From the article: Light & Noise Sensitivity in Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Many of us with fibromyalgia & chronic fatigue syndrome have light and noise sensitivity. Do you have this symptom? What has it done to your life? What helps alleviate symptoms? Share Your Experience!
Light sensitivity in Fibromyalgia
- I work on an xray light table at my job. When this new light table was introduced and I learned it took pictures I knew I was in trouble. Light flashes cause occular mirgraines, blood pressure spikes and bells palsy with my fibro. So I had to find a solution or be unable to perform my job. A friend suggested polarized skie goggles. I now use oakley dark polarized glasses because they have material that goes all the way up flush to your face, all the way around the eye without making me look like a total social pyrhianna. This also allows me to drive now without the fear of being blinded by emergency vehicle lights and I take them to famly events cause people are always snapping pictures. Yeah I get made fun of a lot and lots of people don't believe me that it is a medical condition. But, hope this helps someone.
- —Guest Heather Craft
JB
- I cried all the way through reading each post! I was diagnosed with FM 9 years ago. Tried a few different meds and none helped . I have just been living or dealing with it. A cpl months ago I googled "can noise cause pain" and I just about had a breakdown with all that I read! 2 months ago I lost a friend of 32 years, because in the last 3 or so years...I can' handle loud or sudden noise. He said I was too jumpy over everything. I smell things other people don't. Clothing tags, socks drive me crazy. I went to my Dr. yesterday. I think I have arthritis in my hands. I wanted a referral and then I told her about what I learned about FM. She said FM is a fake disease!! Took blood and said she wld refer me if blood came back showing RA! Think she is saying that if I don't have Ra, I don't get the referral! I'm losing it....I am very very anxious all the time and I have never been like that before this. Top it all off...I work at Starbucks..for 9yrs I love it, but can't take noi
- —Guest JB
Noise
- I am so thankful that I found this site. Now I know it's not just me. I have had Fibromyalgia for over 20 years and lately I have just noticed sensitivity to noise. Tonight I was eating out with my Daughter and Grandaughter. I could not hardly stand it. The music was loud, kids were loud, even peoples eating utensils scraping across their plates was amplified! I was having a Fibro Flare and then anxiety started in. I asked my daughter if she could not speak so loudly. I could not wait to get out of there! It's hard to explain to people, they just don't understand. About 3 weeks ago when at my 9 year old granddaughter's birthday party I could only stay a couple of hours and that was longer than I should have stayed. With the kids running and screaming, all the adults trying to talk over the TV, why do people do this, no one was even watching it and then the noise from the game my other granddaughter was playing was all I could stand. I hated to leave, but had to get out!
- —Guest Guest EG
sound sensitivity
- Oh, yes yes yes. Sounds actually hurt me. My 9yr old loves to talk super loud and love to listen to her but when she starts it actually makes me jump. Shes learning that Mommys not being mean, just need to be gentle. Being in crowds, honking horns, etc. I find myself covering both ears and rocking back and forth.
- —Carrie_Hurts
Ligt sensitivity
- I have fibro. I had mild light sensitivity for a number of years but during a ten day hospital stay under florescent lights things got worse and worse and i wore a black out mask in there much of the time. Unfortunately, on coming out of hospital I banged my head by walking into a thick coat hook which smacked me right between the eyes above the nose and since then things have been a lot worse. I saw a neurologist who said light sensitive migraine but I wondered if it could be anything else as I am having to wear sunglasses and over glasses inddors and out nearly all the time. Anyone els elike this. Looking at computers and tv makes me feel sick pretty quick and I am ony relieve d by going in the dark. . any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.
- —Guest Sue
sounds
- I have just realized that I have had fibromyalgia for 20 years! The sound of crinkling plastic sets my nerves on overdrive. Plastic, like a bag of potato chips being squeezed, or plastic on the floor to protect against paint spills. It has gotten worse as I have grown older. I am so relieved to know what the cause of my irritation is! Adrienne, it seems that I get so much from your website. Thank you.
- —Guest Mary Beth
l am not just a miserable person after a
- since as earlier as l can rememeber l have not liked loud music or flasing lights in discos and anywhere else for that matter as l always had a migraine attack afterwards. l now know what caused my sensitivity to both noise and bright lights. l now wear sunglasses most of the time and at home l wear tinted distance glasses for watching television. l try to avoid noisy places, which is difficult because l have l lovely 4 year old granson who is very active and noisy although l love being with him. l usually come home and collapse on my bed for a couple of hours which really helps.
- —Guest Margaret Bird
Husband with the Patience of a Saint
- My poor husband has listened to me complain about his talking 'too loud', he always said 'no I'm not'. I've explained about Fibro & also apologised for my lack of understanding - till now
- —Guest Min Horton
Looking for help!!!
- I developed severe light sensitivity three years ago with the onset of CFS. Had to leave my $250K job. Still trying to figure out how to reduce the affect - it also causes dizziness and lightheadedness. My pupils shrank from being normally large to beebee's. Yet, I am still very sensitive to light. Still looking for answers - feel free to give guidance! Thank you!! Hawk
- —Guest Hawk
So, I'm NOT crazy!
- For many years before I was even diagnosed with FM, I had issue with noises and perfumes. Since the flares of pain started 9 years ago, I've gotten worse. I cannot go outside in the daytime too often because the sunlight hurts my eyes. I've noticed that fluorescent lights cause me migraines. I rarely go anywhere any more because the lights, sounds and smells of the general public are more than I can handle. I told my doctor, recently, that it feels like sensory overload sometimes. I can't even handle my own children's daily noise on my really bad days. This seriously makes me feel like I'm going crazy or something. I mean, what mother can't handle even the laughter of their own children? Sometimes I just lose it and scream at them to just shut up. I hate this disease!
- —WiccanFlowerMama
restaurant noise...indoor visor
- For years, I would leave restaurants before ordering a meal due to the noise level. Sensitivity varies, as do other cfs and pem symptoms. Regarding light, I wear a cap with visor nearly everywhere, including home, especially the kitchen at night when I need good light to see what I'm cooking. Be kind to yourself...take care.
- —quiettree
Senior Administrator
- i don't even watch tv, when i'a lone at home i just read a book. People will aske me if i don;t get bored. i get annoyed when a chil cries or someone making a noise. At work i pretend but deep down i 'm dying. i have a neighbour who put music high daily and i wish i an have money to leave the area. My siblings say i'm unfair cause i react on small things. i don't use any perfume cause they give me headaches and feel nause all day.i stopped going to movies & public places as i gto migraines. thank guy's for sharing, now i know i'm not alone. even worse when you tell your Dr all this he said it;s your brain.
- —Guest dollar, SA
Noise Hypersensitivity
- I find that at work especially I am prone to having flare ups, I get overly stressed and find myself trying to work in my office and all I can hear is the floresant lights. It is so loud that I just want to scream. How do you deal with this kind of pain especially when I can't find anyone who understands what I am going thru.
- —Nancy_Sherburn
answers?
- I have been extremely light sensitive for 25 years. it controls my life and isolates me. no dr has any answers. My current dr implies that it is stress. I feel as if she is attacking me - implying that I overreact. This is such a lonely situation.
- —Guest jsbreal
Don't get me started!
- It is sooooo difficult to get people to understand this! I wish I could quit my job, but it's the only one I've been able to hang onto, and I'm living below the poverty line as it is, and so, even though it's incredibly unpredictable (I never know how much work I am going to get from month to month), I just have to keep going. I use earplugs, when I can, meditation techniques, herb tea, stretching, and just holding on until quitting time.--15 years to old age pension, eek! ^^
- —Guest Rhapsode
1-15 of 51Next
