Noise sensitivity with underactive thyroid

[Zazbag]

Hello everyone,

I wanted to ask whether other people with hypothyroidism find loud or repetitive noise very distressing?

Thanks!

[jrbarnes]

Yes! and song lyrics will repeat in my head.

[catrich in reply to jrbarnes]

God. The lyrics. In the middle of the night. All night. Over and over again. 🤣 It's dreadful isn't it - particularly when it's more a jingle than a song. I had the music from the R Whites Lemonade ad in my head recently- from my childhood. And having just mentioned it..I've roused it..it will be with me all day!

[jrbarnes in reply to catrich]

HA! I was going to look up that jingle but I didn't want it looping around in my head. My friend sent me a youtube video of a 1 hour loop of a 1980s Nestle chocolate commercial song. From morning to night it's in my brain! I'm having a real good laugh right now at how dreadful and ridiculous it is.

[Hidden]

Yes! When I was feeling my worst I thought I might have hyperacusis. I definitely couldn't tolerate noise over a certain volume and I couldn't tolerate more than one noise at a time; I couldn't have music on while my children were playing, for example.

I used 'flare' earplugs for awhile which definitely helped to take the edge off in the meantime but actually, now I'm on a higher dose of levo it's all subsided a lot.

[Gigi216 in reply to Hidden]

Yes me too about the hyperacusis! That was the most distressing hearing issue I’ve ever had

[pamelaegg]

Omg, noise is my weakness. I can't talk to my husband with the radio on, if there are just a couple of different noises going on, I can't concentrate, it makes me very stressed. The more stressed I get, the fewer sounds I can cope with! I am hypo, treated with thyroxine but just found out my T3 to t4 ratio is totally off. Maybe wheny T3 treated and up, that will get better!

[bookish in reply to pamelaegg]

Could be the issue is further upstream. If your brain isn't getting the oxygen, nutrients, fuel/glucose that it needs you will not be as tolerant and won't be producing the neurotransmitters that you need to signal to your glands. If possible, I'd look at even quite small imbalances in blood sugar and getting blood flow optimal to improve oxygenation (any anaemia for example). Blood sugar leaping around could be causing stress to all of you and getting that under control could make a big difference. Cheers

[jrbarnes in reply to bookish]

Absolutely the blood sugars. My blood sugars increase significantly when my T4 slips by even 0.1.

[Mummys45 in reply to pamelaegg]

I'm the same thought I was the only person who feels like this xx Im underactive thyroid hypo 200mg of thyroxines wounder if its related

[GrowingVeg]

Yes, I found even the slightest noise very stressful and affected my ability to think...very irritating for me and all those around me who had to put up with my snappiness. I also had tinitus terrible too...this seems to have cleared up but I'm not sure if it's realated to thyroid or Vit B12?

[bookish in reply to GrowingVeg]

Tinnitus can be thyroid or B12 related and improve with either or both, but it is associated with the temporal region of the brain. You may find that you are simply not getting adequate good fats, that your blood sugar is off, that you are not getting enough blood flow and oxygen to extremities. I'm glad it has cleared up but it might be worth making sure that the fundamentals are working well.

[TSH110]

It became worse and worse before I was diagnosed and treated. I would feel like screaming walking along the roads in London at the traffic noise. It has improved greatly since diagnosis but I still find unwelcome noise somewhat irritating. Noise intolerance is a known symptom of thyroid disorder.

[London3891]

I see a neurologist for 'Central Sensory Hypersensitivity' - noise isn't my personal issue, but it can be one of the many types of sensory disturbance you get with this condition (along with migraine, IBS, floaters in your vision and various peripheral sensations including pain, tingling and heat sensitivity). Apparently if you are hypermobile, it's almost certain you will experience hyper-sensitivity at some point.

As I understand it, the hyper-sensitivity is not caused by hypothyroidism per se, but it can be triggered by an imbalance in your body e.g. thyroid hormone levels being out of whack. In my case, I think that's probably what triggered it.

According to the consultant, it's something that will never go away, because it's a "characteristic" rather than a disease or destructive process, however, you can get treatment to rebalance how your brain interprets the neurological signals (which I am following now) and this should have the effect of dampening down the sensitivity...until another event triggers a fresh episode (my neurologist told me I was likely to experience it again following menopause, for example).

[Bearo in reply to London3891]

That’s interesting. I get the nausea of motion sickness much more easily theses days. Definitely inner ear related but now I don’t have to be experiencing motion to feel sick. I just have to spend too long using short focus vision. My vision has become involved with my sense of motion and balance. Do you think this could be CSH? I see ENT but he hasn’t bothered to diagnose anything, so I’m not being properly treated. GP prescribed antipsychotics which work but aren’t suitable with thyroid problems.

What treatments are linked with CSH?

I’ve always hated loud noises. And I’m quite deaf.

[London3891 in reply to Bearo]

When I had my consultation with the neurologist he asked about noise sensitivity, light sensitivity and motion sickness - apparently all connected. So, although I’m not an expert, I’d definitely recommend having a chat with a neurologist.

In terms of treatment, I’m taking Amitriptyline, which used to be used at higher doses to treat depression, but is used these days at lower doses to help with nerve pain and neuro symptoms. It’s definitely helping, though I’m not yet fully free of my random sensory disturbances.

Good luck to you - hope you can get some good advice and relief!

[Bearo in reply to London3891]

Thank you, that was really helpful

[Cavapoochonowner]

Hello, I have graves disease and am currently on my second lot of block and replace.I can certainly identify with repetitive thoughts, songs going round and round in my head , becoming more anxious.Also cannot watch tv with someone talking to me.Cannot listen to both at the same time.I do however suffer with migraine with aura and when I get these symptoms I know a migraine is coming.

[humanbean]

Yes, I have noise sensitivity. I used to listen to music but I almost never do now because it is just an irritant. Any repetitive sound will also drive me crazy.

This might not be because of my thyroid problems (I'm hypothyroid), it might be because I am getting progressively more deaf. I also have tinnitus and Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.

[MaryMary]

Yes I developed tinnitus and hyperacusis overnight about 2 years ago but have been hypothyroid since 2003. All very strange...

[Purpledreamer]

Yes! Yes! Yes!!! I also get vertigo which can come along side it! Hypersensitive to repetitive noises! Ive recently downloaded a good book I can recommend

Rock steady healing vertigo and tinnitus with neuro plasticity.

[Purpledreamer in reply to Purpledreamer]

I know you haven’t mentioned vertigo but I honestly think it’s all related- ear nose and throat.

[Lys23]

Yes! Absolutely! I’ve only really noticed it the last few years, but I absolutely do. I also get tired when there are multiple conversations in a room. It zaps my energy, very strange, I was never like that before.

[catrich in reply to Lys23]

I'm a teacher and have struggled tremendously with the demands the noise of the school makes on me. So much so I have radically altered the work I do over the last few years - less teaching and more writing and editing. From home. Thank goodness. I steel myself as I enter the school, often eating lunch alone in a classroom to avoid the noise of the staffroom. As you say, very very energy zapping.

[Josephineinamachine]

Yes!! Ruined a first date in a cafe because I couldn’t hear him over the background noise. (And I didn’t want to keep shuffling up closer because I really wasn’t that into him anyway 😬) Thought I was going deaf and was going to get my hearing checked - then diagnosed Hashis and now it’s gone with Levo (as has the tinnitus mostly) 😊

[LizzieAFib]

I have difficulty with loud and also sharp noises, eg can’t stand ambulance sirens. Didn't know of a potential link to my hypothyroidism. Interesting

[MariLiz]

It’s definitely an issue for me, crowded places with several people talking. Loud music, drilling or DIY noise, constant thumping of footballs. Travelling on the tube ( before Covid stopped everything). All these things can leave me feeling very stressed, and trigger a migraine.

[lynzpower]

Really Good to see this thread.

I have this as well i find noise really overwhelming and it gives me huge adrenaline rushes and makes me very jumpy. This is new, I have never been bothered by sound before and I had no idea that it could be connected.

[Mummys45 in reply to lynzpower]

Same. But why x

[holyshedballs]

Noise sensitivity, tinnitus and vertigo are all symptoms of thyroid disorder.Unfortunately they are symptoms of other disorders as well.

[asidist]

interesting thread, never before considered a relation to thyroid functioning. thanks for raising he issue.

[Lakdeva]

My almost 18 year old daughter has developed Tinnitus, hyperacusis and popping i her right ear, after she stopped taking Synthroid 25mcg, which she was taking for almost 5 years for hypothyroidism and possible Hashimotos. Did you recently stop your medication? Just curious.

[Mummys45]

100 percent, it getting worse for me, If its sudden i can't control the Anxiety I have, people talking over one another get me painicin. I was in fish aquarium shop and suddenly a filter made a noise wasn't that loud but I jumped out of my skin shouted Wow and my husband and shop assistant rushed over see if I was OK lol I felt stupid and my heart was going mental I had 2 leave x

[Escapologygirl]

yes, i can't bear the tv too loud or if im brushing my teeth and water is running i can't hear anything else

[Clogger]

Gosh, it must be so hard suddenly having issues with sound sensitivity. I've had it all my life, and was diagnosed with autism aged 52. I suppose at least having it so long I have learned to live with it (ie avoid most situations, but in particularly the sound of the under 5s, singing, laughing, crying and shouting - must be the pitch of the young voices that is so hard for me as it drives me to distraction). I now always wear headphones and play music on the bus as I can stand my own noise, but no-one else's. I will wear headphones without the music when walking to the bus - just dampens the sound of the traffic. And it just looks like you are listening to music and not obviously autistic 😏.