. I have regular injections of B12 now and I always know when the next one is due because the pulse and sometimes vertigo starts up.
See if you can have some blood tests.

I have this! Only in one ear though and quite loud.
I had a few scans done when it first showed up to check for what you are concerned about and nothing suspicious showed up. Had a bunch of ear tests too and the verdict was other than hearing loss in one ear everything is healthy. My brain is trying to compensate for the hearing loss and amplifying internal sounds it would normally ignore.

That was about three or four years ago and I still have it. I’ve gotten pretty good at ignoring it most of the time now so it doesn’t bother me that much any more.
Anyhow hopefully yours is nothing serious too!

Here op. From the British Heart Foundation's website. Try not to worry.

Tinnitus can occur without any apparent reason. If you're really distressed as to a potential serious cause then contact your gp again. In the mean time in order to cope with it there are a number of techniques you can use. Treat it as you would a background noise, like road traffic, trains passing etc. It's training your brain to understand that it's not a noise to pay attention to and therefore lessen the noise. It can cause stress, be aggravated by stress , being very tired, being unwell and so on. It can become almost a barometer of how you are. Usually it's not a sign of something serious but as I said if you are still very worried phone the gp. Look up tinnitus support online for advice on coping techniques. Take care

I have horrible tinnitus, have had it for more than a year now, and after doing the usual google check, discovered that my type of tinnitus is the pulsatile type, there are several types it seems. Mine is constant,night and day, and keeps me awake for ages.

I just try and live with it mainly,but know I should get it checked out. I am a bit hard of hearing in my right ear, and always thought tinnitus was in your ears, but this pulsatile type noise, seems to be in my head, and seems to go with your breathing pattern, as though you can hear the blood rushing through your veins to your head.

If I get distracted, as watching tv, or reading,or housework, or even gardening, I tend not to notice it, but being peaceful, like lying in bed etc, it is truly horrible.

How old are you? Mines caused by menopause (I'm 35 but premature ovarian failure) had mri etc all fine. (I have lots of menopause neurological stuff)

Obvs good to get it checked but thought a simple cause might help as an option to think of?

I’m 29 and otherwise healthy. Very stressed at the moment but isn’t everybody? I also have clogged sinuses and I did wonder if the two were related but can’t find any info. Had blood tests that all came back clear. I’m mostly worried because GP seemed concerned, talked about an urgent appointment and now I’m not getting that. I understand why, just don’t know how to deal with the noise and the anxiety until I can get checked out properly.

Sounds v likely to be sinusy ent related. Appointment will be to rule out much less likely stuff.

That's not meant to sound dismissive btw. I was v anxious prior to my urgent tests.

The probability is in your favour here though.

OP The reason it appears worse at night is because everything else (in general) is much quieter at night. I've had Tinnitus in both ears for almost 20 years and have found that stress will increase the noise, so I've had to learn to remain calm...sometimes easier said, than done. I have a radio or music playing 24/7 as white noise and find this helps a lot.

I would imagine if the doctor thought there was a risk of other problems they would have warned you and while I'm not medically trained can't give medical advice, but for me, I would try (very hard) to relax, not drink alcohol (makes the noise worse) and maybe take some paracetamol to make me sleep.

I've also found some foods make mine worse and I've almost given up on alcohol totally, it's just not worth the noise that follows. If another of my medical problems is about to flare up, then the tinnitus gets louder too, kind of like an early warning system, this also happens if I don't get enough, or interrupted, sleep...thanks to the neighbours 2 x barking dogs.

Not everyone has the same symptoms so test these for yourself and take note if they affect you, then you know next time. Just prior to Xmas I had another hearing test and was told my hearing is perfect it's just the noise in front of the hearing which is a pita.

Do hope some of this helps and please try not to stress....I know this is easier said than done, specially when you are worried and newly diagnosed. In the beginning I thought I would go mad but as I've learned to accept it and relax, most days it's a lot better than it used to be, although there are often trigger events at times too.

Wishing you all the best and hope it settles. ;-)

For me when it gets bad I’m low in iron and I know when I get it now to take iron supplements.

I also have it permanently due to ear damage from going to gigs a lot (before earplugs were suggested as important) and it does get a lot worse at night when I lie down but like I said when it gets really bad like screaming then I know I’m deficient In iron.

I really wouldn't panic. I've had tinnutis for 29 years now and it's not killed me.

I go through phases of getting it worse, and I've had it really bad the past month. You'll notice that whenever you are in a quiet room that it's worse. Background noise helps it. Nighttime's are worse as you both are in a quiet place and have no distractions.

Can you pay for a private carotid artery scan? The same companies that do baby scans do these

I can’t afford a private scan unfortunately. Could maybe do it when I’m paid at the end of April. Worried that’s too far away. The noise isn’t just tinnitus although I’ve had that before, it’s perfectly timed to my heartbeat.