Extra sound sensitivity when physically sick

[flowerforever7]

Do you have increased sound sensitivity when you are sick?

 

[blanning]

Do you have increased sound sensitivity when you are sick?

Yes.

Being sick in general makes me more irritable, less "normal", and more disconnected. And I'm more likely to be annoyed by background noise or bad acoustics like in a shopping mall. I've started getting migraines over the last 5 years or so and those really amplify my sensory problems. I really need the earplugs when that happens. And migraines and garden variety headaches also make me sensitive to bright light. Sunglasses help with that. When my head doesn't hurt, I'm not sensitive to light at all. But the sound problem is always with me.

I always carry around ear plugs with me to take the edge off, even when I'm not sick. And they really help me sleep.

brian

 

[flowerforever7]

Yeah, I hear that. I normally have sensory issues, but I am sick and notice that everything seems more amplified and intolerable. Just went to the grocery store and was flirting with a meltdown with people going in different directions, came home and cannot eat because was in kitchen and roommate is taking pots / dishware out etc and its making clanking sounds that are peircing right through me, had to leave. Even the sound of the opening of the microwave door etc are bothersome. I normally have sensory issues but notice they are amplified right now. maybe it has to do with the type of sickness I have, I have been noticing a faint soreness in the top of my throat and transient faint pain off and on in one of my ears. I am congested too on that side. maybe the fluid in my inner ear is altered right now causing the amplification of the sensory issues.

 

[blanning]

Yeah, everything just gets a lot louder. I tell my wife that she's yelling and she claims she isn't.

 

[C-Man]

Any time I get a migraine, or very rarely a hangover, every sound issues like it's coming through a megaphone.
Also, the only way I can get to sleep at night is if I have the fan on to blur out the noise of the city.

 

[Sabertooth]

When I am sick or not, most regularly occurring sights, sounds & smells fade into the background. It is the unusual sights, sounds & smells that I find nearly impossible to ignore, even if they are slight.