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Pulsatile Tinnitus - constant 'whooshing' sound in ear

149K views 41 replies 27 participants last post by  Shannon Crossin 
#1 ·
Anyone familiar with this condition? I am looking for input on any possible more natural solutions. I don't really know if there are ANY solutions, but I keep hoping there will be some natural way to resolve it and be done with it.

Pulsatile tinnitus is a whooshing sound in the ear, very much as though (and perhaps it is) you're hearing your own heartbeat. For me, I can't really hear it in noisy situations, but I can still feel a sort of pressure in the ear. At night, when the house is quieter, it drives me NUTS.

It started after a pretty severe upper respiratory infection (bad enough that when swine flu was "discovered" a month or so later I seriously considered that I may have had it - though in reality swine flu turned out by most accounts to not be as bad as the infection I had). I had immense pain in my ear and painful throat, plus all the usual URI stuff. I tried everything natural I could and finally saw a GP and got abx. I got better by the end of the week or ten days of abx, but a week later, it was back. I did NOT go back for more abx, and it came and went, came and went with this horrible ear pain and typically related throat pain. I finally kicked it for good after my chiro recommended doubling up on zinc and vitamin A.

But, I'm left with this incessant whooshing sound. I can make it stop if I tilt my head to the side that's affected, or if I'm wearing earplugs (which I do nightly b/c my DH snores and I'm a fairly light sleeper), or plug the ear with a finger, or press on my neck below my ear. I know it can be caused by blood pressure issues, but my BP has been fine. So I suspect it is the result of this infection, either damaging the ear or residual fluid still there, maybe?

I have had my chiro try to adjust the ear but nothing happens. I'm not sure if it's just not needing adjustment, or is super stuck? I think it's the former as she's never recommended further treatment.

I have considered seeing an osteopath who does manipulation. I am also (finally) slated to go see a GP on Thursday, because I can't cope with this much longer. I figured I'd start there before seeing an ENT, at least. I don't have a relationship with a GP at this point, so I've been hesitant to go in.

Is it worth seeing an osteopath? Are there other things I can do? I have had friends recommend candling but it is NOT a wax issue. I do have chronic sinus issues, but that's the story of my life... and I've never had this before.

I very much appreciate any input! Thanks!
 
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#27 ·
Thanks for the input! I need to look into this again.
 
#29 ·
Hi Everyone, i'm new here. I just got back from the doctor. Like u guys, i got a very bad swosshing at my right ear that sometimes very annoying and it make me so sleepy at day time coz at night time it disturbed me. But sometimes it goes away and when i'm stress it comes back.

At first i got respiratory problem so i was x-ray and all is normal...cough and flu was gone and then suddenly i can hear a swooshing at my right ear...my pillow is uncomfortable and this all this swooshing. Then after a month my neck is on pain and then this is the worst after a few more weeks my left wrist and thumb are on pain and swollen that goes up to my back neck with matching swoshing sound so eventually i did go to my very good doctor. He explains to me what's happening.

"Your neck is hurt by bad posture while u asleep because of ur pillow, the nerves around ur ear and the stress causing that sound and that same neck nerves that goes the way down to ur thumb are causing ur tendon to hurt(tenosynovitis)". He gave me medicines and i'll be back after four days, that kinds of medicine are for nerves so i'll write here again after 8 days, we will see what's the effect of that medicine, if it work out i'll share u guys the medicine name and u can show to ur doctors if u can drink that coz it needs doctor's sign before u can buy. I am so sure that swosshing sound is from nerves.
 
#32 ·
this is exactly what i am facing for more than a month now.as i am typing i can hear whoosh whoosh whoosh.The ENT told me to ignore it.i have to take nasal drops and a syrup.They spoke about a tube being blocked which needs to open.

i am so depressed by this I just want it to go :'(
 
#33 ·
I too had some sort of lung infection for a few weeks and finally took antibiotics to clear it. I have had significant hearing loss and tinnitis for weeks now since stopping the abx. I attributed it to the ototoxic effect of the abx (z pak). I don't know if it will resolve on its own or not, so far, it isn't.
 
#34 ·
You just described my experience perfectly. Three weeks of sore throat, sinitus, and following that, a flare-up of asthma (as usually happens when i get a respiratory infection). Now i have whooshing... freaked me out at first so i checked my BP. It's ok. Now that i know i'm not insane, i'll continue researching...

THanks
 
#37 ·
I have had a swooshing sound in my right ear for over 2 years now since I had a heart ablation. I just went and saw a neurologist recommended by my hearth doctor. I went to see the neurologist and the doctor determined that I had peripheral vertigo, which made sense because of the dizziness I get when I lay down or just walking i would loose my balance, So I started physical therapy and they said that I have crystals on the inside of my ears that have attached themselves to the end of the little hairs inside my ears which make me dizzy. I was hoping that the swooshing noise in my ears would go away since I am not as dizzy as I was. I do hear it most at night when I lay down to go to sleep and it does drive me crazy.

If you find out what is causing this please let me know as well, I am going to continue my PT exercises and hopefully it will eventually help the noise.
 
#38 ·
Mine seems to be stress-related, I think. ENT told me now sign of tumor or ablation (on right side) and nothing on MRI. The right side was checked years ago. I now get it on the left side also. I have low blood pressure from adrenal fatigue caused by long-term PTSD. I also notice it more when I'm stressing about money, which has been constant over the past year.

I use the sleep timer with the tv to fall asleep.
 
#39 ·
Wow. These stories echo my own so closely. I also had a horrible upper respiratory virus of some variety (it lasted about a month) wherein I acquired the whooshing sound in my ear when I tilt my head to the side and the infernal sound of my heartbeat when my head is in certain positions. Saw an ENT who does not believe it is a vascular problem because the problem is positional. He thought it was the result of the virus or, possibly TMJ. Basically, there is nothing anyone can do for me from what I understand. I just pray it eventually will go away, but I am feeling none too encouraged by the previous posts.
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#40 ·
Hi All,
I had very similar issues which drove me to insanity. It has pretty much gone now except for the odd 20 second episode every now and then. I had the whooshing in my left ear and no matter what I did could not releive it. I went to and ENT specialist, had my ears cleaned, went for a CT Scan and an MRI of both my brain and neck. I went to chiro, osteo and regular massage to try and find a solution. All which cost a bomb and never came up with anything. In the end the ENT specialist's advice was to "try not think about it" which was very difficult as it broke my concentration at work and made me feel nauseas. On top of that, even my hubby starting thinking I was a hypochondriac so I have sympathy for anyone who is suffering as bad as I was. The ear whooshing was combined with constant headaches which, touching wood, has 90% gone away in the last month after doing a nutritional cleanse where I have cut out all coffee, gluten and alcohol as well as taking supplements and drinking lots of water. If anyone is looking for another option to try it may be worth giving it a go.
 
#41 ·
Wooshing sound in right ear

Hi, for the last month im hearing that wooshing noise most of the time at night time in the right ear. l do not know reason. I been thiking that it because of my high Blood Pressure 140/90 . But i guess this is not the reason. I would say this is kind of bothering but do not drives me crazy. I had a stress my mom been diagnosed for cancer and i stay with her for 3 month durring surgery and treatment. And i guess after all i got some of my own issues. Now i'm waiting to get health insurance and will see doctor for all my General Check ups.. Hope will be.
 
#42 ·
I have had this whooshing for a year and a half now. I thought it was caused from the hours upon hours of standing next to my son's crib leaned over trying to help him get back to sleep. Now I wonder if I had a sinus infection of some kind before I started hearing it. It started very low and now it is incredibility loud. Same deal, I can press on my vein and it will stop.

I've been to an ENT, had a hearing test, and an MRI. Nothing is showing up that there is a problem. I've seen 3 GP's about it before being referred to the ENT, (who I honestly hated). I started wearing ear plugs at night because it keeps me up.

Strangest thing is - it went away just about 2 weeks ago for a few days. I had bronchitis and was on an antibiotic and oral steroid. It was a MAGICAL few days! I kept stopping to listen to hear if there was even a faint whooshing, but there was nothing!!! It slowly returned after my steroid ran out. I told my GP about this and she of course said, she doesn't want me on an every day steroid. So what now!? I have had a glimmer of hope only to be sent back to this very maddening noise that I have to live with.

I feel for all of you have are living with this too. There has to be a solution!
 
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