Noise sensitivity getting worse...

[Gingergrrl]

@Gingergrrl43 -I am at the beach right now on a small vacation. Testing the waters. The first night I was here I stayed at a hotel that was so loud because of the air conditioning that it kept me awake all night long. Now, I'm in a much nicer hotel but the air conditioning is still loud. I feel like a freak, because years ago this would've not been a problem for me. So what I do is I turn the air on full blast all day long so that it's freezing. Then at night I turn it off. The only reason I can get away with that is because it's not too too hot here yet. It just amazes me how much noise bothers me. When I sit by the pool I have to have earplugs in my ears because I can't stand the shrill voices of the little kids.

But! Can I just say how nice it is to get away from home! I'm at the New Jersey shore. The sand is beautiful, the ocean is freezing, but it's just so nice to relax.

So what if I walk around with earplugs then!

Seriously though, having sensitivity to noise and smells is awful because it limits you in so many ways. I understand where you are completely.

@Misfit Toy I'm so glad you are on a mini vacation and you deserve it! We will be staying in a hotel shortly for my trip to the specialist and I am hoping it will be quiet with no smells or noise. We always request no smoking/no pets room but sometimes you don't get what you asked for. My main issue was that the hotel had a fridge since I have two supplements that need to be refrigerated. It is so different traveling as a PWC than in my earlier life

 

[WillowJ]

For me the thing that helps the most is migraine medication (anti-seizure type). I do have migraine.

However, getting enough rest, avoiding over-stimulation (e.g. limiting TV, moving away from the dryer or dishwasher when possible), and staying well hydrated also help.

 

[Hanna]

@Misfit Toy I'm so glad you are on a mini vacation and you deserve it! We will be staying in a hotel shortly for my trip to the specialist and I am hoping it will be quiet with no smells or noise. We always request no smoking/no pets room but sometimes you don't get what you asked for. My main issue was that the hotel had a fridge since I have two supplements that need to be refrigerated. It is so different traveling as a PWC than in my earlier life

When I am for a day or two on vacations, that's the first thing I am doing, plugging out the mini-fridge, the air-conditionning that are in the room... Because of noise sensitivity, I won't rent a room in a building, separate bungalow is the only solution...

 

[Sherpa]

@Gingergrrl

FYI - Low thyroid hormone levels / low thyroid function can cause noise hypersensitivity. I used to be driven crazy by slight hums, buzzing sounds, TV noise through my wall, footsteps.

After supplementing with thyroid glandular.. and then eventually correcting my insulin resistance that caused low thyroid hormone levels... I became much less sensitive to "minor" noise that isn't blatantly distracting.

 

[Gingergrrl]

@Sherpa I wrote this post a while ago and in general noise sensitivity is not as bad for me now. I also got noise canceling headphones which are really helpful.

The worst for me is when there are multiple competing noises/sounds and my brain cannot separate them or filter them out.

 

[sick2long]

I have hyperacusis. Noise makes me dizzy, nauseous and can make me faint and fall down. The only thing that has helped me is meditation whereby I try to get neutral about the overstimulation of noise AND simply avoiding noise. I find that after I've able to avoid noise for a while, I become less sensitive to it. It's almost like an allergy. The less exposure I have, the less later exposure bothers me. And conversely, the more overstimulation from noise that I experience, the more sensitive I become to it.

So it's my guess that once you get back to your old habitat and habits, the overstimulation will decrease. Not very helpful for you right now, I know. As other have said above, I don't find things like earplugs very helpful. It seems like the noise vibrates in my whole body, not just my ears.

I can relate to noise. sometimes when not feeling well just driving if a truck passes me feel like reaching up and covering my ears. Not a good idea though. Traveling on the train to NYC as soon as entering the tunnel the air pressure changes and I grab my ears from the pain. I tried ear plugs but then I still hear the loud ringing in my ears plus my vertigo gets so much work. It feels like the nerves to the ears/ear drum are inflamed from whatever causes this inflammation on the brain. My nerves to the teeth was the worse pain I have experienced over the past 22 years. A definite trigeminal neuralgia. I still get it on and off to this day. This damn disease has a mind of its own. One day its your ears so sensitive and the next that could be better and your joints are so stiff and prone to injury. Then the next day your joints can be better and your muscles are twitching all over and you get cramps in feet and other muscles. Just can't figure it out. I know one thing though. It is all related.

 

[perchance dreamer]

I have noise sensitivity, too. At night I wear foam earrplugs and find Hearos really comfortable:

http://www.amazon.com/Hearos-Ultima...ie=UTF8&qid=1419009837&sr=1-2&keywords=hearos

Noise sensitivity and sensory overload are some of the reasons I hate to fly. I always wear earplugs when flying, and they do help some.

 

[belize44]

I am so glad that it isn't just me! I was attributing my hypercusis to other things, and didn't realize how many people with CFIDS suffer from sensitivity to noise. On New Year's eve, we spent the night at a quiet hotel because I would have suffered so from the noise people make, with fireworks and loud music. I also react badly to truck noises, engine braking (which sounds like a low flying aircraft) and other low frequency noise. I actually end up in tears if it goes on too long.

I hope things get back to normal for you soon, Gingergrrl!

 

[Gingergrrl]

@belize44 This is actually an old thread that I started back in June but I still struggle with noise sensitivity. At present, I still startle very easily when there is an unexpected noise or loud sound. I also cannot sort out competing sounds. I can easily talk on the phone to one person but if there is also a TV or music on, I struggle to follow the conversation like my brain can only deal with one stimulus at a time!

That's great you went to a quiet hotel for new years and mine was not quite so good this year... here's hoping the rest of 2015 is better after a rocky start!

 

[belize44]

Oh, I didn't realize that it was an old post. We are struggling with noise issues where we live, right now. Some of it is city noise, like dump trucks and leaf blowers. The other is noisy teenagers in the house on the next lot. We are planning to sell our house and move away.

 

[perchance dreamer]

At the beginning of How The Grinch Stole Christmas, I empathize with the Grinch objecting to all the Whos' noise, noise, noise!

 

[belize44]

At the beginning of How The Grinch Stole Christmas, I empathize with the Grinch objecting to all the Whos' noise, noise, noise!

LOL, so do I! I always found it annoying that the Grinch was represented as just resenting that other people were having fun and he wasn't. All he wanted was to have peace and quiet!

 

[bthompsonjr1993]

I haven't posted about this before but my sensitivity to noise has gotten significantly worse over the last few weeks. I can hear a clock ticking or the slightest sound and competing sounds (two or more at a time are almost unbearable.) It is like trying to watch multiple rows of TV's at the same time and my mind gets overwhelmed and does not have the energy to do it so it shuts down. Also, with really low bass type sounds, it it is like a movement or vibration inside my head.

How do you guys cope with this and does it eventually go away? I have not read the posts in this section yet so please forgive me if these questions have already been covered a million times LOL.

I am currently experiencing this. Did that noise sensitivity ever improve for you?

 

[bthompsonjr1993]

Its just one of those ME symptoms which can be worst at times and better at others. You may find you are less noise sensitive in 6mths or whatever time.

I used to be extremely noise sensitive.. to the point you refer to in your post, at one stage I couldnt even have people speak to me as it hurt my head (brain) too much. A neighbour way down road mowing his lawn, would almost send me into seizures (Id start shaking). Im much much better now with the noise tollerance thou still do have it a little bit (even in the last 6mths this is maybe the only symptom of mine which has improved).

You may need to get quieter versions of things in your house (get rid of some of the noise pollution) to make it easier on your head/brain (ticking clocks would drive me insane!).



That one brings me back memories, I havent now had that one for years. People playing low base type music in their homes used to do that to my head too... I'd be like affected from a very very long distance away.


Are you getting enough rest???? It sounds like your ME may be ramping up. Make sure you are resting enough.

How did you get your noise sensitivity to improve? How long did it take to improve?

 

[Gingergrrl]

I am currently experiencing this. Did that noise sensitivity ever improve for you?

Yes and it 100% went away and never returned. I honestly do not remember how long it lasted but it was temporary. My illness in 2013-2014 was completely different from what it ultimately turned out to be. The worst sensory issue I had to anything was to smells/odors (part of MCAS for me) but this disappeared with IVIG in 2016 and never returned. I have no sensory issues whatsoever at present.

 

[bthompsonjr1993]

Yes and it 100% went away and never returned. I honestly do not remember how long it lasted but it was temporary. My illness in 2013-2014 was completely different from what it ultimately turned out to be. The worst sensory issue I had to anything was to smells/odors (part of MCAS for me) but this disappeared with IVIG in 2016 and never returned. I have no sensory issues whatsoever at present.

Okay thanks, that is great to know, I am hoping it goes away for me too! I have had CFS for the past 3 years and never had sound sensitivity for an extended period of time until the past couple weeks. I also recently started taking an antidepressant for the first time, so I am wondering if that could be causing it. I am gonna get off it and see if I improve.

 

[Gingergrrl]

Okay thanks, that is great to know, I am hoping it goes away for me too! I have had CFS for the past 3 years and never had sound sensitivity for an extended period of time until the past couple weeks. I also recently started taking an antidepressant for the first time, so I am wondering if that could be causing it. I am gonna get off it and see if I improve.

Everyone is different (and I am not really representative of anything!) but I hope the sound sensitivity goes away for you.