gertie Posted August 31, 2008 Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 Anyone sensitive to noise? I was wondering if it's because I have Meniere's or is this a symptom of Dys? It is painful to listen to or play music even with earplugs. Music was a huge part of my life. I have tinnitus 24/7 & noise makes it even louder. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megan Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 I would guess it's at least partially the Meniere's. (my dad has it, although he had some procedure at mayo and hasnt' had a bad spell in years)I, too, have tinnitus 24/7, but I have some kind of hereditary hearing loss through my mom's side of the family, so I don't know if it's POTS related. The only time I really have sensitivity to noise is when I have a migraine. Have you seen an ENT?Meg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 I am sensitive to noise. I generally refer to it as "sensory overload". Sometimes the sounds are just overwhelming and I can't sort out all of the different sounds. For example, if I'm having a conversation at a gathering, I have great difficulty sorting out the conversation I'm in from all of the background noise. At ther times, sound is actually painful. For example, the music at church this morning wasn't loud to anyone else, but it was too loud for me. It hurt my ears and would have become overwhelming if I didn't have my handy earplugs. I keep earplugs in my purse for times like this - thanks to Sophia's suggestion in a post several months ago! I never had thought about carrying around earplugs before that!As far as my doctors know, the noise sensitivity I get is due to dysautonomia. There isn't an indication that anything else is wrongI don't have tinnitus, so the sensitivity you are experiencing is probably worse than mine. But I wanted to let you know that you aren't completely alone.Rachel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchmill Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 I also have tinnitus constantly. Loud noises do bother me, and I'm constantly asking my husband to turn down the music (he's a musician) but not on a regular basis. Just when it gets too loud, KWIM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gertie Posted September 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 Thanks everyone. Tinnitus is definitely worse when I have a migraine. Earplugs do help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turtlefairy5 Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 I don't have tinnitus constantly, but I do experience it from time to time. Sometimes it is the typical high-pitched, sustained beep, other times it is a fluttering like bird's wings flapping in my ear. Strange, but true. I am sensitive to noise in that it makes my anxious. I feel overstimulated and desperately want quiet.I hope this gets better for you soon; I don't know much about Meniere's. Actually, I've never heard of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle F. Posted September 3, 2008 Report Share Posted September 3, 2008 A couple of years ago, I went to Shea Ear Clinic, Memphis, TN (almost 5 hours away) for my third confirmation that I do have Meniere's. I was in denial. Anyway, the doc did confirm Meniere's, but let my neuro know that he believed most of my problems were central nervous system related. Until that point, my neuro had been treating my case as though all of my problems were Meniere's related....at least I felt that way. Shortly after seeing the ear specialist, my neuro told me he believed I was having ANS issues. Now, I know more, especially after seing a knowledgeable cardio who said I have NCS, based on a TTT.I have been extremely sensitive to sound for the past two years. Radios in the van drive me crazy. Reverberation in rooms where there is a lot of talking also bother me alot. Loud preachers and speakers...etc. Anyway, the cardiologist put me on a beta blocker and Klonopin within the past three weeks. My dh and I both were shocked when "I" was the one who turned on the radio in the van!!! It's like my CNS is calming enough for me to tolerate noise so much better. It is not as painful (I say irritating when it comes to the ANS part of it). I do have tinnitis, but I believe I have adjusted to it, probably because it is not as severe as so many other people's. At any rate, my noise sensitivity is due to both the Meniere's and ANS dysfunction. Feel free to send me a personal message if I can be of any help.Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gertie Posted September 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2008 Thanks for your comments. Michelle, have you had any problems from Klonopin? I take Neurontin for migraines & seizures but it hasn't helped the hearing sensitivity. Sometimes I think it would be better to be hard of hearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle F. Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Alicia,I've taken Klonopin for 3-4 weeks and it has been helpful in calming my CNS at night and allowing me to sleep, which has been a problem because I have Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. I think it has been a help...even with my ability to tolerate much noise. I messed up and took one this morning, along with my BP med and I want to sleep. Sure didn't mean to do that!I have two issues with my hearing. My ANS has been in overdrive and when I hear too much noise, it adds to my irritation and overwhelming feelings. My Meniere's causes a low tone pretty-constant ringing. I have figured out that if my BP is high and I think if my HR is high, my tinnitis is much louder. I have hearing loss and a lot of noise around me makes it harder to hear (focus).I was on a diuretic for about 1 1/2 years, then dx'd with dysautonomia and taken off the diuretic and now have increased sodium intake. My body is confused. I am doing fine though. Regarding my ears, I cannot really tell a difference after adding the sodium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bella127 Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Alicia,I do notice that some days, I just can't take certain noses. I'm not sure why this is...although I don't think it's very severe. Sometimes I can't have music on around me, and have to have everything quiet, can't watch TV, etc. This used to be related to migraines (where I had to have NO noise, and had to have the room completely dark), but for some reason I really don't get migraines anymore.I agree with the comment about feeling "overstimulated" - that's the way I would describe it too. It just seems like on some days, (probably the "bad" POTS days) noise puts my symptoms into overdrive. Sometimes even someone talking will do it, and I'll feel like they're talking a lot louder than they actually are. I get really sensitive with a lot of things when my POTS symptoms are bad that day (or minute) in the first place. Silly question, but I wonder if this stuff is ANS related, and if so, how?Do you find that you are always sensitive to noise, or is it just during certain times (when your POTS symptoms are acting up, or when the noise is extreme)?Hope you find some relief soon.Chrissy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gertie Posted September 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 My ears are always sensitive but if I have a migraine noise is unbearable. I wore ear plugs most of the time for several months, especially if I went to the grocery store. The intercoms & registers are deafening. I seemed to get better for awhile & now I'm going downhill again. Thanks all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helen.t Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Hi Folks, Yeah my ears are really sensitive too. I suffer from tinnitus which fluctuates in loudness and can be painful too. I find certain noise really painful and worse when having migraine. I also get a lot of pressure in my ears like they are being sucked in together which can be quite distressing. Does anyone else have this and know what would be the cause? I put cotton wool in my ears to help muffle loud noise. Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjpots Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 I can relate to the "sensory overload" feeling. Many times in the evening if the whole family is in the living room and the t.v. is on and the kids are talking I just feel crabby because of the "noise". It's like it puts me on edge or something. I just thought I was losing my patience with my family but maybe there is a reason????JJH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle F. Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 I agree with jjh! I have felt guilty for not always being the perfect mother and raising my voice when there is so much noise...with 5 children in the house. With this pretty new discovery of "sensory overload", it has been easier for me to avoid situations that overstimulate me....or at least for me to realize that there is too much going on around me and make some decisions that help make it quieter. I still make some bad decisions, but knowing what the problem is on many of the occasions has helped! I don't know if I made any sense. I really need to be in bed. lolMichelle F. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ana_22 Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 yes! sometimes when someone is talking very close to me, i feel almost on edge because their voice is hurting my ears! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.