This medical journal article (link below) was just published about another whoosher whose underlying cause was identified and successfully treated.  The treatment was done by way of an endovascular procedure which, according to many medical sites, is described as a minimally invasive procedure.  However, the abstract (summary) states that of the eight similar studies reported (only eight?!), some have been treated surgically and others have been treated via endovascular procedures. 

Only the abstract is available here for free, but you can tell your doctor(s) about this article and maybe s/he can get access to the entire article.  Also, be sure to see the links to the right of that page under "related citations" for similar studies.  

Again, this is only one possible underlying cause of pulsatile tinnitus.  The list of possible causes is long and includes conditions that dip in many different medical specialties.  For other stories of pulsatile tinnitus patients whose underlying causes have been identified and treated, see the Cured Whooshers page and discuss the possibilities with your doctors.  

Source: "Endovascular Treatment of Sigmoid Sinus Aneurysm Presenting as Devastating Pulsatile Tinnitus.  A Case Report and Review of Literature." Mehanna R, Shaltoni H. Morsi H, Mawad M., Interv Neuroradiol. 2010 Dec;16(4):451-4. Epub 2010 Dec 17.

50%  No, I just experience pulsatile tinnitus, not regular tinnitus.

24%  Yes, I experience both pulsatile tinnitus and regular tinnitus, all the time.

16%  Yes, I experience both kinds of tinnitus but not always at the same time.  

6%    I used to experience regular tinnitus, but now I just experience pulsatile tinnitus.  

3%    Other

Total Votes: 100

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Here's a whooshing update from Blondie, from Tales from Clark Street.*  Please feel free to leave comments below!

I recently had to acknowledge that my current finances don’t allow for a whooshing-cure procedure at this time. It was a horrible decision, but I had to do it. You can read all about it here. After I had made the decision, I felt very helpless. Like I was just going to whoosh forever and turn into a crazy person within the next ten years. It didn’t feel good.

But then my father suggested that I try his hearing aid. I went ahead and did an experiment. You can read about that joyous occasion here. A few days ago, I went ahead and ordered a hearing aid from Amazon.com. And now the Great Waiting of 2010 is underway. Ship it!! Ship it now!!

I’ve seen “cheap” hearing aids advertised on television from time to time. But I also know that if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is a duck. When you’re getting a hearing aid, they are going to be expensive. They don’t have to break the bank, but they are definitely going to cost more than $50. But the point of getting the hearing aid was to NOT spend all of my money on a medical procedure. This also means I didn’t want to spend a bunch of money going back to the ENT, who might only sell certain brands or turn me away based on my “excellent” hearing (in between the whoosh, of course) or charge me up the wazoo for a consultation. It happens.

So I went on Amazon.com, read all the reviews, and chose the Acoustitone PRO Hearing Aid. One aid costs $179.99. I could have gotten two with a discount, but I only whoosh in my left ear. One aid it is! I had written to Dr. Whooshsaver’s assistant to ask her what she thought about this. Dr. Whooshsaver read the email and told her he felt it was a good option in the interim since I can’t go through with my procedure at this time. I was hoping he would approve because I respect his opinion so very much. I’m glad to say he was on Team Blondie with this choice. He has always told me that his goal is to help people improve the lives they have on earth as much as possible. I’m trying. In my own little way, I’m getting there.

I will admit, popping in a hearing aid is not what I want to be doing, but it’s the best I can do for my whoosh right now. It will not end the whoosh, but it will soften it, dull it, and help me to ignore it and concentrate on what other people are saying. It will give me a brief bit of respite when I’m trying to work in my eerily-quiet home office. It will assist me when I’m trying to concentrate on what my niece is saying. And it will keep me from trying to rip out my jugular vein when I get really sick with the inevitable winter flu. I hope.

It remains to be seen if my modest hearing aid will work the same magic as my father’s top-of-the-line model. But if it’s anything close, I should be able to push the whoosh into the background very soon. I will be sure to let you know when the results are in.

Also, I might have to purchase a custom-made hearing aid mold because my version only comes with generic plugs, but I’ve found a few online companies that will do it for $40-$50, which I don’t think is too bad. It’s still cheaper than going to the doctor for a special, custom hearing aid. I might forego this option if the plug feels OK. I won’t need to wear it everywhere I go because some places are noisy enough on their own. We’ll see. (crosses fingers)

Are any of you using hearing aids? If so, what kind? Do they help your whoosh?

Much Love,

Blondie from Tales from Clark Street

*Whooshers.com does not have material connections with the seller or product mentioned above.  Please see our Endorsement Disclaimer in the Whooshers.com Privacy Policy page. Thank you.