I've seen some threads on here about tinnitus and people claiming it has no relation to CH, but nothing about pulsatile tinnitus. To clarify, pulsatile tinnitus is not the kind with a beeping sound, but hearing the pulse in your ear, kind of like a swooshing wavelike sound. You can literally hear, almost feel, your heart beating.

I've had this since I was a kid, from time to time but whenever I'm in cycle it gets our of control. It starts a few weeks prior to the episode, and then persists through it and for a few weeks afterwards. Now I don't think every CH sufferer has this - someone would have noticed the relation by now - I just wonder if anyone knows why this happens? I don't know too much about the mechanics of a CH attack other than that the pain is, at least partly, caused by vasodilation. Since I have this tinnitus 24/7, even before and after my cycles, does that means my veins are constantly dilated, and not just during a HA? Does anyone know of any ways to treat it? It's so loud it keeps me from sleeping, and it's not like there's an excess of sleep during cycle as it is  ::)

Suggest you contact this site. Operator has deep scientific background in hearing issues:

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As I said, I don't suffer from ordinary tinnitus or hearing loss. Rather, I can clearly hear the beat of my heart in my hears specifically during CH episodes and attacks, which is why I'm asking the question here and not at a site specialized at hearing impairment.

Sorry. I should have made it clear that tinnitius is a major aspect of hearing problems and, therefore, has been the subject of much research--as a topic standing apart from hearing loss.

Suggesting that you ask, at this site, for any studies linking T with Cluster.

I've never seen any medical literature linking the two in discussioins of Cluster.

I hear the pulse in my ear so often, but not with a high #value, I can fall asleep with it by putting my hand on that side's temple. I am chronic.

Perhaps you have other symptoms like mine? A very salty taste in your mouth, so that your lips go wrinkly as if you've eaten popcorn with too much salt on it, happening every 3 hrs during a day ?

On no medication but O2

h j

I have had tinnutis in my left ear for decades, and recently had episodes of pulsatile tinnitus in my right ear. This new type corresponded with my TMJ jaw issues going from occasional and mild/moderate to severe, with daily headaches in my temple, usually waking me up in my sleep (clenching my teeth).

IMO, there are several possible causes for tinnitus - some drugs induce it as a side effect ... not relevant to my condition as I haven't taken any meds known to cause it.

Another mechanism that does explain my tinnutis fairly well is centered on muscular issues - an imbalance causes certain muscles to get taught and locked up, and they pull on the bones around the ear, and this changes the shape around the ear and disturbs circulation and presses on the sound receptors.

I can make the non-pulsatile tinnitus worse by clenching my jaw. I have also been able to lessen the non-pulsatile noise with physical therapy that is designed to strengthen the muscles in the neck and shoulders to improve my tmj. The SCM muscle goes from the collar bone to underneath the ear, that is one muscle that seems to be involved in the condition for many. Poor posture and a head-forward slouching position is a big contributing factor in my case. 

The pulsatile tin is still new to me, I don't understand it as much as the other, but I have noticed that posture and other neck stuff is definitely a factor.

FWIW, I do recommend an inexpensive book on D.I.Y. physical therapy ... Pain Free, the Egoscue Method. 20 minutes of relatively easy to do (but boring) exercises broke the TMJ headache cycle for me. I am still working to rebuild my posture and get back to full mobility and perfect posture (or as close as this old body can). The first week of the exercises I was 80% pain free compared to the previous week, and within less than a month, I was 100% pain free. The tinnitus is still off and on, but it is improved. But since I have lived with it for decades, I am looking at the improvement in positive terms.