Noise Sensitivity and fatigue
 

I took my wife's car today to get the tyres changed, but the noise in the place not only hurt my ears but also triggered really bad fatigue in my legs. I have also experienced this problem in other noisy places. I have earplugs but didn't have them in, so I am partly to blame. Has anyone else experienced this, or have any tips about it?

Noisy places
 

Mouse,
Yes, this happens to me all the time. I went to cafe rio for my dads birthday with my family and the place was so noisy and busy. It was like a torture to try and sit there and eat. I made it through but by the time we went back to my sisters for ice cream and cake, I was getting a migraine and really tired.
The worst was on Monday, I had to go to the local social security office to apply for a new disability claim and this place was packed with people. This alone makes me have panic attack then the noise and the irritation of the incompetence of the people that worked there really took me out for the day. I had to go right home to bed and it was 3 in the afternoon.
I don't know what to do about it. Stop living? That is what I have been doing.
Brain

I read that the heavy legs/fatigue is an anxiety response. I think the only solution is to remember to bring and wear your earplugs. You can try to remain calm and not worry about what's happening but my guess is this place was so noisy you probably went to the anxiety phase pretty quick! I experienced this same thing in a dollar store but it went to full blown panic attack before I could get out.

Another solution, if you don't like earplugs, is noise cancelling headphones. Get a cool pair and wear them around your neck like all the young kids ;)

I hope you don't have any long lasting repercussions from this incident. After my panic attach it took a day or two to feel right again.

CC

Am worried because I have to pick my three children up who are all noisy, and I feel lousy, I do have earplugs at the ready though! I also have Cymbalta to take which really takes the edge off my symptoms, many which are provoked by PCS related anxiety and possible nerve pain, because Cymbalta relieves both. I will give it 2 weeks and see how it goes, but feel lousy now whilst its wearing off, but much better when it starts working.

mouse1,

Wear your ear plugs. Going on and off Cymbalta is not a good idea. As soon as you hear the noise, get away from it and put your ear plugs in. Wear them with your children. You will still be able to hear them talk. Teach them to look at you when your are talking together. It will help.

My best to you.

Mark,

I don't go on/off Cymblata, I am on the lowest dose, the positive is it takes the edge of my symptoms (apart from noise sensitivity), including pain and makes me feel better. The negative is that even 30mg feels too strong, I have nausea, and even more insomnia, awake at 3am insread of 5am, and there is an afternoon crash as it wears off. I don't fancy taking it in the morning, because I have to drive.

Your right about the advice regarding noise, avoid it if you can, and if you can't adapt to your surroundings.

There is a lower dose of Cymbalta if you find it hard to tolerate this one, 20mg is another option for start up, if you don't want to feel too many intense side effects. Nausea was the worst for me at 30mg, I wanted to go down so badly, but the cost was even deadly, ugh! I wish I had done that instead of gone through all the crap I did. And the symptoms you are feeling are normal with an SNRI. Remember to keep a schedule with these meds. Take it the same time every day with a meal to decrease nausea. Best of luck!:hug:

Consider,

Thanks for the advice, I have decided to switch the dose to the morning, because it is giving me too much energy and that is why I am waking. Thought I might be better off with morning dose, I don't have to drive today so its a good time to start. The nausea is annoying, but the benefits far outweigh it, because my symptoms reduce and my mood is lifted, the tinitus is worse though.

I felt that way the first time I took it, too much energy than crash lol!

Switched the med to morning, and almost felt normal for an hour or two in the evening, also had head pressure which didn't develop into a migraine. Evening is normally my worst time, so this is a first. So its pain relieving and mood stabilising benefits are clear. Only draw back is the sleep, I slept 1030 to 130, prior to this medication I was getting 5 or 6 hrs, I hope this side affect settles down, it is more bothersome than the nausea.

I have to say that I have had my best day yet today, I really think that the Cymbalta is helping with both the pain, fatigue and my mood/anxiety. Subsequently I have had a full and active day from 8am till 5pm with rest when required. I think its helping reduce symptoms, the noise sensitivity/tinitus appears to be the most stubborn of all and wont go. I suppose its just one day, but a full week would be great, definately trying to avoid the things that provoke symptoms to make this last.

I suffer greatly from this. No anxiety, just what I would call a massive brain crash when in a noisy place or when there is more that one or two sources of sound. This symptom is very debilitating for me as it means I can't be in public or do my job properly (teaching at university) or go out with my family to restaurants...or attend receptions, etc. I am worried this will never get better.it is beter than it was, but not good enough yet to allw me to function in a social world.

What specialist , doctor, or carer would one try to see to understand a bit more and to try some therapies? I should have bought shares in earplugs. I have filters, etc. I just want to be able to exist in places where there are multiple noises. In fact, I need to be able to do that, just like many of ghe others on this board! :(
Any tips would be appreciated. I think the amantadine has helped this a bit. But I suffer with this.

I am now 7 months after my car accident, and while some symptoms have gotten better, others still linger.

I get so anxious and have mini panic attacks in crowds and large open spaces, that it's hard to believe how to return to work (also university teaching!).

Is this biological or psychological? Or perhaps it doesn't matter, and I need to ask for help with my neurologist.

Berkleybrain,

I believe that is both biological and psychological, however one feeds into the other and vice-versa. People with PCS have much higher arousal/tension levels and therefore completing everyday tasks is far more difficult and challenging. I too used to go into overload in crowded places, but not anymore. I had very bad symptoms of light/noise sensitivity, migraines, fatigue, tinnitus, numbness, insomnia etc. My symptoms started to reduce once I took all pressure off myself, but this still wasn't enough for me. All of these 'biological' symptoms have reduced further since I have been taking an antidepressant. Worrying about symptoms and the future, anxiety, depression, low mood increases and feeds into the physiological symptoms in relation to PCS. It might not work for everyone, but medication is one means of breaking the psychological-physiological cycle of PCS.