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 am so sorry that you are going thru this, I have a friends who has the same thing, so I know what you mean.
My mom suffers from this illness and that’s all she has known for her entire life. Since medicine has progressed to this stage she has been able to find the right combinations of medicine to help bring down the level of her pain, to help her function. She’s like a new person now and it’s so great to have her back now.
So sorry to hear you have fibromyalgia. I can’t even imagine the pain you must feel.
I am sorry that you are going through all this. Do the doctors give you anything you can do to help? I dont know too much about fibromyalgia so I’m sorry if that is a silly question.
So sorry to hear that this is causing you so much irritation. I hope that you heal and feel better soon.
I too have problems with noise on occasion. My husband doesn’t understand when I complain about the noise sometimes.
I also difficulty with exercising somewhat too. Im trying to start walking more but the cold weather makes it harder. Come on spring.
I am so sorry you suffer through this , i know a few people who do as well and often they don’t say much due to it being so hard to live with.
What an awful way to experience your surroundings :-(. I don’t know much (or anything really) about fibromyalgia. What is the treatment for it?
Very sorry to hear you are going through that.
We currently live in an apartment and the sounds from the tenant above us are super loud and drive us nuts. I can only imagine how it would feel for you in a similar situation.
Best of luck and I hope you find a way to deal with this.
That sounds so disruptive. I like having a quiet room when I’m working so I’d be totally distracted if every little noise affected me like this.
Thank you for sharing this is recently had to change desks at work due to lighting. I feel like a pain in the neck but can’t cope with the headaches as a result of being under a bright light. I now feel not so alone dealing with this horrible condition. Hopefully soon the nhs will find out more about it and be able to help us. I too suffer with anxiety but I do think it’s because of my fibromyalgia x thank you again for posting this x
I have been suffering from a lot of these symptoms, but my neurologist says it is tension headache. Who knows!
I am so sorry to hear. I work with children who have sensory issues and it is not easy. I hope you can find inner peace.
I never knew that Fibro effected other sensory issues like this. I hope you feel better and get to have a break from this soon for a while.
Its tough living with fibromylagia. Its even tougher trying to explain it others, and those who do not understand it or have had anyone affected by it. Thank you for sharing, for helping others to understand!
I too am a person that has to have background noise on. The first thing I do when I get home is turn on the TV although I’m rarely caught sitting there watching it. I can’t imagine one day just not being able to tolerater everyday noises that come with having a life and family…..
I’m so sorry you have to go through this. I have friends with fibromyalgia and I know it must be so difficult.
I can relate; I have fibro and sensitivity to sound is something that’s slowly getting worse for me. I have always loved alternative music, really loud screamo songs & lots of guitar solos. I never used to have a problem listening to music at ridiculous loud levels, especially on my ipod with my earphones. Over the last few years, I have been finding it really difficult to listen to music in my earphones… I can do it for maybe 15 minutes and then I get a headache so I have to stop. What makes it more stressful is that I’ve always had a problem with hearing things when there’s background sound so if people around me where doing stuff I would get irritated because I couldn’t watch TV. I overcame this problem by turning the TV up and I’ve found that I now can’t do that because I get a headache! 🙁
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I know a lot of people who have fibro. I think that some people don’t understand how serious it can be and what all can affect it. I’m sorry you have to deal with this.
I have a cousin that has this too and I feel so bad for her. Hang in there girl! I didn’t know that sensitivity to sound was apart of it. That explains a lot about my cousin!
I am so sorry that you are going through this. I didn’t know that Fibromyalgia could cause sensitivity to sound.
Oh no, I had NO idea you were suffering like this. I am so sorry you have to deal with this.
Ugh. I’m so sorry that you’re suffering with this. I have a family member with fibromyalgia, and she’s always miserable. She tries to put on a good face, but you can tell she’s always uncomfortable or in downright agony.
I’m sorry to hear you are going through this. Chronic illness is awful to endure. I hope you can find a way to relax about noise a bit more, it must be so frustrating. I am enjoying the quiet of the house for half an hour while my husband does the school run. This is a rare moment, we both work from home so this hardly ever happens, this is a noisy house usually.
I have recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia so I can completely symphasise with you. Along with my crohn’s and I have felt absolutely awful these past 8 months especially – tired, aching body, bone pain, not sleeping, foggy head, forgetfulness, tummy and bowel troubles……etc etc… I was beginning to feel I was going mad but after being seen by a rheumatologist, I was diagnosed immediately. Doesn’t help that I am severely vitamin d deficient and also have osteoporosis – I think I need a body transplant. Hope you continue to improve and feel more ‘normal’ soon – that is my goal too x
Your symptoms are those of mine with the fibromyalgia so you are also not alone.
Tracy I too suffer from crohn’s, fibromyalgia, arthrtis & osteoporosis as well as shorten bowel from my bowel operations & bile acid malabsorption they are awful especially when you need to run to the toilet but the fibro won’t let you lol! Could I ask did you ever have inflixmab infusions for your crohn’s? I’m starting to see a trend in people with crohn’s developing fibromyalgia after this treatment & think it needs to be looked into.