roaring noise with Pulsatile Tinnitus - Inner Ear Disorders Message Board

elrod3 · 11-06-2002, 10:57 AM

I have a roaring noise that is in sync with my pulse (Pulsatile Tinnitus). I have some unique symptoms that go along with it, however. I can recreate the roaring/whooshing noise by shaking my head from left to right rapidly or by bouncing up and down on my toes. It is as if there is fluid or something in there. I have gone to two ENT doctors so far with this problem. The first one said it was probably allergies and gave me Clarinex. That did not work. I went to another ENT doctor and he did a more complete exam. He looked at my ear under a microscope (suspected a Glomus Tumor). He did not see any signs of it. He wants to do an Ultrasound next Friday. My question is, what else could cause the noise? I find it odd that I can recreate the EXACT noise that is also pulsating in sync with my heartbeat. another note....I can stop the noise instantly by simply bending forward to about waist level. I can also lay on my bed on my stomach with my head hanging over the side and the noise stops for as long as I stay in that position. When I stand up, the pulsating starts back within 30 - 45 seconds. I am 36 years old, my hearing tests were normal, the Tympanogram pressure test was also normal. Any ideas? Thanks in advance for any and all replies.

allie_25 · 11-18-2002, 05:11 PM

hi,
my mom has the same pulsation sensation. She feels it in her head and toes...like a heartbeat. She has had this for two years and only last week found out that it is a inner ear imbalance. If you have not yet seen a neurologist, maybe you could go see one. There are actually exercises that you can do (if you do have a imbalance) to try to shift around what has come out of place. this may explain why when you hang your head over the bed, the pulsating stops. the exercise involves someone guiding you down quickly to one side
on a bed and staying in a lying position for a few minutes. Maybe your ENT might know about these exercises. also if they have not done a MRI, maybe you should get that done too aswell just to rule anything out. it can be quite a frustrating run around with doctors on this subject, my mom had a very hard time even convincing anyone that there was something wrong.
be careful with all the doctors you encounter, my mother saw one neurologist who told her she had a stroke and was having seizures when she had nothing of the kind! she put her on all sorts of medication that just made her symptoms worse. hope this helps, good luck.

LoriMC · 11-21-2002, 06:23 AM

The fact that you can recreate it sounds similar to a condition known as Benign Paroximal positional Vertigo - however you didn't mention any vertigo. It is possible that this could be related to arterial conditions, such as compression around the arteries at the base of the skull or in the cervical area. Have you ever had neck/back injury? If the ENT can't give you a dx., I would recommend perhaps seeing a Neurologist. Good luck, and God bless.

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Praising Him,
Lori