Pulsatile tinnitus. Has anyone ever had it?

[BupcakesandCunting]

I've had it quite mildly for about four weeks now. It started up during a sinusitis flare-up and hasn't really subsided. It only really bothers me at night when it's very quiet and sometimes if I stand up very quickly.

My friend's mum had it and her doctor referred her for an MRI scan to rule out tumours in the ear. It turned out she had a blocked eustachian tube, which is probably what I have. I don't want to go for an MRI so have avoided the doctor. I am VERY claustrophobic and I feel panicky just thinking about having it done.

Just wondering if anyone else had had it and what your experiences were? :)

Desperate bump

YEs!!! Got it when pregnant with dd. was referred for an MRI but referral never came through! I had horrendous morning sickness with her, and it went away when she was born. But comes back ever time I am physically sick, or give blood. It's now intermittent and is getting less and less often. Dd is almost 3.

I only never chased up the MRI because it got less persistent and I figured if it was a tumour I'd probably be seeing other symptoms. If you go to your go you will probably be given an exam and sent for a hearing test before anything else. I was.

Ahh thanks for your reply, HappyHoppy!

Makes sense when you're pregnant because of increased bloodflow and that. Glad it's getting better for you, though!

If it is a tumour it is an acoustic neuroma (as you probably know) which is benign and small growing and often doesn't produce any symptoms so not overly worried about the tumour aspect.

Just worried about the being put in a metal tube for an hour aspect.

I don't know what the pulsatile bit means, but I had tinnitus while pregnant, just in my right ear. It sounded like a washing machine was on spin cycle in the next room. It did gradually get a lot better, and the doc had a look at my 6 week postnatal check and said she could see there was some fluid behind my eardrum but it should disappear over time. Now, 5 weeks later, I don't notice it at all during the day, and at night it sounds like a foghorn in the far distance, like about 100 miles away, so not really an issue any more.

Pulsatile tinnitus is when you can ehar your heartbeat in your ear, Janice.

It does seem quite common in pregnancy.

Do you do anything to dull the noise or is it tolerable?

I have 'normal' tinnitus, constant white noise which fluctuates in volume. It's a right pain.

I have it but only when lying down at night. I am claustrophobic but fell asleep in the scanner, just kept my eyes closed the whole time.
They thought they saw 'a flicker of something' so I've got to go back for another soon. I am a proper health anxiety sufferer but am weirdly not too worried about this.
Good luck.

Mine just came back. I do have a cold though and tis all connected....I would hate the tube for an hour too!

Hedders :( That must be well shite mate.

knackered, how long were you in the scanner? I am a health anxiety crazy lady too but this doesn't worry me so much either. Mainly because I know that the worst it can be is an acoustic neuroma which is easily treated.

I have had this for years. Got really bad when pg but I think it was triggered by a perforated eardrum. I have had MRI looking for the acouustic neuroma (sp?) but nothing. Apparently ac is very common and not fatal.

It gets worse when tired and hungover.

Don't worry. I also claustrophic and took a valium to get into MRI.

Did they give you the valium at the hospital drosophila? Or were you already prescribed it?

I have this too, also only in my right ear. It got very bad during my degree when I went to the doctor and had tablets. After investigations ( a camera up my nose!) it seemed I had a deviated septum, which I had an opertation lined up for to remove part of the septum.

I was on teacher training at the time the operation date came through during a practice, so never had it done. Thankfully, although, it is always there a bit but not too loud, it has died down a lot. My grandad had awful tinitus (the regular type) and my mum was partially deaf too (i too have poor hearing) so I can only assume its heriditary. Good luck getting it sorted.

just re-read drosophila's post, I too had a perforated eardrum and many infections whilst young. Perhaps this is a cause?

I had valium prescribed for fear of flying so I took one (think I am a little anxious generally). I too have deviated septum but specialist didn't say that was cause.

it has eased a bit in recent years.

Strangely I have incredible hearing (specialist was a bit excited at my test results)

Oh, DH had an operation for a deviated septum. It looked effing painful.

I have had a few ear infections actually. Sinusitis was quite bad over christmas, plus various viruses so I am putting it down to that.

:)

I have it. I had a dreadful ear infection a couple of years ago and had a perforated eardrum. I had an MRI scan, but it was clear. My ear has never been the same since then.

Bupcakes, I was in the scanner about 40 mins. Although potentially they think they have seen something I think mine is all connected to muscle tension in my shoulders and face.
You should have it checked though, HA or not.