For several years I’ve been occasionally hearing a heartbeat-linked noise in my ears that begins shortly after lying down on my back in a recliner or propped on pillows in bed. (It's position, not quiet, that brings it on.)
It’s NOT the rushing “whoosh” of pulse that you hear when, e.g., lying on one ear. It’s a distinct clicking, "dripping," or tapping kind of sound. Definitely in time to my pulse, although the sound starts and stops erratically even though my pulse continues pretty regularly. I seem to hear it in both ears equally. Usually the whole thing stops within five or ten minutes at most.
Sometimes there’ll be a kind of double sound, a click followed quickly by a “smoosh,” but whether a double or single sound, it stays in time with my pulse.
On two or three occasions (thus rare) it was REALLY loud, like a LOUD clock in the room, no kidding. It got very loud when I shifted position slightly.
At first I was CERTAIN this sound was coming from outside my head—I kept thinking it was the gutters dripping—then when I eventually figured out it was pulse-linked, I thought I was hearing the sound via air conduction. However, plugging my ears with my fingers does not lessen the sound, so I must be hearing it via bone conduction?
I am female, 51, 50 lbs overweight, no chest pain or shortness of breath, etc. I had a (presumably) normal pre-op EKG in July before Baha surgery. I had severe/profound high-frequency SSNHL on left in 1999 when I sneezed, normal hearing on right, chronic mild dizziness, but middle ears have NEVER had any problems except wax. This sound is NOT like any tinnitus I’ve ever experienced or heard about.
Someone (not a doctor) said this could be something related to my Eustachian tubes. Is this true? What does it sound like to you?
Thanks much for any info!
Nancy T.