Pulsatile tinnitus

[samanthalinc]

Kinda desperate for any leads on this, and my appointment with an ENT doctor isn't until April 19th. I've had pulsatile tinnitus in my right ear since October - a pounding sound that I can only hear when it's really quiet - consistently. I got an MRI/MRA done to check for any abnormalities in January, which came back all clear. Mystery persisted, but the pulsing was my only symptom so I could live with it.

Yesterday, I woke up feeling like my right ear is underwater. It feels full, like there's a ton of pressure. To make it scarier I'm not hearing as well out of that ear anymore- everything is muffled, and my outer ear and face on that side have decreased sensation- they're kinda numb. The pulsatile tinnitus is gone, but is replaced with the ringing kind of tinnitus. I'm PERPLEXED and really freaked out.

Is this urgent? I'm in no pain and have no cold or sinus infection symptoms. Does it sound like an ear infection? I took some Sudafed and did feel better this morning, for a little while. Hydrogen peroxide did nothing. Not sure if I should just wait til the 19th to see the ENT, or see my regular doctor/urgent care now. I'm just worried if I go that route, they'll just tell me to go see an ENT and it'll be wasted money and time.

[Sara_MHModerator]

Hello and welcome to MedHelp's forums.  Thanks for your question.  We are glad you are being seen by an ENT later this month and hope it provides answers for you.  

Your symptoms could be different things.  Pulsating tinnitus is typically something they can find the origin of and it is something your general practitioner should work to help you with.  It may not be ear related at all.  https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/aging-pulsatile-tinnitus#1.  However it can be.  You are doing the right thing to work with either your general practitioner or the ENT to uncover why you have this. Urgent care is less helpful. They handle acute situations rather than properly diagnosing a chronic problem. If you have a general practitioner and want to be seen before the April 19th appointment, perhaps they can fit you in.  

The ear fullness, pressure and ringing can be caused by Eustachian tube dysfunction.

Please do return and let us know what your doctors say.