Very Rapid Objective Pulsatile Tinnitus

I have very rapid objective pulsatile tinnitus. It is like a heartbeat in my ear except about 4 times faster, about 4 beats per second. My wife can hear it just by putting her ear next to my left ear. The doctor can hear it easily too. She put me on Betahistina. Has anyone else taken that? I guess it is to get the fluids in the ear back in balance. Has anyone had something similar or does anyone know what this might actually be called in English?

 

Hi @Chileice,

Is your Tinnitus unilateral (in one ear only) or bilateral? What tests have you had done to confirm that the diagnosis is fluidic and not vascular? Betahistine is an anti-vertigo drug used mostly in labyrinthitis, Meniere's Disease, and other mostly balance-related disorders. However, I've never heard of an anti-vertigo drug being used to treat rapid pulsating sensations in your ear(s). Very interested in hearing more about your experience.

 

I first had it about 3 years ago and it eventually went away. I had another bout last year and again, it went away. This time I went to the doctor. She took my blood pressure to make sure it wasn't related to that. She checked for any abnormal blood flow in the cartoid artery and examined my ears to see if there was antything behind the timpanic membrane. It is only on the left side. She asked about any dizziness or balance issues. I have had a few times when i had mentioned to my wife that I felt like my balance was a Little off. I live in Spain in a small town where it is harder to get to a specialist.

 

@Chileice did you ever find out what was causing the objective pulsatile tinnitus? Mine is caused by middle ear myoclonus and it comes and goes.

 

Can pulsatile tinnitus be cured?

 

@Danny Boy i think it all depends on what's causing the pulsatile tinnitus.

 

I'd admit I have a lack of understanding of pulsatile tinnitus, is it rarer than normal tinnitus? Can trobalt help lower it?

 

@Danny Boy i don't know if trobalt can help it and there are many causes for pulsatile tinnitus mine is objective caused by middle ear myoclonus.

 

Yeah, someone should try trobalt if they have it. I mean, we'd know if potassium modulators can work on pulsatile tinnitus then.

 

@Danny Boy what is trobalt and have you tried it?

 

Yes, I have been using trobalt for many months...My t was 10/10 and is now a 1-2...Look up treatments retigabine on tt for information overload.

 

@Danny Boy my tinnitus is a little different than yours so I don't think the same would work I think the ultimate treatment for me is surgery.

 

Well, it may be worth a try for scientific reasons.

 

I have had what sounds like the same thing as Chileice--a mechanical, usually quite regular beating in my right ear about four times faster than my pulse, its rhythm not in sync with my pulse rhythm. I hadn’t had it in years until I turned onto my left side during sleep and it started again a few months ago. I’ve had a few episodes since, lasting between an hour or so and a few days. No dizziness or balance issues.

I believe Chelles has described the cause of mine. See http://umm.edu/programs/hearing/services/tinnitus (under Objective Tinnitus).

My episodes may correlate with stress and with muscle tensing habits around the face. As a psychologist, I used to moonlight at a TMJ/headache clinic, where we taught patients not to engage in clenching, lip biting, poor posture (which tenses the neck muscles), tongue habits, or just tensing the jaw. It’s moderately difficult but very possible to decrease these habits. It helps to set a timer for 5 minutes and use it for about an hour at a time to catch oneself. It also helps to relax the jaw, face, and neck in good posture for five minutes at a time.

I can’t relax out of pulsatile tinnitus at one sitting, but if I attend to habits and relaxation over a day or two, that may help, as the problem eventually disappears at some point, often overnight.

 

I had a quick sharp pain in my right ear. Not long after that the incessant rapid thumping started. I had vertigo several months ago for which the doctor prescribed a maneuver where you hang your head backwards over the bed and arise at a certain speed. Worked like a charm. I tried the maneuver with this thumping and took magnesium as suggested here. The thumping disappeared. But now it’s back. So annoying! Funny thing, when the furnace came whooshing on, I couldn’t hear the thumping. So now I’m listening to something off YouTube called “best white noise for studying” using earphones. I can’t hear any thumping with that on. I think I will try the Epley (vertigo) maneuver again.