Right before Christmas I started hearing a loud, swishing sound in my ear every time I went to bed. It sounded like it was in perfect rhythm with my heartbeat, like I was hearing my heart beat inside my ear. It was so annoying. The weather had been going back and forth from warm to cold so much I figured it was just a sinus problem. I treated it as such and tried several decongestants. I even tried some over the counter ear drops, but nothing helped.
A couple of weeks passed and I decided to consult Dr. Google. Dr. Google is great for scaring the heck out of us, no? Anyway, Dr. Google said that I probably had Pulsatile Tinnitus. And it really did sound as if I did. The symptoms were all there…swishing sound in the ears, worse at bedtime, etc. Just from reading the comments of other people on several articles I read about pulsatile tinnitus it seemed like there wasn’t much hope of it going away soon. It sounded like something you had to wait out or consult a ton of specialists. Have you tried getting an appointment with a specialist lately? Ha!
In the meantime, along with having this annoying swishing sound in my ear (which at this point had become more noticeable during the day time), I was very irritable. I came home from work and HAD to have a nap. I normally stay up until around ten every night, but by 8:00 P.M. I was wiped out, even though I’d had a nap just a few short hours earlier. I found myself slacking on the housework (something I don’t really ever slack on) and rushing my son through his homework so I could go to bed again. I chalked it up to getting older. I’m 41, so that’s ancient, right?
This past Thursday afternoon, I started to feel just rotten at work by the end of the day. I could feel a full-blown sinus infection coming on, I was running fever, and my head and neck felt so tight I thought that my head just might pop right off. I also noticed that swishing sound was louder and more annoying than ever. I decided the next day I was taking a sick day. I HAD to get some relief and I HAD to figure out how to get rid of that annoying sound in my ears once and for all. I didn’t care how many specialists I had to see. The sound was maddening at this point!
And so the next day I went to the doctor. Yes, he could see my right ear was a little irritated. Yes, he could see my sinus issue was about to become a full blown case of the Delta Crud. But that’s not the reason why my ears were swishing. Do you know why my ears were swishing?
My blood pressure was 180/110.
Blood pressure. Now, I did have some blood pressure issues right after I had my son, but it quickly resolved and I never felt like this. My doctor said it was pretty near the “freak out range” and prescribed me some medication and so I took that little pill and prayed it would give me some relief.
By that night I could feel the pressure releasing from my head and neck area. By the next day, I was stirring around better and noticed the swishing sound was just a faint little swish. By that night, I was cleaning my house with little effort and worried that I was overdoing it. But I was doing it…and it didn’t seem to be sucking the life out of me anymore!
I can’t believe I walked around for over a month like this. I can’t believe how truly horrible I was feeling, but didn’t realize it. The pain and pressure had just become something I was resigned to live with. I even blamed it on my arthritis and the weather!
All this to say…..if you reached this post by consulting Dr. Google about a swishing sound in your ear, for Pete’s sake, GO TO YOUR DOCTOR AND GET YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKED! I’m not kidding. I never would have thought it was this either, because I didn’t have a blood pressure problem to begin with. But I do now.
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I have full blown Tinitus my B P is perfect.With that being said,I am a basket case with swishing,ringing, and buzzi. I see 3 Drs all at about the same time every 3 to 6 months. IF ANYBODY HAS A SOLUTION FOR THIS PLEASE HELP. THREE DRS SAYS, just live with it. I have had it so long that most of the time I don’t know it there. Laemberling@yahoo.com
I get tinitus and swooshing in my ears too. I went ti the docs today for something else and when he checked my BP is was 152/100. Now I usually have it elevated at the docs because I get stressed going there and it usually goes to about 140/90 and then I check it when I get home and it’s fine. So I checked it when I got home today and it was fine. He told me to check it and if it’s still high to call him. He didn’t seem concerned and said those machines are pretty accurate. And mine is new and even used my older one and they both matched and were good numbers. So is my machine wrong or is it the white coat syndrome?
I can fully relate to this post. I have had exactly the same problem although I am a little older (75). I had my ears cleaned out at the audiologist but the noises came back,and I too had a blood pressure reading of 180/110 I have been on bp medication for 20 years but it has always been stable at my check ups until this time. I am now on stronger meds but only this last few days and as yet can’t feel any difference, hopefully will soon and am being monitored by my doc every week. I too have been “lazy” about housework etc. but put it down to my age. So everyone look after your bp even if you are young and fit it is worth checking
I sure hope your new medication works quickly for you, Ann. I have tried a few since my heart surgery, and the one that worked the best was recalled. Par for the course! Ha!