Vibrating eardrum, pulsating sensation, on and off.

[Jon82]

Hi there,
about 5 or 6 weeks ago I started getting a vibrating feeling in my right ear. I thought it would pass but it soon got to the point of real annoyance, flaring up at night and lasting til the morning where I would get up and it would go away.
I got sick of it so I went to the doctor who checked my ears and said that it did look sore in there and perhaps I had an infection so they prescribed a low dose of amoxicillin.

I took about 1/3 of the dose and stopped because the symptoms went away. I didnt like the side effects (bad stomach) so I stopped taking it since the vibrating had stopped.

The vibrating came back though after a few days, and it became a constant sense of vibrating. I was back to the doctor and he prescribed a greater dose of amoxicillin and advised me to finish it, which I did this time. Great, no symptoms for the last week.

A couple of days ago however, the symptoms started again, and yet again, only at night. I went to bed with the annoying banging and awoke to it, only for it to go away during the day.

The doctor did tell me that it would take maybe 6 weeks to clear up, and since that time period has not yet passed, should I still be experiencing those vibrations? I think it has been about 4 weeks since I last went to the doctor. Things were going ok until it flared up again; is this to be expected?
Could this issue be an anxiety issue, since everytime I think 'hey, my eardrum hasnt bothered me at all recently',
it starts flaring up again?

[jewels234]

I literally just had the thumping noise in my ear. Me being a google freak for everything because I hate doctors offices, I stumbled along this page luckily. It calmed me down a lot. I have a history of muscle spasms in my back, don't know if that has anything to deal with it. But, on the other hand... my shoulders are real tense dealing with a previous move and finding jobs in the area. The thumping only lasted about 20 seconds but it did shake me up a bit. Everyones stories have helped! If the condition worsens though should I visit a doctor?

[janieann]

Gads, nice to know I'm not losing my mind.  I have this too.   It happens mostly in my left ear, but occasionally in my right too, and it happens on and off throughout the day.   I'm going to try to make mental notes of how often starts up, but it seems to be it's dozens of times a day...at least in my left ear.  

[snadge]

I too have this...

for about 2 years it was just a very low hum in RIGHT EAR and just random (but at nights when lying down trying to sleep) - i put up with it as wasnt too bad but now its got much worse (louder and every night) and there is also a ringing (like pressure build up when blood rushes to your head - that sort of noise you hear when you pass out) but that ringing is VERY low but possibly because the hum is overpowering it, I can hear the ring when I put my head under water in the bath, i noticed once when i took ibuprofen the humming went away, so i took more but after few days it stopped working - anyway, I went to one Dr and he said "tinnitus , nothing can be done" , i went to another who said "its not tinnitus cos its in one ear" but was still at a loss and he referred me to ENT (which is 6 weeks time) - recently i got a cold, I never get colds and this one lasted over 10 days - during the outset of this cold the humming started to go over to left ear!! and louder!! - oh I was driven mad with it trying to sleep , anyway ive just been to ANOTHER Dr few days back, he had a look and said there was a little fluid on the left ear and that's probably from the 'cold' and so wont prescribe antibiotics ... he gave me 7 x 20mg Temazepam to help me sleep for a few nights - I took the tablets and guess what... the humming went away... before sleep and after sleep... ive ran out of Temazepam and guess what? the humming is back... strange?

Along with that I also have sinus problem where i can hear my breathing in my ears if i breath through my nose - more in the right one (mostly affected one)

Iam also on Methadone which could possibly be cause but never had it for 4 of the 6 years ive been on it so probs not!

thanks to the OP for posting those possible causes etc as I now think it may be allergy, Iam taking a LOT of herbal supplements for my Liver Disease and I think it may be related and the ringing is like a 'pressure build up' sort of noise - the humming must also be part of it, so Im gunna stop all my supplements which include Milk Thistle, Multi-Vitamins, Cod-Liver Oil, Dandelion , Artichoke and Herbal Teas (although most of those have just started recently) if any I think it be Milk Thistle as thats the ONLY one ive been constantly taking, Milk Thistle is more likely the culprit if it were to be any of those...

I will let you know how I get on

[janieann]

I think I'm going to try a daily regimen of decongestants just to see if that helps.   I've developed some sinus issues in my "old age," and coincidentally or not, that's when this vibrating started.

[Jennabenna81]

I have the same problem that occurs maybe twice every two months , and it I only notice it wen I'm making a phone call and the phone is ringing . Why is that?!

[snadge]

good idea... i think i might add that too, I also have 4 different types of anti-histamines from when i had itching on treatment (which also treat allergies) im wondering if its worth trying one of those... i think one step at a time... i will give a week to 10 days without supplements/herbal tea's and see if it stops or gets better... if not I may add decongestant like you say cos i can hear my breathing in ears when breathing through nose...so definite sinus issue

roll on 6 weeks time when i go to ENT

[godfunk]

Have a similar problem in my right ear. A near constant vibration of the--inner ear? eardrum?

Strangely, it only comes to me when it's relatively silent. It's almost as if the smallest external stimuli--like the refrigerator coming on--gives that area something to do, and the spasms stop. This has been going on for quite a few months, and it has been a particularly stressful time.

I'll let you know if I find anything that works...