I recently had a TIA. The MRI was normal. The EKG was normal. The carotid artery echogram was normal. The heart sonogram showed mild regurgitation in the mitral valve and mild calcification. I was sent home from the Clinical Observation Unit. I am taking Nadolol, which greatly decreased the blood pressure. Yet three days later, I have a headache again and that infernal noise of a pounding heart in my left ear. The doctors do not seem to be overly concerned but I cannot sleep with the loud thumping in my ear! I have only slept two nights since December 12.