What Is This? Since My Condition Is Not Heart Related, Would This Still Be Called Pulsatile Tinnitus

[Theadora]

I had meningitis as a baby and as a result, I have had hearing loss and tinnitus all my life. At around 19, the gift of Meniere's Disease was bestowed upon me. (Extreme sarcasm) I am 43 now and I have had 3 major Meniere's attacks. When I was younger, I was not treated and it eventually cleared up. My last attack was around mid Jan. Anyway, the last stage of an attack is really loud tinnitus (in my best hearing ear) and now it has started to pulse. Normally, my T doesn't really bother me at all, but this pulsing T is driving me insane. The ENT was useless and the audiologist was nice, but gave me no info I didn't already know. The pulsing T is not new to me, but normally it never lasts long. It is because of the fluid build up in my inner ear mostly caused by allergies. I take a diuretic and a Zyrtec D and have been eating less processed, sodium filled foods. Since my condition is not heart related, would this still be referred to as pulsatile tinnitus?

 

[Karen]

Hi, Theadora,

I'm sorry to hear you have this additional symptom, and that it is now constant. The rule of thumb about pulsatile tinnitus is that if it is exactly in sync with your pulse, it is considered pulsatile. Can you try taking your pulse and counting the beats, to see if it is totally in sync?

Pulsatile tinnitus can have other causes than heart-related. It could have to do with fluid build-up, as you mentioned.

Best wishes,
Karen