Sound triggers episode!!
 

2 1/2 months now since my accident and most symptoms are pretty much gone. No longer having daily dizzyspells, and no longer having that fogginess on a daily basis either. I can be good for days at a time and then something can trigger a episode where I go into a almost zombie like state. Lately loud Sounds have been triggering these episodes, Sound was an early problem but seemed to have gone away.

Last sound episode was at the grocery store near the bakery dept. when a worker was pushing a bakery cart that was really loud, when I first heard it I kinda felt annoyed and when she got within 20 feet of me my ears started ringing my head started spinning, and I felt like I was in a tunnel again. With me instantly holding my hands to my ears I shouted to my wife get me out of here, within minutes of getting into car I started feeling myself going into a stare and drifting away, after getting home and laying down I finally came out of my zombie state in about an hour. My wife said I was pale, and had the glassy eye look, and looked confuesed. This is the 3rd time in 2 weeks that sound has pushed me into an episode. Was wondering if anyone has had a "Sound Issue" as I have been getting recently?

I do not know the circumstances of your injury. I had a traumatic head injury from a car in 89 while riding my bike. I almost went mad from so many things stemming from it. Not the least was the psychological aspects. PTSD can stem from such an injury. It is traumatizing simply put. Some of what you described fits the bill. These things don’t go away over night…or in 2 or 3 months. I lived with the effects of mine for at least 2 yrs…and that was simply the physical. But then again, I believe PTSD to be physical as well. You could benefit from some self soothing exercises. I suspect these triggers will be here for a long time to come. And I pray you seek some counseling to ease your stress from this. I did not and that was a mistake…unfortunately it wasn’t suggested. You are in my prayers on this one. I still have sensory flashbacks

I am 17 months out from a head injury and still have issues with sound. Whenever I am in a noisy situation, the next day I am a total mess. I spend most of my day in bed or on the couch. It almost feels like a hangover although no alcohol was involved. People have told me to wear ear plugs and I probably should, but never seem to think about it at the time. I am hoping that it will go away sometime in the future.

MileyT,

Your experience is not unusual. I deal with it daily. I make sure to have ear plugs handy. The yellow foam ones work the best. My wife always has some in her purse.

If find that sometimes i can reduce the effect if I watch the sound producer. When my brain can make sense of the sound, it can tolerate it better.

After this episode, your wife should hopefully be more accommodating. My wife will hear the sound and watch me. Sometimes I get sort of zombie like and she knows we need to leave.

There are times when i can endure the sounds but still pay for it later. Restaurants are a tough place for me.

Try to become more pro-active about sounds. Ear plugs and avoiding noisy environments should be your standard.

Hope this helps.

My best to you.

MileyT

I to have had issues with sound through out my entire concussion. The best thing I ever did was go out buy earplugs from CVS. The foam ones didn't do much for me, I actually use the wax ones. There was a period of time when I would them virtually every time I left my bedroom. Again- I would highly recommend going and buying a pack! I was able to go to restaurants (if I was feeling up to it) and be around big groups of people with out feeling worse. It's actually become the running joke among all of my friends!

Hope this helps. Good Luck!

Erica

A common problem with the foam ear plugs is not inserting them in far enough. Twist them tightly. Put them in your ear so just a bit protrudes. As they expand, you will hear the sounds being reduced. You will still be able to hear a conversation but the volume will be less and the background noise will be very reduced. If someone can see them both as they look at you, you have not inserted them enough. They should be almost fully hidden by the small bump over your ear canal.

There are some customizable ear plugs that you warm up and insert. They cool and mold to your ear's shape. They work good too.

The bell shaped foam plugs and the ones with strings in them do not work very well.

I have used ear plugs for more than ten years. I have tried all kinds except the heat customizable ones.