Hearing heartbeat in my ear!

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hope70
hope70 Member Posts: 47

Hi Ladies.

For a couple of  days now I can hear my heartbeat in my right ear, especially when I am falling asleep or upon awakening..I am on Herceptin every 3 weeks and on 40mg Tamoxifen daily. Has anyone had  same symptom while on the same meds?

Comments

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited June 2014

    What you are experiencing is Tinnitus. Though tinnitus can occur during chemo and/or Herceptin treatment, you should contact your medical oncologist and also see an otolaryngologist.  Many disorders cause Tinnitus.  It can be as simple as wax in the ears causing it.  I would not delay in getting your ears examined.

  • Dejaboo
    Dejaboo Member Posts: 2,916
    edited June 2014

    I have this.  It is often refered to as Whooshing. http://whooshers.com/

    Like voraciousreader said it is Tinnitus (Pulsatile Tinnitus). 

    ( also have plain old tinnitus- very loud ringing in my ears).  Sometimes my Whooshing will go away for a few months.  Flying will often bring it on worse for me -then I can have it bad for several months.  I have had this Whooshing going on for 5 years : (


    I did have a brain MRI to check things out.  My heart was fine then too


     

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited June 2014

    I would get my heart checked out if I were you. Anything new like that should be monitored. I used to get "whooshing" but fortunately my doctor pursued my concerns and it ended up being a heart issue. Not to scare you, but just to give you a heads up. Please keep us posted!

  • hope70
    hope70 Member Posts: 47
    edited June 2014

    I just had echo done. The heart is fine. BP is fine. I do get tachycardia if I exercise or run upstairs....I blame it on chemo and Herceptin...Will see my MO on THU and will ask her.

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited June 2014

    Since we are going into a long holiday weekend, I would strongly suggest that you make an ENT appointment asap.  

    My older son has a long history of ear problems.  His ear doctor has always said to never delay seeing a physician when you experience a problem. If you have never had tinnitus before, especially if you are taking meds, it needs to be diagnosed and treated. Again, the problem might be as simple as wax, but it can also be more serious.  

  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited June 2014

    Hi Hope

    I get this when I am anaemic.

    Could this be you too?

    Alice

  • hope70
    hope70 Member Posts: 47
    edited July 2014

    Alicethecat, I was thinking of the anemia...I will ask md to check it out. Thanks.

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited July 2014

    Hope - I developed Pulsatile Tinnitus after treatment. Had a brain MRI after seeing an ENT doc too - nothing found. It is something I just have to put up with. At first it was only in one ear, now in both but somewhat less in one. Around the time I got it, I did fly when I was sick with the flu and wonder if that caused it.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2014

    I'm so surprised that so many of you were told something could be done about tinnitus.  I feel like I've only had mine (24/7-sounds like locusts or cicadas) since my cancer dx (don't know exactly when).  But I've been told over and over by a lot of docs that there is nothing that can be done about it.  Then or now.

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited July 2014

    whatnow....one of our sisters reaction to chemo was tinnitus and the doctors proceeded carefully not to cause permanent damage.  Her situation was quite different from my FIL, who suffered ear damage from a bomb explosion during WWII and lived with tinnitus the rest of his life.

    Unless a well qualified ENT examines you, there is no way of knowing what is causing the problem and then figuring out if it can be fixed.  From the time my older son was 2 months old, he has had ear issues.  At 32, he continues to have issues.  Besides having 2 MAJOR ear operations, and knowing that he might require more surgery down the road to prevent hearing loss, he remains vigilent at getting check ups by an ENT, especially when he notices changes in his hearing in addition to regular check ups.  The one bad thing about ear issues is that there can be subtle changes that you might not notice and once you do notice them, it might be too late to correct.

    Our breast cancer sister was alarmed by her tinnitus during chemo and immediately sought the help of an ENT.  The oncologists worked with the ENT to ensure her risk of long term damage was reduced.

    Recently, the DS noticed a sound in his ear and ran off to the ENT.  The issue appeared to have begun in his nose and sinus.  Thankfully, there are ENT procedures that can now be done in the office, rather than in the hospital, to alleviate problems.  

    The takeaway message is no one can say with certainty that nothing can be done for tinnitus.  Not all tinnituses are the same.  It's important that it gets checked out IMMEDIATELY before permanent damage occurs.

    BTW...a friend of mine got a virus in her ear that caused permanent hearing loss.  Had she been referred to an ENT sooner, she could have taken anti-viral meds and reduced her chances of having a permanent hearing loss.

  • Bounce
    Bounce Member Posts: 574
    edited July 2014

    I used to take Tamoxifen in the evening and I noticed that when I lay on my left side my heart felt like it was pounding against the side of my chest.  Very disturbing.

    I swopped to taking Tamoxifen in the morning in order to try get better quality sleep and the pounding went away.  I did discover thought that if I lie down in the morning now I feel the pounding.  Mostly I am at work in the mornings and not lying down but I would like to know why the Tamoxifen affects my heart and how?

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited July 2014

    Bounce, I would mention your symptoms to your doctor and consult a cardiologist if you haven't already.  What you are describing sounds like cardiac "PVCs.". It's usually a benign condition.  Medication is sometimes the culprit.  The DH got them when the doctor told him to increase one of his stomach meds.  When he cut back, they disappeared.  It is important to have a cardiologist rule out more serious issues.  You also might try switching tamoxifen brands.  That pounding feeling can be very annoying.  Get it checked out so you can have peace of mind.

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited July 2014

    I was told there was nothing to be done. However, the ENT was pleased I only have the pulsatile tinnitus when lying down - apparently you can have it all the time - now that would drive me crazy.

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