Heartbeat in ear

[MummyTo3Beauts]

Hi all, just wondering if anyone experiences hearing they're heartbeat in their ear? I have no idea if it's anxiety that causes it but once I notice it my anxiety soars. Be nice to know if anyone else gets it

It's called pulsatile tinnitus, and it can be caused by a number of things. I think you're supposed to go to your GP about it (but I've had it a few times and haven't yet 😬🙈).

A lot of the time. Usually when poorly. I can remember as a child thinking it sounded like footstep trudging through snow. I like it.

I spoke to my gp about it last year and they said it was anxiety. Which they seem to say about most things.

Oh, I thought they'd want to check it out a bit more. I still get it sometimes.

They did no checks at all! I get every night.

Have you tried focusing on your breathing (slow inbreath - hold - longer slow outbreath - hold) and listening to your heart rate gradually slow down? I find it reinforces the calming effect of breathing "properly" to actually hear it bringing my heart rate back down.

Helps me. Wonder if it might help break that anxiety trigger cycle? Have you ever tried the Breathe app? Maybe you could give it a try using that and see if you can gradually hear the effect of it?

I used to get that when I was having a panic attack

@ohwheniknow

I will download it now and give it a go thank you. It's always at night when I lay in bed. Only ever in my left ear xx

I get this when my B12 is due. Along with being able to feel my blood pumping round my body.

I get it when I'm anxious and when I'm dehydrated!

And only in bed too. Keeps me awake.

Hi - I have this. Is it subjective or objective? (Ie. Is it in your head only or can someone else hear it if they get close to your ear when you can hear it particularly loudly?). My husband can hear mine when we are in bed - it's LOUD.

Mine is objective, in my right ear and, after multiple head scratching appointments with various health professionals, I had an MRI and they found that the blood system on the right side of my head is much bigger than the left side (when they are usually relatively equal), and I think there is a bit of bone or something that has eroded as a result of the excessive blood flow, which allows the blood to sort of flush around in this particular area. It's not dangerous and I could have a surgery to repair that area, which is supposedly relatively safe and easy, but it may not work, so I didn't bother with in the end.

I find it much easier to ignore now that I know it isn't something serious, and I also find that it seems much less frequent / lower volume when I'm slim (my weight tends to yo-yo wildly so I can compare)

Oops wrote loads then it disappeared!

Gist is - when suffering from this, which I found debilitating, I was immensely stressed about where or what the noise was. So, if you've ruled out any obvious Lego-in-ear scenarios, maybe try listening to a 417 Hz gong meditation (YouTube is your friend).

PTSD anxiety can conspire to stop me from sleeping - I often respond poorly to stress when tired...which makes me more emotional....

Gong music is a fucking lifesaver! Ive used it to get to sleep when very stressed, or mainly just mind-body and needing to turn off.

A word of warning, it does make me sleep very deeply - takes while to wake up. But way less than nytol, and I find it a really clearing sleep.

I get this. In fact, I have it right now.

It is also always in my left ear and only when I'm in bed.

@LittleFoote - I keep having low iron so not sure if that has anything to do with it.

@JetsetJetlaggedJaded - I have never asked someone to listen to it. I will next time someone is awake as late as me! Mines in my left ear. Glad you found the cause of yours.

@8Track - I will give it a go. I'm pretty sure there's no Lego in my ear unless the kids have done it while I'm sleeping 😊

@WoahBodyforrrm - me too, so annoying

I have low iron and get this sometimes as well, could be a symptom?

Hmm. Half my above post is deleted. I assume theres some rule you cant link, so feel free @mumsnet to remove a helpful resource, available free of charge....Super supportive community, innit

Anyway the link was to some 417 Hz meditation and / or gong music of your choice.

@Gossipjunkie22
I was thinking maybe it's a symptom of it too

@MummyTo3Beauts could be.

I kinda got used to the noise tho, more so when I'm lying in bed it's kinda relaxing 😂

Have they found the cause of your low iron? If you have low B12 you will have low iron as B12 is needed to produce red blood cells.

I've got prenisous(sp?) anemia rather than just low B12.

@LittleFoote yes it's my periods. My cycle had changed to every 3 weeks and lasts about 12 days.

I have this at the moment and I have a stinking head cold. I am also staying up too late because of the holidays.

Essentially, it’s the same as other PPs have said: tired, run down and lacking in essential vitamins and minerals. Is it also the time of year? Do you get it in the summer?

@Triglesoffy no I had it this time last year, then was fine for the summer and it came back. I've recently had a sinus infection but it started before that.