I ran across a article about Sensory Overload being very much associated with Fibro.

-numbness and tingling sensations in your extremities.
-swelling sensations feeling as though one's limbs are made out of gelatin.
-burning skin sensation just like a bad sunburn, despite no redness or visible rash.
-sensitivity to loud sounds (you are always asking family members to turn down the volume.
-odors bother you much more than they do anyone else (your sense of smell is heightened).
-bright lights bother you, maybe even contributing to headaches, especially if you are walking in a colorfully lit shopping mall.
-dry, burning eyes - sometimes they hurt so badly, they burn but your doctor can't find anything wrong with them and has ruled out medication side effects.
-sensivity to tastes

I thought this was a very interesting article since I have been having the taste and odors sensitivity so now I know why.
Hope this helps you that are having sensitivity issues as well.
Sandra

I have MAJOR issues with noise. And sometimes with light. Times like that I just go to my computer/craft room and put some relaxing music on and shut the door. Hubby knows to leave me alone.

Noise and light . Sudden noises jar the body and it hurts . At kiddies birthday parties every balloon pop is agony !

Thanks to all who responded and thank you all so much for your empathy and understanding.

MAGICpill- a noise schedule would kinda help. I'll have to work out how I can do that though. The noise is constant though with 4 children even when they are not being noisy- they still are- if that makes sense.

AprilRaven- I can sympathise. My boy has Aspergers and although he is completely obsessed with computer games he also likes to make animal noises and chatter on about the games.. drives me nuts.

Thanks for the earplugs idea everyone but I had kind of dismissed it since I have to respond to my toddler. Rosegarden- Thank you so very much for telling me you can still hear them through the plugs.

camas- I stopped listening to music a while after being diagnosed with fibro.. I find it annoying BUT I was about 25 when I was diagnosed with fibro and I like dance/ party music. Maybe I need something softer and I will enjoy it again and THEN I can try the mp3 thing.

KayakV- OMG bleach gets stuck up my nose!. I now clean with vinegar and baking soda because the smell of commercial cleaners bothers me so much.

Thanks to everyone who responded again, there are many people who I haven't responded to directly, if thats you, I do appreciate your reply, your expertise on you and the information that has been given. Sometimes it just helps to know- you are not alone.

Coralie X

I feel like the Grinch; noise, noise,noise!!! lol

yes, I too have a problem with noise...but actually I have a problem with sound. It doesn't have to be what others would consider noise.
For me, I can still listen to music & enjoy it much of the time-but there are days that I can't listen to certain songs, and other times I can not listen to anything. I can still watch movies and TV and enjoy that also. I often keep my TV or music loud, to drown out all the back ground noise in the world. One constant sound is soothing, it helps me. I will play reruns of Andy Griffith or Dick Van Dyke or something and even if I am not focusing on it, and just using it as background noise it helps me to not be bothered by anything else going on.
I am really bothered by sudden sounds, I hate if my hubby or one of my kids talks to me all of a sudden, especially in a full on voice. A person sneezing or coughing suddenly, a dog barking or any sudden noise-even a bird outside tweeting all of a sudden just irks me, even though it is a pretty sound.
I have explained to my children & hubby, and they are great at walking up on me slowly and not rushing up on me, and talking to me slowly and quietly. They do forget sometimes. Thankfully my youngest is 10 so they are quiet, they each go to their own room and quietly watch TV or read or whatever. They know that their music or TV, etc. should not be able to be heard in the hallway-even with out my condition this would be a rule, just for respect for others So there is a closed door and a hallway and another closed door if we are all in our own rooms. I also have doors on my living room.
I taught my children to be quiet and respectful as soon as they were old enough to walk, so now that they are 10,12, & 14 they are pros. I rarely have to remind them, mostly its just reminding them to turn off a TV if they leave the room & of course there are times that they get excited and run and scream their good news at me. My daughter recently got the lead in a play at a church down the road...I am sure the entire block heard that!
Keeping my own approved background noise on in the room I am in helps me to not be bothered by the outside noses like a siren or sudden lawnmower or whatever. I also have switched my alarm clock to a gentle music piece instead of a blaring sound.

I have rubber ear plugs right next to my bed.... sometimes I carry them in my bag every where I go. I don't care if people think I look weird with purple earplugs sticking out of my ears. So what. At least it keeps me sane.

i just blast my radio and blast music from youtube.

blast music? no way.... maybe if I want a migraine.
But soft music (acoustic guitar) at really low volume will work for just a little bit maybe 15 mins....

Noise and smells are really beginning to effect me, also!

Loud laughter I used to love - now it's like fingernails on a chalk board to me. People are the mall all seem like they are yelling to each other - which they're not. Hubby typing on his keyboard makes me want to climb the nearest wall.

Smells - oh yeah! Like you, I can smell things I never used to even notice! And the smells are so intensified! Just going down the laundry aisle at the supermarket makes me want to jump out of my skin - used to never faze me. Go into a candle / fragrance store and I want to run like hell to get out - and that was one of my favorite places at the mall (next to Chico's!).

We'll just have to hang in there together. Must be part of the fibro rearing it's ugly head.

Oh yes noise and smells bother me awful ..my hubby tells mr my nose is off lol lol..noise seems like it goes right through me feels like a shocking feeling all in my boady awful feeling hate it ...hope u get better soon hugs ...

Glenda

Hey I htought I'd throw this out there really quick.... I used to have horrible migraines almost every day.... and light, sound, smells, would feel like long nails being driven though my head every minute of the day. I also have flashes of lights that dance around in a circular motion in my eyes. Also limits my driving to day time only.
So I went to see a neurologist about all this who is fibro friendly (and actually very supportive) and he put my on topamax 2x / day.
After a week or 2 I noticed the migraines improving, light and sound sensitivity (took a month), and the flashes of lights got much better. Also, later on I discovered Co Q 10 for chronic fatigue and migraine patients and started on the max dosage. It, too, has greatly helped all those symptoms for me. Just thought you guys should know in case you want to try one of these things. But I suggest at least trying to see a neurologist that is fibro friendly. Good luck!

I know how you feel. though I now only one child in the house now as my 2 boys have grown and left home but my 6 year old daughter is capable of making enough noise for 3. and yes sometimes it drives me insane and gives me a headache and stresses me out.
I know in your case its impossible just to walk away as you have a wee one but maybe a word with the older kids explaining how the noise is effecting you and ask them to think of what they could do to make your life better, its never too early to teach consideration. I am trying to do the same with my wee girl and it doesnt always work but its starting to get through to her more and more.I just told her if you dont annoy mummy then mummy is happier and less likely to grump at you and everyone wins.
good luck hun...hope you win the battle of the noise.

Do I hate noise? YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I totally understand. Noise, lights, smells, if we could just turn the off button. I wish I had a magical remedy, but I don't. I know when my kids were younger I tried to explain how some things would make me sicker. It took along time, but I was able to least make an area of the home that I can go to that is my zone. Free of lights, noise, smells.
I just think that we struggle every time we leave our home, to the lights, noise, smells in the world. And I decided years ago that in my home I should have an area that is fibro friendly. My thoughts are with you.

I am also very sensitive to sound, smell and bright or flashing lights. I use cotton balls in my ears as ear plugs bother me. I carry cotton in my purse in case something is noisy and makes me dizzy. I also have sunglasses for bright light. Sometimes cottonballs and a low playing white noise by where I'm working helps keep the sounds consistent which might help. I have 3 small children and sometimes go in my room for 5 minutes and take deep breaths and then go back out into the fray with my cotton balls and soft music or soft white noise.
Best wishes!