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Strange fears and hyper alert - is this part of CFS?

Posted , 11 users are following.

Scoobydoo65
Scoobydoo65

I've noticed I am always in hyper alert mode and often very jumpy.I jumped out of my ski recently in a supermarket at the sound of someone coming up behind me with one of those large cages- the noise was unbearable. I also have irrational fears- for example I was woken by my neighbour coming home in thier car at 3am, but in half awake half asleep mode I thought the people in the car were coming to get me - (I had been following the reporting of the horrendous Paris attacks a lot on the internet) Anyhows, just wondering if this is due to the effects on the nervous system being on overdrive? Does anyone else get these strange fears?  

1 like, 49 replies

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  • jelelly
    jelelly Scoobydoo65

    Posted

    I go to a therapy group discussion at my local hospital and they say that increased sensitivity to noise is often associated with cfs. Although I have not experienced this.

    June

    • ChrissyC
      ChrissyC jelelly

      Posted

      I definitely experience this with sound. An unexpected loud sound can wipe me out the rest of the day, I begin to shut down and have to sleep. I've been told the whole fight or flight response thing is seriously over wound with my M.E. Background sound of any kind makes me entirely unable to concentrate. I can't form speech in company or focus on my shopping in a shop if there is music. The tannoy announcements are torture to me - sounds excessive I know but it's true.
  • georgeGG
    georgeGG Scoobydoo65

    Posted

     Dear Flowerpotlady,

    You do not say how young you are. Your name suggests about as young as me. At my age and with my deafness it is easy to make me jump out of my skin. That is not CFS just age.(in my case at least)

    • Scoobydoo65
      Scoobydoo65 georgeGG

      Posted

      Hi George, I like your style :-) (how young you are) I'm in my late forties. Its definitely hyperaccusis -  I didnt use to jump or hear things so loudly before - even certain poeples voices sounds like someone scraping chalk down a blackboard...cars beeping their horns make me jump lout of my skiin etc etc. I also have heightened smell, and sensitovity to light. Its part of M.E. sadly xx 
    • georgeGG
      georgeGG Scoobydoo65

      Posted

      Hi Flowerpotlady, I am 74 years young. biggrin Thank you for the compliment - style rather than long lost youth. I am sorry that you have hyperaccusis. It is very disressing and even less understood than deafness and that is distressing enough. A sudden loud noise can have me flinching exactly as if I had received a serious physical blow. Maintain the loud noise for a couple of minutes and I am a miserable wreck with a ferocious hair trigger temper for about three hours. I am very sorry you have hyperaccuisis.
    • Scoobydoo65
      Scoobydoo65 georgeGG

      Posted

      Bless you George, that sounds awful :-( I like your description of how it makes you feel - sometimes its hard to put into words exactly how it does feel but you've expressed it really clearly. Its a similar feeling with hyperacussis - a loud noise literally goes straight through you but I dont experience the after effects as you do - that cant be very nice at all xx
    • georgeGG
      georgeGG Scoobydoo65

      Posted

      I thought I had Hyperaccusis but my therapist at Audiology thought it was a different problem, equally untreatable, but I have forgotten the name.
  • dawn97
    dawn97 Scoobydoo65

    Posted

    Hi I've only just started taking pregablin yet I've had hypersensitivity getting worse year on year since I've been ill 14 yrs ! So I don't think it's the meds I think its  the illness !!! 
    • Scoobydoo65
      Scoobydoo65 dawn97

      Posted

      Hi Dawn, have you found anything that works to dampen this down? like meditation etc? xx
  • dawn97
    dawn97 Scoobydoo65

    Posted

    Hi there , it's just something that's got worse over time ? My medication helps with pain , sleep depression ( I take pregablin maximum dose per day 8 cocodamols & amertripterline sorry can t spell & that's something else I used to be able to do !!!!i 

    i also have injections & tablets for slipped disc when I need to !!!) but the hypersensitivity makes me hate being in a crowd the noise is too much plus light hurts my eyes & smells don't get me started on smells !!i can find a smell from a mile away hahaha !!!! My hubby teases me but I'm sure me saying oh my god what's that awfull smell drives him mad !! But I think it's something you get used to ? It's easier than getting used to the fatique !?!?!? 

    Sorry I've no real answer for you but at least you now can understand it's this illness not you !! Good luck dawn x

    • Scoobydoo65
      Scoobydoo65 dawn97

      Posted

      Thank you Dawn and bless you, you made me laugh about the smells! :-) xx
  • sunshinemb
    sunshinemb Scoobydoo65

    Posted

    Hi

    I have had severe cfs/me for over 12years...

    Hypervigilance in cfs/me is caused by the adrenal glands producing adrenaline to compensate for the severe exhaustion and lack of normal energy production!

    I have had this problem for years as well as  symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue as the Adrenal glands become worn out with overwork.  The situation is made worse by over doing things as we all tend to do with this condition!

    The Specialist told me when I was first diagnosed that this is a common problem

    with cfs/me.rolleyes

     

    • Scoobydoo65
      Scoobydoo65 sunshinemb

      Posted

      Thank you for that. Possibly the reason why recovery is so difficult?  What kind of specialist did you see? - was he/she ME specific? (always on the look out for good specialists) xx   
    • GeorgiaS
      GeorgiaS sunshinemb

      Posted

      That makes sense. Most of what I've read points to us being stressed and the HPA axis sticking in the flight or fight response from before we got ME. That may be the case and if due to ME the HPA axis is overcompensating that makes sense in that we're trapped in the flight or fight response.

      So relaxation is key but I also think that diet is the first port of call. Certain foods act like drugs or herbs in relaxing or balancing or doing other things chemically. For instance cucumbers contain a chemical that triggers our happy chemicals in our brains. razz

    • GeorgiaS
      GeorgiaS Scoobydoo65

      Posted

      I've never heard of an ME specialist that knows any more than we do. In fact of course we know more because we research, know from experience and talk to each other, so please don't wait for the knight in shining armour.

      When the medical profession knows something we'll be the first to find out!

    • ChrissyC
      ChrissyC sunshinemb

      Posted

      This just makes so much sense. It does help to cope when you understand what is happening to you. Thanks.
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