I miss my reading so much...I was such a voracious reader before RSD. Now I cannot concentrate on the written word well at all...my comprehension level seems to have fallen and I find I end up re-reading the same sentence or paragraph over and over. it's so frustrating! Thankfully, I have discovered the world of audiobooks and they are one of the best things for me when I need to take my mind off the pain...a very welcome distraction sometimes.

Catra, it may have been me that you got the ipod idea from. I cannot listen to music at all anymore - radio in the car, or stereo system in the home. When I was still working, a radio on several offices away would set me on edge. I hate the music they play in stores. I have had to leave a grocery and go sit in the car for a while in the quiet because of the sounds.

My ears constantly ring, I have had a nasty headache for 4 years now.

The pain/sensitivity from the RSD in my shoulder and neck go up the left side of my face. I don't know if that really makes the sensitivity to noise, or if it is just a "thing" with RSD, no matter where you have it.

I had to go to an ear doctor several years ago. I sat in a little booth with headphones on to take the hearing test. It hurt SO MUCH, I was sobbing - and finally just had to stop. They said they never had anyone do that before.

Last summer when we had the big power outage that lasted for days - it was hot out and I had the windows open. I thought I would actually go insane from hearing the neighbors generators. I live in the middle of no where, nearest neighbor is over 1000 feet from me. But, there's a big greenhouse business about half a mile away and they have HUGE generators.

When the electric went off, I was thinking - ahhh some real quiet! Nope, the noise was horrible.

6 years as a combat medic did my hearing in that and Rock and Roll lol One of these days I'll write a book title " the funniest thing's I NEVER Heard " I cant ever remember a time in my life there was not a ringing in my ears. I finally broke down and got hearing aids about ten years ago after I back handed one of my kids at the dinner table for something I heard them say but what I heard was not what they said according to everyone else at the table.

Sad but funny at the same time. I have narcolepsy and hear strange things all the time...part of the dreams invading wake time...but I've definitely noticed a difference lately.