My GP didn't listen to me - what next?

[BarnabySaidNo]

I have pulsatile tinnitus in one of my ears.

Everything I read online (on sensible medical sites, not on spurious medical chat boards) says that he should have done certain things about it - listened to blood flow in neck etc. The only thing he did do is look in my ears - which are completely clear as I expected.

My blood pressure is also high (which he is addressing - I am going to have a 24 hr monitor in a couple of weeks time).

He thinks the pulsatile tinnitus is caused by anxiety (which I do suffer from but not about medical things) because I said it is worse at night and causing me sleeping problems (because obvs it is silent at night and I am trying to sleep so it is much more noticeable then).
I haven't read anything which suggests anxiety causes it. There are however, a few nasties which should be checked which can cause it - I've had it for about a month.

Shall I wait three weeks before I go back for the results of the blood pressure thingy or go back and see someone else?

pulsatile tinnitus is very common and in most circumstances, just one of those things. It is also a side effect of high blood pressure.

Anxiety and stres can cause it or certainly makes worse (as told to me by my ENT consultant).

Do you have any other worrying symptoms that makes you think it could be a sign of something serious?

I have a racing heart at times which is what made me check my blood pressure. Also I have been getting a lot of headaches. Other than that I’ve been ok. Although I have been a bit anxious I think the tinnitus is making me more anxious as sleep is becoming a bit problematic.

Did you have it? What was the cause of it?

I have this too.
I have regular tinnitus and also pulsatile, both in my right ear. As it is only in one ear and can sometimes be caused by a benign tumour, I was referred by my gp to see an ENT consultant. They then sent me for an mri, luckily, all was ok.
I too suffer from anxiety and I also have anemia which can contribute to it.
If your worried ask your gp to be referred to the ENT department.

@twoweekcruise thanks for that. I thought GP would do that has I have had numerous problems with my ears over the last few years anyway. I will ask to be referred if this persists. I managed to sleep last night with the help of a tablet (over the counter one) but it’s whooshing away now I’ve woken up.

I've had it for two years now and at times, it's unbearable. Because I also suffered from dizziness and vertigo, I was referred to an ENT but my hearing was perfectly normal (indeed, never really had a problem with it). My balance test came back a bit wrong and he diagnosed lasting complications from a previous ear infection (labyrintitis). He said that the tinnitus was 'one of those things' and without a doubt triggers or exacerbated by stress.

I have other symptoms though that links with tinnitus, but it could be a number of things, in my case, vit b12 deficiency or the perimenopause. Tinnitus alone is very common and rarely anything to worry about. High blood pressure does cause tinnitus and headaches as does anxiety.

@swimgofthings - poor you, that sounds awful. It is interesting that anxiety can trigger it though, i’ve read that it can exacerbate it but not trigger it. Bloody anxiety.

Thanks Barnaby. The thing with anxiety is that once it becomes chronic, you don't even realise you have it any longer!

I'm naturally a very resilient and rational person, so anxiety I don't do.... except that when I really think about it, I am constantly worried about things, not to the point of panic or wanting to avoid the situation, but constantly thinking about things, planning, wondering what if, that sort of over thinking. It gets worse with age :)

Tinnitus is often worse at night as it gets quiet and thinking goes on overdrive. There are apps that can really help drowning it. I don't use them because I've just learnt to accept the tinnitus. It's not the worse of my symptoms although when it gets really bad, so does the feeling of pins and needles and the two together makes me quite miserable!

Hi Barnaby - how did you get on?