Sensitive Senses

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One of the big things with fibromyalgia is sensitive senses. You know those senses - hearing, smell, taste, touch, sight. People with fibromyalgia have heightened senses. When it comes to hearing there can be the issue with ringing in the ears as well as not being able to handle a lot of noise. Being in crowded places or loud movie theatres is uncomfortable and, if you have ringing in the ears (tinnitus) all the noise will make them ring louder. Ironically, the ringing of the ears makes hearing a little difficult. Stress can also trigger the sensitization of the ears' function. And having your ears ringing so loudly can make it difficult to get to sleep at night. I have been known to use a sound machine once in awhile. Taste is a little harder to gauge because if something tastes bad then it could be that you just don't like it. I can say I don't like milk anymore but it's because I stopped drinking it and because of that I feel I lost the taste for it. However, there are times when everything tastes just plain bland. Sight: My eyes are very sensitive. I get very tired, itchy, watery AND dry eyes. They are sensitive to bright lights and driving at night is not something I like to do. I've had my fair share of accidents; driving at night makes me paranoid. Touch: I don't think I'm too sensitive to touch. Some people with fibro can't bear to have anyone touch their skin. I do find my hair touching my skin bugs me so I wear it in a ponytail if I'm not going out. I've been known to complain about being hugged too tight. But I sure love a good massage. Smell: This I feel is the most sensitive sense for me. I can smell everything. In fact, I smell stuff that doesn't even exist. One evening I spent a whole evening complaining about the smell of cigarette smoke but there wasn't any anywhere. I hate the smell of cigarette smoke and alcohol. Perfumes can give me a headache, that includes scented candles if left burning too long. I can smell an open bottle of beer outside 20 feet away. I remember going to a concert and at intermission the person sitting next to me went out for a drink and a smoke. When he sat back down beside me I almost died. I suffered through the whole second half of the concert. There are signs everywhere these days, telling people not to wear perfume due to allergies and sensitivities, what about other smells? Do people not realize how badly they smell in other ways? Cigarette smoke, alcohol, weed, body odor, coffee breath..... Which reminds me... we had First Communion and Confirmation at our church recently. That means you get a lot of people at church who not only don't attend our church, they don't attend church at all. These people take Communion time as an opportunity to slip out back and have a smoke. I found myself slowly inching further and further away from the guy next to me after he went out for a smoke at Communion. Honestly, can't people wait an hour? And now you know why my husband's bad habits drive me crazy. All those terrible smells he brings in the house with him. I can't stand it. Sometimes I think I'd like to lose my sense of smell altogether but realize I wouldn't smell a fire if my house were burning down, and would never smell chocolate chip cookies baking again... or just chocolate.