Angiogram

Hello! I just found this forum.
I have been suffering from Tinnitus since 2013.
It started as a low sporadic hum. I went to my doctor and he said I have Tinnitus and to take some decongestants and it would go away. Didn't work.
The tinnitus kept getting worse and more frequent. 6 months ago my friend hugged me tight with her head next to my head. She jumped back because she could hear the noise! I then realized that if I push my carotid artery the noise isn't as loud.
I scheduled another appointment with a new doctor and had an ultrasound done on my carotid artery as well as testing with an ENT. Everything came back negative. Nothing could be found. I was told since the noise doesn't seem to be hurting me, to just try and ignore it.
I am in sales and I engage with customers all day. Over the next few months, the noise became louder and was happening everyday, all day. It became almost debilitating and difficult to hear customers. In addition, I would get terrible headaches and get lightheaded and dizzy.
I went back to the doctor. She then referred me to a neurologist. I go to the neurologist and she asks me questions and then begins to listen to my head with a stethoscope. She leaped off the table because she could hear the noise. She said she has never heard that before. She ordered a MRI and CT scan. The CT did show that I have a vascular loop at the base of my brain but she said that there is another reason for the sound. I was referred to a neuro vascular Doctor.
This brings me to today. I have an angiogram scheduled for Tuesday the 16th. The neuro vascular doctor said he is certain that I have a fistula in my brain. He also thinks something else may be going on. He said after he locates the fistula, I will probably need to have it embolized.
#1 has anyone had an angiogram of the brain and #2 has anyone had an embolized procedure?
Thanks in advance!

 

Thank you so much for the information! I will definitely take a look at that site!
Thanks again for your kind words

 

August 14, 2016

This the sound I hear. I recorded it. If you stand next to me you can hear it as well

 

Jesus Christ!!

Ahem, yes I have had an angiogram done. Not the classical one but a computed tomography angiogram. It's really simple and quick. It's basically a CT scan, except they scan you with a contrast agent. The contrast will give you a temporary hot flash throughout your entire body and will make you feel like you have to pee. It's iodine that they inject into you. If it's a CT angiogram (CTA) then don't worry about it. There is also an MRA, which is a magnetic resonance angiogram. It's basically an MRI specifically for blood vessels. I don't know much about the other types of angiograms, but here is a link:

https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-tests/a/angiogram-arteriogram/types.html

 

I have the one where they are going through the groin and shooting dye. I'm trying not to freak

 

I wouldn't worry too much about that one either. When my father had a heart attack they went through the groin to clear his vessels and put a stent in. He said he didn't even feel it when they put it in.

 

That's good! Thank you for your encouragement

 

Sounds like pulsatile tinnitus for sure. You're one of the lucky ones, possibly. Haha

 

Yes the neuro vascular Doctor thinks it's a fistula so we will see.
If I would of thought of recording this before it would of saved me a lot of aggravation! The doctors kept saying it was Tinnitus but it's not a ringing! Lol! Frustrating

 

Hi Stephanie

I hope this finds you well however what came of your Angiogram?

 

Hi there! Since this initial thread, I have had 2 angiograms (by 2 different doctors/hospitals), countless mri’s, ct scans, ear-nose check, hearing check, heart check, carotid check... and no one can find out what is causing it. Second doctor that did my 2nd angiogram was 99% convinced that it was a fistula.
No one knows what’s causing it. Everyone can hear it.. even audibly but can’t figure it out. It’s beyond frustrating! It’s so loud!

 

Incredible,
your objective tinnitus must be caused to my opinion by an arterial stenosis of a large artery (A. carotis or A. vertebralis) or an arteriovenous fistula.

This german paper is one of the best:
https://www.aerzteblatt.de/int/archive/article/141577

 

Thank you for this article. It is beyond frustrating when medical professionals HEAR the sound but have solution to the problem. I’ve been told “ Don’t worry, it doesn’t seem to be hurting you, so don’t worry” ... Really??? This noise is NOT normal! And because no one knows what’s causing it, can they really say it’s not hurting me?? I have daily headaches, pressure in my neck/head, often I feel like the back of my head has a bruise!
Again, thank you for the article. There are things mentioned that I have never heard of

 

How are you doing now? I'm having a fistula investigated myself. Where are you being treated/tested?

 

I almost burst into tears. It's loud on camera. I can only imagine how it feels inside of you. I don't want to sound depressing so I wont but I hope for the best and pray for your relief.

I was diagnosed with T today...by an urgent care md and am scheduled to see a specialist soon. I can relate to your experience with the lack of compassion. He looked at me and gave it to me blunt which wasn't so bad but he immediately minimized the whole thing and made it seem almost irrelevant. He offered his professional advice so it wasn't all bad.

Anyway stay positive. We're all wishing for your recovery.

 

Hello Stephanie19115. I was diagnosed with pulsating tinnitus in September 2017. I have had an CATA, MRA and a cerebral angiogram. All images have come back clear. My PCP told me not to have the cerebral angiogram because I had the MRA but I didn’t listen. I ended up having six infarctions during the procedure after the catheter dislodged plaque that broke off and because they were shooting dye into my vessels and looking at my vessels in my head, the plaque went to my brain. Very minor but I’m left with sensory issues in my right side of my mouth and fingers on my right hand. Every specialist agree the mini strokes were due to the procedure. But my confidence has been shaken. My tinnitus went away after the mini strokes because my brain was occupied with healing. The tinnitus came back with a vengeance 3 months after but now I get the vibrations and tingling with it now. I’ve had another MRI after the mini strokes and all clear.

Be careful everyone getting the cerebral angiogram.

 

Hi Stephanie

hope you are better. Just wanted to know that was your tinnitus coming from vascular loop?