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Pulsatile tinnitus and headaches

Posted , 6 users are following.

sweeleeT
sweeleeT

For the past 2 weeks I have been suffering from Headaches at the back of my head, just above the neck. Sometimes the ache goes into the neck, or it goes around the left side of my head and into my left eye. Around the same time as the onset of this ache I also developed pulsatile tinnitus. I can hear it in either ear, and if I press down on the side of my neck, the sound almost disappears on that side.

I went to the GP and mentioned the headaches and the pulsatile tinnitus. She looked in my ears and touched my neck lightly, asking if it felt sore (it didn't) and then dismissed me. She said it was nothing to worry about because it's in both ears and I've reported that there's no hearing loss.

Someone please help me by letting me know if I really just have to live with this? I'm 38, and a little overweight, but generally healthy. I'm usually anaemic, but that's it.

Advice please?

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • jules67
    jules67

    Posted

    Hi, I 've just registered on this site as I have just been diagnosed having Wry Neck so was interested on exactly what it is.

    I saw your post & can sympathise with you.

    I am 45 & have had Pulsatile Tinnitus for about 8 years now. I have been 'Putting up with it' for so long.

    My Dr sent me to ENT at local Hospital (only last year after going mad with it for 7 years!) after having numerous hearing tests, seeing various consultants (last consultant told me it was Pulsatile Tinnitus others just said 'Tinnitus' which I & my Dr knew it wasn't) anyhow I had a MRI scan. When i went back for the result the 'Registrar at ENT said there was nothing wrong (basically I was imagining it!) Well I was not happy with that, but I decided to investigate it on Internet sites. I came accross BTA (British Tinnitus Association) and found out lots of info.

    Basically there is no 'cure' for this, but please do visit & join the site, you will find loads of info & you can discuss feelings & condition with others.

    Hope this helps.

    • jerome249
      jerome249 jules67

      Posted

      Hi Jules this has really help me, I have been suffering with this for over a year and I thought that was a long time so 8 years I take my hat off to you for suffering it that long, mine has got worse, I am in stereo in both ears, one appears to be louder than the other sometimes but it's hard to tell, I do have a tender neck from time to time, my wife says it's tension and the stress of the whole thing and I have been worry myself it's soemthing really serious, I went to the Doc but all I got was it's tinitus and I will refer you to an ENT, he did not appear to be worried but I have worried myself into thinking its something serious, I still do not know, I am a generally a worrier when it come to health, I am 42 but this has really got me down to a depressive state and i am told this can make it work, I will check out the BTA site.
  • sweeleeT
    sweeleeT

    Posted

    Hi, thanks for your reply. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be for you.

    I actually went back to see a different GP. She got me to have a blood test and it revealed that I was anaemic. Hb of 7.5. She said 'no wonder you're getting the pulsatile tinnitus'. I've started iron tablets and it's actually getting better. The wired thing is, on the days I can hear it now, those arethe days that I may have missed taking my iron tabs. Maybe it's all in my head. And to think I asked the first GP I saw if it could be related to anaemia and she said 'No'. I had read that it could be. Anyway. I hope you get a diagnosis. It's not pleasant.

    Good luck.

  • rajikp
    rajikp sweeleeT

    Posted

    Hi. My recommendation at this point for you would be to see an audiologist for a  diagnostic hearing test. Following this you must see an ENT specialist where u may be asked to get more tests like MRI etc . Before one looks into trating the tinnitus one needs to determine the cause.... So please get an audiogram first and take from there....

    Raji

     

  • shakeela
    shakeela sweeleeT

    Posted

    i have almost same problem you have. i am suffering from age of 11 and now i am 23. i lost my hearing sense about 20% because of pulsatile tinnitus. continuous headache has made me sub-conscious of what's happening towards my eyes. 

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