New Victim of Pulsatile Tinnitus

Hi everyone,

I've recently become more conscious of my pulsatile tinnitus.

I've had this before in the past but have always shrugged it off. I feel this time round it's gotten worse and have decided to write in.

Im hoping it's due to a long term ear infection which im only just getting over a, it was quite swollen for around 2 months, I also had Microsuction in both ears.

For the past two nights I've really struggled to sleep as it was thumping quite loudly and I think my anxiety didn't help.

I also only ever hear it when I'm lying down and it slowly comes on when I'm lying on my right.

It's driving me bonkers to say the least !

Does anyone have any coping methods and why the heck does it come on only at night?!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Tom

 

Hi Karen,

Thanks for your advice.

I had heard that beta blockers can help.

I actually woke up this morning and it was totally gone. I listened out for it and not a peep!

At day time if I listen out for it i don't hear it at all.I've had this in a couple of occasions like this.

It literally only starts when I'm trying to get to sleep which is infuriating!

I wonder if anxiety aggravates this as I find myself reacting negatively when I hear it in bed.

Last night I tried sleeping on my good ear but unfortunately it was still pounding away , but somehow I managed to fall asleep with a masking app on my phone.

Round four tonight!

Tom

 

The Lectrofan white noise machine has saved my sleep for months. I have the large version plugged in by my bed and recently bought the smaller portable version when I was going overseas for a couple of weeks - now I use that one at work when my PT is particularly bad. There are all sorts of different sounds and pitches and I can usually find one that completely or almost completely blocks out the noise in my ear. I'm thankful for this solution

 

Hi Tommi, I wanted to ask, did you get to the bottom of your problem?
My story is very similar to yours. Pulsatile tinnitus on the right ear, a thumping noise. Have been there at least 4 years. It only comes if I put my ear against the pillow. Sometimes it comes, sometimes not.

If for example I put my hand between my ear and the pillow, it disappears again.
I also realized, if I move my chin to the opposite direction of where the pillow is (so up) it disappears completely. This works almost always.

Also, I have never been able to provoke it during the day. Always at night, when I am trying to sleep. Sometimes happens on the left ear, but very weak, the right ear is definitely stronger. I also have normal tinnitus, also only on the right side, and only at night.

I have no blood pressure or other heart issues, so I am really wondering what the cause could be.