Pulsatile Tinnitus from Ohio

Hi, @ltsmorrison,

I'm so sorry you're going through this, and not getting any answers. I have pulsatile tinnitus, too, in my right ear only, and have had it for over five years now. I've had the same tests you've had, with no diagnosis. Have you had a CTA scan? I understand that the CTA may reveal different information than an MRI or MRA. You might want to ask your ENT about the possibility of having that test.

Has the blood pressure medicine helped you? If the drug the doctor prescribed is a beta blocker, he may have thought that it might help your PT to be a little bit calmer, as beta blockers can sometimes slow or quiet the pulsating. I was on a beta blocker for several months, but I'm afraid it didn't help my pulsating very much at all.

If the new ENT is unable to help you, my suggestion would be to consider sending your scans to another doctor for a second opinion. Sometimes another pair of eyes can see things that may have been missed the first time around. There are two doctors who come highly recommended, and they will view your scans for a fee. They are Dr. Maksim Shapiro at NYU Langone Medical Center and Dr. David Eisenman, in Baltimore, MD.

Also, if you haven't already done so, you might want to check out Whooshers.com. There, you'll find information about pulsatile tinnitus, questions to ask your doctor, pulsatile tinnitus success stories, etc.

I wish you good luck with the new doctor, and hope he is able to help you. If I may offer moral support, you're welcome to PM me at any time. I certainly understand what you're going through right now.

Very best wishes,
Karen