Headaches Followed by Whooshing Pulsatile Tinnitus — Freaking Out!

Guys, I have been getting headaches in my forehead region for 4 months and they have been pretty damn terrible. I have had tinnitus (ringing) since 2016 but lately a whooshing sound has started and it sounds like air going shhh. I don't know if it's in the rhythm of my heart but I know it goes shhhh, fading in and out.

I am terrified because I went to see a doctor about my headaches and when I mentioned my regular tinnitus, he said he would be more concerned about pulsatile tinnitus. I thought he meant a heartbeat but from googling, I realise it's actually whooshing too.

The headaches have been severe at times, always on the forehead - tender across to touch, even the scalp hurts to touch.

 

Bad headaches + pulsatile tinnitus sounds like classic IIH (idiopathic intracranial hypertension). What kind of doctor did you see? I think it’s generally recommended to see a neurologist for this.

 

The pain is in my forehead. I had an ENT look at me, who said I had swollen turbinates. I don't appear to have high blood pressure?

Also, I had an eye test which was normal...

The other signs, I don't have.

I have a weird whooshing now in both ears. I didn't have that before.

 

Hi @VickiD, I have the whooshing noise in my ear too, but no headache. I have a doctor's appointment scheduled in a few weeks.

Any update on your symptoms?

 

@VickiD, I have started getting pulsatile tinnitus last year in August. I went to a neurologist who did an ultrasound and MRI scan. I have intracranial stenosis, leading to problems with the veins, which also make me a risk patient for strokes. It can lead to headaches though, especially under stress/if you work out etc. I have normal eye pressure and normal blood pressure. At least at the moment.

I would suggest you get an appointment for a neurologist. <3

 

I found Tinnitus Talk while looking into my various symptoms and Google recommended this thread because of the headaches and whooshing. I wanted to post that I'm curious if you've looked into biotoxin (molds, bacteria, water damaged buildings, etc.) exposure?

I've been diagnosed with something called CIRS which has similar symptoms of constant headache, forehead sore to the touch, and the tinnitus (though that may not be from the CIRS, but something else related to the same exposure).

Let me know if you figured it out, or if you'd like to discuss my diagnosis more.

 

Can anything be done for the intracranial stenosis?