Is it just loud sounds?

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I'm extremely sensitive to certain sounds, particularly if they are loud or high pitched such as the school bell or fire alarm. They cause me grief, stress and pain. When they occur, I clamp my hands over my ears and hearing aids (even without my hearing aids they are still agonising) and squeeze my eyes shut. If they are painful enough, I will cry.

I had a meltdown a couple of weeks ago in my physics class when my teacher played sounds of high frequency. I screamed and sobbed hysterically whilst smashing my head against the wall with my hands over my ears. Another time, a classmate decided to drop a heavy piece of metal onto my desk and sent me into a panic.

I have the same problems with sleeping! I wake up at the slightest noise. My mother, when I was a child, used to try sooooooo hard to be silent so she wouldn't wake me up in the mornings (so she could have some alone time!) but it didn't work that well for her. It is better now though because I had to start taking a tricyclic antidepressant for chronic pain, which is sedating. So I take it at night and not only does it keep the pain at bay, but it helps me sleep better! I still wake up very easily, but not as easily as before anyway. I can sleep through my phone vibrating softly now much of the time, for example. I wish it helped me sleep well enough so that my roommate closing her door or turning the light on in the kitchen and everything else wouldn't wake me up, but the sedative effect has worn off by the time morning comes. Such is life.

ah sleep. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea last year. I tried (really I tried) to sleep with a CPAP machine.

I tried 3 different masks. It was an awful experience and I gave up.

I ALWAYS wake up 2-4 times per night. At 2-3 hour intervals depending on when I go to sleep (which is about the same time each night during the week and a bit later on the weekend)

I have found that taking a generic version of the the active ingredient in Benedryl helps me sleep better. By that I mean I am more likely to be able to fall back asleep after each wake up event. ZZZquil / benedryl are the same thing. You can get a generic in the dollar store for cheap.

I had my second meeting with the Dr yesterday.

today she is going to talk to my mother. I think this doctor is very hesitant to diagnose an adult, as they are much more used to dealing with children (I was 3 yo in 1964 - there was NO such thing as Aspergers)

I talked to my mom last night (she called me when she got the message the dr left on her voicemail)

I explained that the dr wanted to hear about what I was like as a kid. My mom will confirm that I was a loner from the time I was little. I did NOT want to play with other children (although I did enjoy the times I got to spend with my cousins who are all older than me by 2-7 years). I was happiest by myself. I didn't have imaginary friends. I just preferred being alone - which frustrated my mother

I'm not exactly what the dr is looking for in order to properly diagnosis me with Aspergers.
I 'present' better than I really am. I work, I raised a kid, I live independently.
Yet when I take All the 'self-tests' http://www.aspietests.org/ I'm off the charts "aspie"

Susceptibility to noise was a mystery - until I was diagnosed AS. That low "thunk, thunk" sound of a stereo, especially if I can't locate it, feels like an ice pick in my neck. I used to track it down and ask the person/people to lower the volume, but was ALWAYS met with such hostility that I now try to mask the sound by playing music or turning on the TV. I can't understand why it doesn't bother other people!

Some women's voices drive me up the wall; usually news readers on cable TV. I think they are chosen for having harsh, relentless and nagging tones. I have given up on many movies and TV shows because the music tracks overpower the dialogue, or too many people are mumbling in the background, or the jump cuts / light level changes are so fast I feel like I'm going to have an attack of some kind.

When the tea kettle whistles or other "alarm" sounds go off, I get panicky.

I spend time each day in a wilderness area that is SILENT.

Let me describe the type of woman's voice that I can't stand.

The soft whispering type. Like the lady doctor in the commercial for the eye drops Restasis.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUIyE_q7SAo
http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7VSb/restasis-tears

I can't explain WHY I hate her voice, but I do.

Higher pitch sounds are the trouble ones for me. I like loud volumes if the sounds are good and I am not trying/don't have to pay attention to anything else.