Noise, me and Fibromyalgia
In some ways this post is me trying to get my head around how much things change, things that are out of my control and I want to understand, but can’t quite get my head around.
I’ve always been someone who can’t stand silence, in my childhood I would wander from room to room switching on the TV or stereo. I openly admit as well, I work better with some sort of background noise.
In my teens I adored going to concerts, the noisier the better and yes I played my music louder than I should have in my bedroom, with no regard for my parents or those nearby.
As I got older I of course stopped with the over the top noise, though if I had my headphones in I was known to turn them up perhaps a bit too loud. Then I got Fibromyalgia and everything changed.
Part of Fibromyalgia is sensory overload, a lot of people who have this horrid illness, find they suffer heightened sensitivity to light, touch, noise, smells and temperature and these issues affect our pain levels, can cause headaches and leave us fatigued., as well as for myself setting of my anxiety.
In the past it is something that has played a part in my life on and off, I wouldn’t know how I would wake up from day to day. However, since Christmas it has been awful, every noise feels like it is resonating through my head, the TV has to be down low, even the normal sound of talking can make me flinch and the noise of someone walking on the floor above me feels like a loud boom with each step and I admit I can’t deal with it.
My head tells me this is silly – it’s not normal to be reacting like this, being unable to cope with these everyday sounds, while my body goes off almost into shock, unable to get away from the loud and abrasive noise it seems to think I am actually hearing.
Each day at the moment is a struggle, my pain levels are sky high, and my anxiety is off the charts and the want to just hide away from every little noise. It is strange to think once upon a time I wanted things louder.
All I want is to live a normal life, enjoy every day and wake up looking forward to what the day might hold, not dread what it will bring.
I have Fibro having recently badgered my Doctor into getting me referred, at work i find the chattering and noise too much at times so i put my headphones on with quiet calm music that seems to be helping with the anxiety.
it’s the needle like pain in my fingers at the minute and the twitchy legs
It’s horrid isn’t it – I’m always finding new things that I used to love that I can’t deal with anymore be it loud noises or smells. I definitely get twitchy legs as well. Is it pins and needles in your fingers? I have that and they thought it might be carpel tunnel so I have to wear splints at night to try and ease it.
can I ask how you actually get diagnosed with this?
My son is almost 16 and is very sport and active. BUT cant cope with bright lights, smells and sounds. In cold weather his joints seize and he has Raynaud’s so his hands go purple. In hot temperature he faints. He has a low pain tolerance . His pediatrition referred his for physio which is of no help. we had read about this and suggested it but they dismissed it because of his age
I was diagnosed by a rheumatologist – it’s sadly mostly a diagnosis done by eliminating other things, as there is no blood test / xray / scan that will detect it (that I know of – it has been a while since I was diagnosed). There is the pressure point test which is 19 points (8 pairs) around the body that are painful to people with fibro – they normally say someone with fibro will find at least 11 of the 19 painful when a certain amount of pressure is put onto them.
I have such empathy for you. I am not a Fibro sufferer but I have Crohns which brings it’s own set of challenges. I hope things improve for you soon.
Giving the fibro a middle finger for us both! Touch is so painful for me at the moment.
I’ve never heard of fibromylagia before, but I am very sensitive to noise too. I can’t sleep without earplugs! I get bad headaches too and also have the tv very quiet.
I don’t have fibromylagia, but I have a sensitivity to certain noises. In fact, I’m unable to concentrate on my work unless my house quiet and peaceful.
I didn’t know this. My sister has Fibromyalgia, I will have to see if she has this sensory issue. I hope things get better for you. soon.
Fibromyalgia is a horrible illness. I see my stepmother struggle with it each day and it’s horrible! She’s exactly the same as you, lately she can’t deal with loud noise…I’m sorry you have to go through this. I hope things begin to improve one day! Xxx
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