FEELING HEARTBEAT IN MY EAR!!!

I had this whooshing in my ear many years ago accompanied with tinnitus -- that high pitched ringing. I noticed that this came on during pregnancy and got worse after I had my son. I put up with it for a couple of years and finally went to the ENT. He immediately diagnosed otoslerosis a genetic disorder where the stapedes (sp) bone in the ear gets calcified due to hormones in pregnancy I had a stapedectomy and had the bone replaced with a tiny titanium rod and bingo the problem was solved. Unfortunately the whooshing seems to have returned. has anyone had a stapedectomy and had the problem return within ten years? Thanks Best of luck to everyone this is beyond annoying.

im 42 and have been hearing my heartbeat in my left ear for almost 3 years now. I have had MRA MRI and a caroid artery ultra sound done.. nothing.... I have been to ENT he said everything was fine... I hate it I cant sleep sometimes. If I put a little pressure on my left artery the sound stops or if I open my mouth the sound diminishes a bit. but I will usually hear it in my other ear in a lighter tone. I wish someone had some answers. I always worry that something serious is wrong. I am a new nurse, and I ask every DR that I see. My own Dr wanted to refer me to a neuro surgeon, nahhh...lol any sugestions...

Please let me know what happenes, as I have had the same symptoms for the last three years, my post is 2 after yours....

I had the anterigorram on Friday 10/17...all went fine. actually was not problem, especialy with the sedative. Felt fine afterwards.

They found a DAVF, in my Sigmoid Sinus. This is a tangle of connections between my carotid artery and veinous system in my dural coating of the brain behind my ear.

I have seen a Nerurosurgoen in Atlanta who has reffered me to a great Neurosurgoeon at Emory. Will be corrected via regular surgery or enovascular. Not life threatening at this time, but is let untreated could cause problems..

Next steps for me are to see Dr.Barrow at Emory and see what he plans to do.

I am real anxious to get it fixed. If anyone has simillar symptoms, feel free to email me at _[removed]_

I will be glad to correspond with you to help.

Take care.
Dave

Many people experience an occasional ringing (or roaring, hissing, buzzing, or tinkling) in their ears. The sound usually lasts only a few minutes. Ringing in the ears that does not get better or go away is called tinnitus. You may hear a sound, such as a ringing or roaring, that does not come from your surroundings (nobody else can hear it). The sound may keep time with your heartbeat, it may keep pace with your breathing, it may be constant, or it may come and go. Tinnitus is most common in people older than age 40. Men have problems with tinnitus more often than women.

See a picture of the ear.
There are two main types of tinnitus.

Pulsatile (like a heartbeat) tinnitus is often caused by sounds created by muscle movements near the ear, changes in the ear canal, or blood flow (vascular) problems in the face or neck. You may hear sounds such as your own pulse or the contractions of your muscles.
Nonpulsatile tinnitus is caused by problems in the nerves involved with hearing. You may hear sounds in one or both ears. Sometimes this type of tinnitus is described as coming from inside the head.
The most common cause of tinnitus is hearing loss that occurs with aging (presbycusis), but it can also be caused by living or working around loud noises (acoustic trauma). Tinnitus can occur with all types of hearing loss and may be a symptom of almost any ear disorder. Other possible causes of tinnitus include:

A buildup of earwax.
Medicines, especially antibiotics or large amounts of aspirin.
Drinking an excessive amount of alcohol or caffeinated beverages.
Ear infections or eardrum rupture.
Dental or other problems affecting the mouth, such as temporomandibular (TM) problems.
Injuries, such as whiplash or a direct blow to the ear or head.
Injury to the inner ear following surgery or radiation therapy to the head or neck.
A rapid change in environmental pressure (barotrauma).
Severe weight loss from malnutrition or excessive dieting.
Repeated exercise with the neck in a hyperextended position, such as when bicycle riding.
Blood flow (vascular) problems, such as carotid atherosclerosis, AV malformations, and high blood pressure (hypertension).
Nerve problems (neurologic disorders), such as multiple sclerosis or migraine headache.
Other diseases. These may include:
Acoustic neuroma.
Anemia.
Labyrinthitis.
Ménière's disease.
Otosclerosis.
Thyroid disease.
Most tinnitus that comes and goes does not require medical treatment. You may need to see your doctor if tinnitus occurs with other symptoms, does not get better or go away, or is in only one ear. There may not be a cure for tinnitus, but your doctor can help you learn how to live with the problem and make sure a more serious problem is not causing your symptoms.

i have been experiencing the pulsating sound. it does sound like a ultrasound. it is so annoying and i have had it for the last 6 months. omg! please go away!!! i have a few tests scheduled for tomorrow hoping it will come up something. it is a mra and something else. the doctor thought it might be a artiery(?) close to my ear. i have told him i'm going to ripped my ear off. it doesn't even go away with putting my fingers on the neck like everyone says. it gives a little relief cause it's not so loud.
i was joking with my employee and told them put your ear next to mine can you hear that? no!! hopefully the tests will give me something to go on, but like a few of you, you have not found anything with these tests. so many people have this and it's just amazing no one has found what it is. with all the medicines out there, there has to be something. i will chat after the tests maybe something, but then i'll have to wait till the doc gets them in his hands and looks at them. wow,,,,, someone help us!!!

Well...here is an update on my Pulsitile Tinnitus symptoms.

I have been diagnosed with a Dural Fistula (DAVF), which is a type of AVM. I have had CT Scans, MRI/MRA, and 2 Angiogram/Arteriograms. As of now, my situation is being diagnosed benign as a Type I DAVF due to the safe drainage of the blood flow. However, the sound is really annoying.

On 12/2, I had a procedure done here in Atlanta to try to fix it via Endovascular Embolization. However, was unsuccessful. The Dr said that the construction of the DAVF could not be safely repaired. The Dr stated that they could not completey obliterate the Fistula, that it could go into a more agressive type and would cause more problems. The neurosurgeons said that they took the conservative approach as to not damage anything further. After an all day stay at the hospital, they sent me home.

A follow-up visit last week, they told me that I have to live with it. They are not reccomending surgery or radio surgery at this time. Said that I will have a final MRI/MRA just to get another baseline on my condition and to set an appt for 2 years from now. Said that it is safe at this point and would not go away. also said there is a risk of it developing more in the future, but not a 'ticking time bomb'.

I have a constant dominant Pulsing sound with my heartbeat (bruit) that I have to use fans and white noise to drown out when it is quiet. Have a bit of pain behind my right ear due to the blood flow. Also had to deal with the challenge of facing that I have a condition that is dangerous, although they say not to try not to worry about it at this time.

Ive spent quite a bit of money, time and worry to get to this point and at least I know what is causing my problem. I also have a plan to manage the situation.

I do count my blessings as I know a lot of people have far worse conditions than this.....so, I'm trying to look on the bright side and to make sure positive things come out of this experience. One of which is to share my story with others in effort to help people learn and cope with a DAVF / Pulsitive Tinnitus. As I have any more information, I will be sure to post.

Happy Holidays to all,
Dave

DAve thanks so much for your post.. I have been hearing the same thing for 4 years now, im sure it is the same as yours, you e-mailed me about it a few months ago. thanks for that. I am praying for God to heal me and you, I know how worry some this is.. wondering if your gonna drop over any minute, and how this might be something that cant be helped. I have thought of it all. and I know you have as well. I believe God is still in control, and I also believe in faith and the power of prayer. I know we dont see our healing, but I believe it will come if we really truly know it will. God can do exceptionally, above and beyond all we do and think. For the power of life and death is in the tongue. Your heartbeat friend Tammie..My e mail is ****

**edited by moderator** **e-mails are not allowed**

I just wanted to post to let you know that this board has been of help to me. My pulsatile tinnitus started at the end of August and this board helped me put a name to the whooshing. From there, I gathered information, took it to my Doctor and she arranged an MRI. The MRI showed a DAVF. I had angiography to confirm and needed endovascular embolization which was performed last week. I am out of danger now and the noise is gone. Thanks again to all on this board.

Hello Everyone,
Well it sounds like I'm not alone, but I might as well add myself to the list.
I started the New Year with a cold, tried Neti Potting while I was quite congested and ended up with an ear infection in my left ear :( (Not how I wanted to enter 2009, but I'm hoping to be well soon)

~I do not have a history of ear infections, never had them before even as a child. I thought I could maybe let it run it's course but after a day or two it was much too painful.

~I went to the Dr. who prescribed ciprodex antibiotic ear drops and ciprofloxacin antibiotic pills, this did not ease the unbareable pain as I had hoped and Tylenol was called in for me (I hate having to take pain meds). I was told these were the strongest antibiotics she could put me on, since she didn't want to mess around.

~I am now through my Antibiotics and have had this loud swoooshing pulsing noise 24/7 in my left ear for two weeks. Nothing decreases the noise, pressing, turning, standing, sitting, lying down...Nothing.

~I do have some pain, not nearly what I had before. Most of the Left side of my head is tender to the touch, occasional stabbing nerve pains in ear, head and neck

~ I am unable to hear out of the left ear, and have a constant clogged feeling, Very poor balance and dizziness.

~ I called the Dr and they recommended I take an over the counter Claritin D, my husband had Allegra D and said that was the same thing.
I've only noticed feeling dizzier (sp?)

~As many of you have mentioned this noise is very annoying and makes it difficult to concentrate on almost anything. I'm a massage therapist and performing massage is more of a challenge with this contant noise. I'm really hoping to find a solution for this soon. This also seems to make me extra emotional. I am usually a very positive person and have not enjoyed feeling miserable as I'm sure many of you feel the same way.

Is there anyone who has found something that has brought them relief?
Any advice is helpful.
Thanks!

Just wondering how much and angiogram cost.. I have no insurance, and have had an MRI and MRA neither one of these showed anything. I know the most reliable test is the angio-so could someone tell me about what it might cost. I have heard my heartbeat now over 3 years.. I have strange pains in my cariod, on the opposite side as the noise. I have been to and ENT as well. I had tubes in my ears at the age of 5, im now 42. I sometimes will hear the heartbeat in the other ear if I press on my caroid, the noise is softer and in a different tone.. I think that is strange to hear it in both ears, any thoughts?????

I suggest you ask your doctor for some cost projections and whether you'd qualify for Medicaid. But I can tell you what my experience has been. My DAVF was diagnosed last August. The cost for an angiogram, MRI, & 2 CT scans, plus consultations and an overnight hospitalization from angiogram complications (mini-stroke) was over $40K. Fortunately, my insurance covered most of it. Unfortunately, the scans were inconclusive: two of four specialists said they showed Type 1 fistula (benign), two said it was Type II (dangerous but not critical). Because the symptoms are changing (pulsatile tinnitus has been replaced by high ringing bilateral tinnitus, etc), I have just had another $6000 test plus consultation. Again, thank goodness for insurance, but what is it worth to you to know what's going on in your head? As I understand it, there's a 30-50% chance you have a benign fistula, many of which clear up by themselves, but there's an equal chance you have one with a moderate or high risk of rupture that could leave you mentally impaired or even kill you. And then there's the cost of treating those. You'll probably want an interventional neuroradiologist-type doctor who does at least 10 of these a year, and a big hospital with a strong neurosurgical department and neurosurgical ICU in case of complications. It's a rather involved operation, requires a team of specialists, and often takes multiple procedures (mainly endovascular), each with a day or two in hospital. All told I'd guess $100-200K. Maybe some of the other folks on this site can tell you what it cost them. Good luck! --Lynne

Hi mbrenton,



Thanks for your info. I've had PT in my right ear for almost a year now. MRA last week revealed an AVM. Will be discussing treatment options with my ENT tomorrow. How was your embolization? Were you in and out of the hospital in a day? How are things going now?

Glad to have found this thread. I went to bed last night and had the swooshing in my left ear...first thing I thought of was it sounded like the heartbeat you hear when you have an ultrasound for pregnancy.

I hope it is something simple but I did have shooting pains in my head yesterday and pain in my left arm as well as a headache today. Have also had slight nausea off and on for weeks. Am 44 and could lose a few pounds.

I don't have medical ins right now so I will have to wait it out...

Thank you for your reply to my post. In answer, my embolization went very well. I was fortunate to be in a world class teaching hospital (Univeristy Health Network - Toronto Western) and also being Canadian I did not have to worry about any cost. I had general anaesthesia and the procedure it self took over 5 hours. I had to stay overnight for observation and I was able to go home the next morning. My follow up MRI and consultation visit will take place in March with follow up angiography scheduled for May. I wish you all the best with your condition. Please let us know how things turn out for you.

Hi mbrenton,

Thanks for your info. I've had PT in my right ear for almost a year now. MRA last week revealed an AVM. Will be discussing treatment options with my ENT tomorrow. How was your embolization? Were you in and out of the hospital in a day? How are things going now?