posted
Does anyone else have this? I can't stand to be bumped.
It's not exactly that I can't stand to be touched--if the touch is anticipated (like a hug from DH) it's ok, but if my 5 year old gets on my lap and squirms or keeps bumping into me, it drives me crazy.
It's not just a little annoying, it's excruciating. Of course, DD also has lyme and babs and is very jumpy/touchy. So now I worry that I'm not fulfilling her needs. I actually have to say to her--don't touch me right now.
I find this feeling much more prevalent when I am also having sound sensitivity.
Any coping mechanisms? Advice? Empathy? Thanks.
Posts: 524 | From Hudson Valley, NY | Registered: Jul 2007
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
I have that too. What I try to do is
Anticipate a hug or a kiss or whatever my children do.
My youngest likes to pull my clothes....it drives me crazy!
As much as this is uncomfortable to me, I just imagine this wonderful
Gift from God sitting on my lap, or pulling my clothes.
Maybe if you set aside some time just for cuddling.
So you can anticipate it and maybe enjoy it too.
Hang in there. Mine has gotten better with treatment.
So has my appreciation of my children....
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I'm exactly the same way with both noise and touch.
A little bump feels like someone just slugged me.
I don't having any coping strategies just empathy
-------------------- Bart Henslea 1976 Fibro/CFS/arthritis 2004 Lyme diagnosed 2007 3 1/2 years treatment with oral combos, Cowden, IV roc. BW herbs. Off all abx in 12/10. Feeling good. Posts: 647 | From NY | Registered: Dec 2007
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tickled1
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14257
posted
I have empathy for you as well.
My 2 yr. old is constantly abusing me.
I lose my patience with her especially when I'm feeling oversensitive or am sore and achy and she's jumping on me. Afterward I feel guilty and think if anything ever happened to her I'd miss all the abuse.
That's how I try to stop myself from losing my cool.
Posts: 2541 | From Northeast | Registered: Jan 2008
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posted
I've been trying to be more proactive about touching the kids--like now would be a good time for you to sit on my lap. Or I can't be bumped, or climbed on, but I sure could give you a nice hug.
I wonder why it feels so bad to be bumped? Actually, now that I think about it, all unanticipated things are uncomfortable. That kind of reminds me of my dd who has a heck of a time with transitions or unexpected changes in schedule.
Posts: 524 | From Hudson Valley, NY | Registered: Jul 2007
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tickled1
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14257
posted
I think it's the whole Neuro thing that just makes us oversensitive. I was also very oversensitive to noise, light, busy environments....etc.
I also get irritated very easily and have little patience. Especially at that time of the month. At least now I am recognizing that pattern as it was never a big problem for me pre-Lyme.
The Fibromyalgia type symptoms also make us over-sensitive to touch. What feels like a light touch to most feels like we got slugged.
Posts: 2541 | From Northeast | Registered: Jan 2008
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posted
I have heard it has something to do with substance P levels in the body that makes us more sensitive with pain levels.
Malic Acid is suppose to decrease substance P levels also cutting sugar out of the diet. I know if I have any sugar my pain tolerance plummits.
Good ideas about anticipating touch, this helps
-------------------- Bart Henslea 1976 Fibro/CFS/arthritis 2004 Lyme diagnosed 2007 3 1/2 years treatment with oral combos, Cowden, IV roc. BW herbs. Off all abx in 12/10. Feeling good. Posts: 647 | From NY | Registered: Dec 2007
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adamm
Unregistered
posted
Irritability is one of my worst sx.
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
I have this as well.
The touch is especially bad though when I'm having skin sensitivity. That, or sometimes if bumped, I have horrible muscle cramps.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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cactus
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7347
posted
I have this, too. It is most difficult with children! Like others, if the touch is anticipated, it's tolerable.
It's the "sneak attacks" from 4 year olds that get to me.
It increases with sound and light sensitivity, and an overall feeling of being over-stimulated.
Discussing it with the kids helps to some extent, as far as they can remember and comply with planning the "sneak attacks"... And also creating alone space if at all possible is a life saver.
Lots of empathy here...
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
yes, me too! a former co-worker put his hand on my shoulder once unexpectedly, and i almost droppped to the floor the pain was so bad! it was like when they do the fibro trigger point exam on you!
i also tell the drs. to be extremely LIGHT FINGERED when they touch all of my right side of back; excruciating pain.
all the other sensitivities are also bad when this happens...
people scarring me when i'm in deep concentration...
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posted
Fortunately, this gets better with treatment.
My husband told me yesterday that my extreme sensitivity to touch and sound was the hardest symptom for the family to deal with.
One time my FIL was "patting" me on the arm, back, etc. .... I told him to stop hitting me ... it didn't feel like patting, it felt like he was beating me up!
I no longer have this symptom.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
posted
My advice is to explain it. And not just once but often. Explain it again and again.
Sorry honey, but I don't want to be touched. I'm too sensitive and I hurt. I need a little space. I need a little quiet time. I don't look very sick, but I'm still sick and I don't feel good. Sit quietly with me okay.
My husband began to understand it after a while. My kids didn't take it personally when I explained, even though their needs were not getting met.
Just know that when this is over, you'll have some opportunity to make up for lost time.
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
My teenage son hurts to be touched. You can imagine what a physical exam does to him when we visit with our LLMD every two months!
We haven't been able to hug him in over two years now. I long for the day (and so does he!) when we will be able to do this.
He was diagnosed with Lyme, Babs and Bart in the Spring of 2006. He is slowly getting better (Babs showed up negative for the first time after 1 1/2 yrs. treatment!)
If we could just get rid of the pain then it would be half the battle. Right now we are tackling the Bart and Lyme.
I'm sorry you are going through this but you are not alone. As you can read, many are suffering in the same way.
These horrible organisms can actually get into your nerve cells! The pain is also caused by inflammation (release of neurotoxins when the organisms die off) and muscle spasms.
Just take one day at a time. It will get better.
Posts: 8978 | From Illinois | Registered: May 2006
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