Anyone Else Able to Stop Pulsatile Tinnitus by Plugging Ear(s)?

I have a pulsing in my ear that has been going on for a little over 2 weeks. It is most noticeable at night when lying down but will randomly appear throughout the day.

I am able to make it disappear by plugging my ear (either by putting pressure on it or physically putting finger in ear) but it will come back after plug is released.

Everything I have read on pulsatile tinnitus thus far seems to say it is vascular in origin.

So I would assume plugging my ear should make the pulsing louder if it was true pulsatile tinnitus?

I am sorry if this seems like a dumb post. I am just trying to figure out what’s going on while I wait for an ENT appointment.

 

I get pulsatile tinnitus once in awhile when my right ear feels plugged up. Once it opens up I don't get it anymore.

 

Yeah, I just developed pulsatile tinnitus on top of all my other ear issues. I just read your post and mine quiets down when my ear is plugged. I wonder why that is.

 

@Padraigh Griffin said Tenotomy got rid of his pulsatile tinnitus, so possibly your muscle relaxes when you plug your ear or something and it’s middle ear related. Just a guess.

 

Yeah could be because I definitely have middle ear stuff going on too.

 

I have a pulsing in my ear (more whooshing) that starts in the evening around bedtime. It is pretty bad and annoying until I get to sleep. I can make it stop by putting a finger in my ear, but it does start again after finger is removed from ear. Usually when I wake up, it has stopped.

I agree with you that a vascular issue should make the noise louder if you've blocked out other background noise? I hope the ENT is able to help you. I see one this Friday for the first time.

 

My one ear would occasionally get a pulsating feeling. I noticed over time that it has opened up and I don't get it as often.

 

Did either of you get an answer from your ENT on this? I have exactly the same problem.

 

Yes, my ENT evaluated my ears and cleaned my ear canals in outer ear. Said pulsatile tinnitus is very common as there are so many veins/arteries around your ears. Didn't seem concerned at all since I don't have any other symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, etc. Said he's ordered so many imaging tests over the years that have revealed nothing. And, oddly enough, over the past few days I've not had any whooshing even when room very quiet at night. I still believe mine has some origin in either my seasonal allergies or stress/anxiety.

 

I went to the ENT and was told I had fluid in my middle ear. I am on Nasacort and Sudafed and the sound has decreased tremendously. I am having my sinuses opened in a couple weeks which should help more. Apparently I have a bunch of inflammation that is making it hard for my Eustachian tube to function as it should. Try some Sudafed (the real deal from behind the pharmacy counter) and nasal spray. My bet is middle ear if you can stop it by putting finger in ear!