Just read in a post regarding sleeping that someone wears earplugs, and I realized, that's a total necessity for me, ever since I was exposed to Lyme. No ear plugs, no sleep. I use the Mack's kind.
I've also found it helpful to carry some with me in case the sound is too loud somewhere, like at a film showing.
Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
Yup, me too Robin. Then again I live in NYC where ambient unwanted sounds abound. But it could be the noise sensitivity issue that many lymies have discussed in other threads. I have been very noise sensitive since having lyme, and even a loud clock ticking will distract me. So I carry around foam earplugs and use as needed.
Posted by Truthfinder (Member # 8512) on :
All ear plugs make my ears sore if I wear them overnight.
I just have to have some kind of "white noise" going in the bedroom - fan, humidifier, air cleaner - just something to block any other noises that might crop up.
Tracy
Posted by MrG (Member # 10254) on :
I never tried the ear plugs but here's something to note. I'd be upstairs on my computer & at the other end of the house downstairs my wife would make the slightest cough & I would have to hold both my hands to my head. It felt like my head was ready to explode. I noticed it with other high pitched sounds also.
It probably has has something to do with the seizures I get my head but I'm guessing.
Gee...maybe I should wear those earplugs.
Pat Sr
Posted by dmc (Member # 5102) on :
I had to sleep with earplugs for years. After lyme treatment for a year no longer need them. I would wake up and be unable o sleep from the traffic noise from a highway 5 miles away.
If I take a nap now and there is activity in the house, I started using those noise machines to drown out the noise...has a few settings but I found the ocean, woods, rain, all kept me "aggitated".
I use the waterfall setting, which is a steady noise.
Machine was 12 bucks at Walmart.
Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :
I also use one of those white noise machines, and it works really well for me.
Andie
Posted by catalysT (Member # 10786) on :
I wear them!! I can't sleep right without them. I've developed a definite sound sensitivity, also known as hyperacusis ( http://www.hyperacusis.net ). I was always a light sleeper, but now it's just real bad. I find if I wear earplugs in the daytime, I get tired a lot less easily.
Sounds also destroy my concentration (sound of computer fans running), (sound of any electric devices, refrigerator, washer, dryer).
One of the downsides to wearing earplugs all the time is having to hear my neck make creaky crunchy noises all day long. Another downside is wearing earplugs in the daytime often, can lead to sensitization of hearing, so when you take them off everything seems more loud than it ever was.
I'm not one of those people that can use white-noise to fall asleep instead of earplugs. I want my room to sound like a black hole (no sound whatesoever!).
Posted by Travlr1 (Member # 9681) on :
ME
Travlr1
Posted by Sue vG (Member # 3143) on :
Both hubby and I need them. I'm sure he has lyme too.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Thx for responses -- catalysT, thx for referral to hyperacusis site -- looks interesting -- it's quite an experience to go through a phenomenon first before understanding it or knowing it has a name.
There ought to be a term for the kind of experience we're going through with Lyme and co's, when the experience precedes any understanding of it. Only now can I look back on my life and go, oh That's what was going on! The two-step? As in live it awhile and only later come to find out it has a physical entity behind it.
Posted by davidx (Member # 8326) on :
I wear earplugs almost every night. Just the noise of our cats walking around could wake me up or keep me up. I don't sleep well to begin with but without earplugs I know I would be sleeping even worse!
-David
Posted by SayYesh (Member # 8343) on :
I always carry ear plugs with me too.
I used to use ear plugs to sleep, but my ears started getting all messed up from using them all the time.
I got a white noise machine. I highly recommend getting one. I use a Sleep Mate by Marpac. You can get them many places, so shop around on the net.
PS, I forgot to say, I bought the Bose noise-reduction headphones, a pricey item, but I couldn't live without these. They're on now!
![[sleepy]](graemlins/sleepy.gif)