Hearing my heart beat in my ears.

[SassieCat]

When the ins. co. changed my HRT to a generic I started having trouble with my heart racing and hearing my heart beat in my ears.  I saw a PC and he told me to get off the patches.  I did that 3 weeks ago but I still keep having trouble hearing my heart beating in my ears.  I can feel it beating.  Sort of like listening to a seashell but hearing my heart beating instead.

I just took my bp and pulse with a wrist cuff and bp was 123/78 and pulse 105.  I have not been active, just watching TV.  This is really driving me nuts.  Any ideas what could be causing it?

[eyeamdry]

Hi Sassie,
I am one without medical expertise, like most on this site.  I also have the problem of my heart "beating in my ears."  That's why I'm writing.  I don't know how you can be so sure it's the HRT causing this, generic or not.  Your BP seems really high.  I do not have high blood pressure and never have, but I do have tachycardia and take atenol to control it.  I've been on that pill for 20 years.

I took HRT for 20 years also, but had to stop cold turkey two years ago because of breast cancer.  So, I know my problem has nothing to do with HRT.  I know it's very annoying and can cause even more stress listening to this thump, thump, thump.  Please see your doc about this and your high BP.  Let us know what you find out.  lucy

[Linda196]

Most of the time, this phenomenon is caused by the proximity of the various blood vessels in the ear to the auditory nerve or some structure that touches the nerve, it's simply a matter of conduction of vibration. Any swelling in the ear or throat can cause these structures to come into contact. If your sensations are caused by that, there could have been some "fluid shifting" with the different hormones, and it simply hasn't resolved yet.

Normal BP is 110-130/60-90, so your's is perfect, but your heart rate is a bit elevated. Anything 60 to 100 is considered "within normal range" but even 100 at rest is worth watching, 105 should be evaluated. Sometimes the simple act of taking one's BP and heart rate can cause it to be elevated, as can eating or drinking anything with caffeine, spices, excessive heat, or a particularly large meal.    certain drugs cause increased heart rate, and it may vary depending on how long ago you had your meds. Some people even react to watching something on TV (the news does it for me).

[jonnell]

My son complains of hearing and feeling his heartbeat in his ears when he has a ear infection.  Hope you feel better.

[JannaLee]

Linda,

The news does it for me too.

Janna

[HL in NY]

Sassie: are you on Pred? I get that when I'm on pred. It's annoying, but I take it as a side-effect I have to accept if I'm going to be on it.

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

I was going to say the same as Linda - that to me your BP looks fine but that your heart is going a bit fast - certainly at rest. It would be worth asking about.
My daughter got evaluated because she has a high resting heart rate. She had tests - nothing was found untoward and she was just told that it was the she she was. They had wanted to check it out though.

Take care - Scottie 

[SassieCat]

The reason I blamed the HRT was because that is what my PC doc told me.  But it has been over 3 weeks (I believe) since I have been off of the HRT. 
Last year they tried to take me off of my normal HRT and this did not happen, just had the sweats and it was uncomfortable working in the public.  I could even feel my heart beating in my hands today as I was taking a rest.  It is most unnerving.  I take Lisinopril and Coreg for the BP so it shouldn't be too high.  But I have no idea why my heart rate is up.  Once as high as 125.

No caffeen, spices, large meals, or other changes in meds.  I took pred a few months ago when I pinched my sciatic nerve.  I guess I have to give in and see the doc again.    Thanks!

[JannaLee]

Sassie honey,

I'm sorry for this...and especially for another darn trip to the doctor! 

Please let us know what you find out.  I have the pounding heart too but not fast pulse although when I start pounding, my heart rate increases about 20 beats per minute.  My blood pressure is always very low.

Janna

[SassieCat]

Well I saw the cardiologist today.  All was fine.  Of course my heart rate was "NOT" acting up at the time.  It was suggested that I hear my heart beating because I am listening for it.  I told them NO.  I don't listen for it, but I sure can hear it when it happens.  Added to this now are headaches, dizzy feeling and chest pressure when my heart rate goes up. 

She checked and it was 88 and not acting up.  She changed my blood pressure meds and I go back in three weeks for a follow up visit.  If it is still acting up they will do a doplar check on my neck arteries and see if there is anything happening there. 

Don't you just hate it when something is making your life feel so miserable and when you finally break down and see a health care specialist, it quits acting up and you look and feel like a fool? 

[JannaLee]

I cannot tell you how irritated I was to read the cardiologist suggested you are LISTENING FOR YOUR HEART BEAT!!!

For Pete's sake!!!  And I'm sure this guy got paid a couple hundred dollars for that bright remark!

[lindar]

Sassiecat,

I developed pulsatile tinnitus (the technical name for hearing your heart beat in your ear) a year and 4 months ago.  I still have it.  VERY ANNOYING.  I originally thought it was meds.  Every doctor said no.  So I went to An ENT.  They did CT scans, MRI's hearing tests... etc.  Found nothing.  After 9 months of seeing doctors and having tests, the ENT told me that I have autoimmune problems and there was nothing more he could do for me.  He wouldn't admit that there was such a thing as autoimmune inner disease though.  Anyway,  I wish I had good news for you but I still have it.  I find it fascinating that someone else with sjs has this.  I searched the Internet for so long looking for answers. 
I do believe it has something to do with the auditory nerve.  I also think it might have something to do with vasculitis near that nerve.  It is more in my right ear than my left.
I have the same swishing seashell sound that is in sync with my heart beat. 
It started with irregular heart rate also.  I was put on a few different heart meds to help the heart racing. 
My tinnitus has nothing to do with HRT.  I have never been on it. 
I will be anxious to see what the doctors at UCLA say about it when/if I get there.  The doctors here just think it is all "in my head".... I guess it is. 
They have recently found white matter lesions in my brain that they think might be caused by some kind of vasculitis.  I don't have any medical expertise so I can't say for sure but I think this somehow relates to the tinnitus also.
I have learned to ignore the tinnitus at times but it is always there and drives me nuts.  It seems to get louder during the evening as the day wears on. Does yours do the same?

[SassieCat]

Lindar,

Yes, yes and yes.  I have the ringing on and off.  Was tested for Minear's years ago and they said it could have been borderline but they favored the cause to be some virus.  One day (years ago) I got up and started bouncing off walls like a pinball machine because I was so dizzy.  After a month or two it subsided. 
Last year I spend 8 hours in Cleveland Clinic for chronic pain.  The head of the clinic even checked me out.  He said that I my central nervous system isn't working properly (can't remember name he called it).  That my nerves send the wrong messages to my brain.  That is why I have tingling, burning, crawling, and pain sensations everywhere.  My rheumy believes that the SJS has affected my nerves and joints. 

Yes, this happens mostly in the evenings.  Doc implied that she thought I was only 'listening' for my heart beat and thus I heard it.  She said she does that too sometimes.  I told her "NO" that this is more than listening.  I was more like a pulsating sensation.  Also stated that it may have to do with stress or anxiety.  Again I said "NO".  I'm not stress when I get my email, take a bath, watch TV or read a book.  I know what feeling stressed is like and how I feel when I have anxiety. 

I would like to hear more about what you find out.  I didn't think to link this with SJS but it makes sense because my CNS is impaired.  And "OH YEAH" it is most annoying.  Feels like my head is a water balloon and someone keeps squishing it till it bulges.  Once it even woke me up from sleep.  Felt like I had a big dog panting beside me vibrating the bed.  No dogs here though! 

[MusicGuy]

Sassie,
I've had that off and on for a few years.  Usually it lasts a day or so and just comes and goes.  Last year it wouldn't go away so I went to the doc and he wanted to rule out an infection so put me on some antibiodics which cleared it up and has not returned.  It definitely is annoying and silence just seems to make it worse.  good luck with it.
Dave

[fatburningmachine]

I haven't felt my pulse in my ears but I can feel it in my fingers. I can just sit there and count the beats per minute by my finger tips without trying to find a pulse on my wrist or neck. It bugs me major!! But it really bugs me that they would tell  you that you are listening for it!! That is rediculous. I can't spell that right this time but in real life I can spell. brain fog I guess.