Hello all, photophobic and trying to stay positive
 

Hello everyone,

I've just spent some time reading introduction posts and replies, and I'm very excited to join in the community. I hope to become a member that can both give support, and appreciate the support given.

My story is fairly unusual, at least it seems that way to me because no Dr. seems to know what is going on with me.

What I know is that my body, my brain, feels ill whenever I am exposed to light that is high in color temperature. Soft, warm light, even if it's still fluorescent, doesn't bother me. Bright, blue, industrial type lighting (getting more and more popular for its energy efficiency) starts creeping fatigue, nausea and an overall flu feeling. This lighting was put in my workplace 7 months ago, before that I didn't notice any problem, now it has become debilitating. The pain and illness feels like it has been compounding over the months, where I'm now at a point i don't want to get out of bed to go to work, I know i'll feel physically sick and miserable the entire day.

The good news is I have finally found a few Drs. who have seen/treated this before, yet even they don't really seem to know what's going on. In my online research I came to the conclusion that this wasn't an eye problem, it was a neurological problem, and I'm so glad I did because the neurologist I saw has an action plan for me!

I will post my story in more detail within a message board that fits. I don't want to bombard everyone with my issues when all I need to do is introduce myself : )

But if anyone has had experience with anything that seems even remotely close to this, I would love to hear from you. This struggle has been very draining. It has made me depressed to think that I will have to deal with my body being incompatible with the lighting that's sure to flood our world in my lifetime.....hearing from others who are getting through this would be so nice.

I look forward to conversing with all of you :)

-repinuj

Hello and Welcome!
 

Hello repinuj13 and WELCOME to NeuroTalk!

I see you are finding your way around the forums. :)

Please feel free to roam around and join in anywhere!

Should you find that you have any questions or need any assistance please do not hesitate to ask, someone will always be around shortly to help in any way that we are able.

I look forward to seeing you around the board.
:)
Abbie

People with ADHD often have problems with bright lights too.
They can be over stimulating.

I wonder if taking a quality fish oil, or krill oil would help?
This often helps ADHD people, by helping the nerve membranes in the brain be more flexible and hence connect better.

Magnesium also is very calming and people are often low in this mineral. Aim for supplementing 1/2 the RDA....

Here is my magnesium thread to help you find a quality supplement (NOT OXIDE form) and/or find foods high in magnesium to eat. Magnesium is a cofactor in the metabolism
of fats. Estimates are up to 70% of people in US are low in magnesium because of poor dietary choices.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html

Blue wavelengths of light are focused a bit in front of the retina, compared to other wavelengths. In people who are near sighted, the eyeball is not perfectly round, but elongated, and those wavelengths are more problematic and require EFFORT to focus on them. The blue blocking lenses, fix this and relax the eyes more. I use Eagle Eyes for driving for the reason, because I tire quickly in glare. Eagle Eyes do not make everything orange like the BluBlocker tend to do.
http://www.eagleeyes.com/video/driving.lasso

I have read MS people at Christmas, etc., saying shopping ar Wal-mart and the like, they think the lights affect them. Do you ever go to Wal-mart?

If you put lights, Wal-mart in Search several threads pop up.

Thanks for the tips!

I have also heard that Vitamin A helps a lot with eye health. I need to start some supplements.

The tinted lenses I use block most of the blue/green wavelenghts, and I have an extreme pair of Cocoon glasses that block 100% of blue light. I only wear those at night however, I would look absolutely crazy at work wearing those (the lenses are bright orance/pink), they also make everything look orange, and my job needs good color vision. I really don't want to have to wear sunglasses indoors all the time, my optometrist even recommended against that since eyes can adapt to the darker normal and then get even more light sensitive.

Going shopping at stores with lighing like Wallmart is now a problem for me. It never used to be, which shows I must be getting more sensitive, but I can't go in for more than 10/15 minutes before I start feeling sick. Either like I'm going to pass out or throw up. It's horrible. And all from the light! It's so bizarre. No wonder people sometimes don't believe me.

Welcome to NeuroTalk! :)

I have MS and cannot tolerate the lighting at some places. I remember when I was still working (I'm on SSDI now) I'd have to turn the overhead lights off in my office and use a table lamp. I can't tell you how many people would stick their arm in the door and flip on the lights.......:mad::rolleyes:.

Bright lights at night or anything that flashes or blinks is bad news for me, too.

I hope you can get some relief. Things like this seem to affect every part of your life.