Photosensitive

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jenn2482

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I have lately had hoffic photosensitivity . I am taking excedrin, tylonal . I where sunglasses in the house but it is still to bright so I go in my room and shut the shades . I can't watch flat screen tv's because of my seizures , now I can only watch tv for about 1 & 1/2 hour . I take keppra , onfi,clorazapate ,trileptel and diamox . Diamox is rarely used today for seizures but I can't live with out it and that is what one of the reasons for my photosensitivity . Does anybody have this problem and if so do you take a med. for it , also for headaches . :(
 
Irlen makes specially-tinted sunglasses that may help with your photosensitivity issues. I don't have photosensitivity myself, so I can't say if they work one way or another. See: http://irlen.com/
 
There was a study of the Z.1 lenses in the Epilepsia Journal that spoke highly of the lenses.

Conclusions: The Z1 lens is highly effective in controlling PPR in a very large number of photosensitive epilepsy patients irrespective of their epilepsy or antiepileptic drug treatment. The lens might become a valid resource in the daily activity of any clinician who cares for patients with epilepsy.
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The study seems to be well done but be aware that Epilepsia has an impact factor of only 4.584 so it might not be the most dependable journal. Also be aware that 6.2% of people in the study had no benefit from the lenses. That said they still might be worth trying. I've been keeping my eyes open (no pun intended) for a type of lens that might help my seizures.
 
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Jenn, I so wish that something could be done for your photo sensitivity. That seems to be one of your biggest issues.

And with the world today going to more LED (tvs, phones, light bulbs), it makes things so difficult for those who are highly photosensitive.

How do you feel about your medical care? Do you feel your docs have done enough to deal with the issue? I admittedly dont know alot about photosensitivity, as I don't have to deal with much myself, other than thru experiences when I am having an aura (slightly photosensitive if I'm already in the middle of a complex partial).

Are their alternative treatments available?
 
Excedrin has caffiene, which lowers your seizure threashold. Caffiene withdrawal may make your headaches worse. If you really need caffiene for the headaches (my dad did), try tea. I've never taken Excedrin but I know that I can tolerate tea better than coffee.
 
I have the same thing. It can be very painful and debilitating. Over time it had gotten worse. About 3 years ago I did some research on it. I found Theraspecs. They are glasses (on line) that are made for photosensitivity. It's the red and blue rays in all types of light, even sunlight that we're sensitive to. Some more than others. These glasses have a filter in them that filter out those 2 colors. I have found out recently that glasses, orange tinted or rose tinted can help, depending on the level of sensitivity. Mine has increased through last last couple years, found out, through my own research (had a specialist tell me I should've been a vampire) it's a side effect of one of my meds. So I had a 'double whamy' I was sensitive before my med, after my med it got worse.
Aside from the glasses I take Excedrin Extra strength. I started a supplement CBD oil (hemp seed oil) A couple weeks after taking it I haven't had much of a problem with lights and haven't taken any excedrin for a couple weeks now. Food for thought.... healthyhempoil.com check the site out, they have testamonials, info on the nutritional benefits, scientific research, on line chat with people from the company. The other plus side, it's countered a lot of side effects I was having from my meds and I haven't had a sez in about 4 weeks now, use to be a couple a day or a week.
Hope that info helps
 
Do you have any gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation?

Photosensitivity is linked to serotonin imbalances leading to glutamate excitotoxicity, possibly of gut origin. Things like tryptophan deficiency due to gut flora imbalance may lead to serotonin deficiency in the brain. Also things like histamine imbalances may cause brain and eye inflammation.

I had a dog with a photosensitive seizure disorder I believe was of gut origin. Here's an interesting paper about a cat where 5-HTP helped, perhaps by raising brain serotonin to inhibit glutamate excitotoxicity:
http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/1913184

But that supplement wouldn't address the underlying issue causing the imbalance.
 
Interesting and awkward. Yes I have fought with constipation, probiotics were also part of my daily regiment. About 2 weeks after I started the oil I became 'regular' I stopped taking the probiotic, I've been good, no more discomfort. It's hard to say what caused the constipation, it was also a side effect of both sez. meds. I'm very sensitive to side effects.
They also make hemp oil for animals with sez. disorders, people also use it to help with their older dogs/cats arthritis.
Hemp seeds/oil contains Vitamin B 9,1,2,3,6, vitamin E, calcium, potassium, phophorous, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, omega 6,3,9, and fibre. Those are the one's I remeber right off hand.
 
Thanks for your reply and please don't feel awkward, that was a great sharing and will probably help a lot of people begin to consider how the gut is connected to eyes and brain.

Your constipation may have been a matter of microbial imbalance. I wonder what kind of probiotic you were using because they are not created equally. Hemp oil was a good choice!!! I like this brand:
http://www.vitacost.com/nutiva-organic-hemp-oil

You might also research black seed oil (Nigella sativa):
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/black-seed-remedy-everything-death
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18049435

Constipation is associated with low levels of serotonin. Here's a study I just found about black seed oil raising serotonin in the brain (of rats!!):
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19339222
Result shows that oral administration of N. sativa oil increased brain levels of 5-HT
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Just to clarify, were you using CBD oil or just regular hemp seed oil?
 
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Keith said:
Thanks for your reply and please don't feel awkward, that was a great sharing and will probably help a lot of people begin to consider how the gut is connected to eyes and brain.

Your constipation may have been a matter of microbial imbalance. I wonder what kind of probiotic you were using because they are not created equally. Hemp oil was a good choice!!! I like this brand:
http://www.vitacost.com/nutiva-organic-hemp-oil

You might also research black seed oil (Nigella sativa):
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/black-seed-remedy-everything-death

Constipation is associated with low levels of serotonin. Here's a study I just found about black seed oil raising serotonin in the brain:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19339222
Click to expand...
Your right, they are not created equally. I tried many different kinds, none of them 'really' worked, some better than others but not completey effective.
Thanks for the info, I will be looking into it. I use Cibdex drops/spray. I always take my supplements sublingual if I can, tired of swallowing pills, I've found subligual seems to be more effective, for me.
 
Just to clarify, were you using CBD oil or just regular hemp seed oil?

Also, prebiotics may be just as, if not more important than probiotics.
 
OK, thanks, maybe the effect on your constipation was brain-to-gut. But it seems more likely the CBD oil had a beneficial effect on cannabinoid receptors of the intestines and got you moving again (motility dysfunction).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2219529/

In theory, this would raise blood and colon levels of serotonin and maybe trytophan which would raise brain serotonin levels to help with photosensitivity.
 
I hadn't thought about that type of connection between brain and gut. Makes sense. Sometimes it's better to look past the obviouse. I had so many problems with medication I always figured it was just another side effect. Either way, things are moving in the right direction!
 
I've thought about a lot since I started the CBD. A lot of possitives have happened. It's been a wild ride.
This whole thing you've brought up adds to it. The generic form of keppra, one of the less common side effects is yellowing of the eyes. After talking with you it dawned on me that it was shortly after I became regular I had noticed my eyes had cleared up too. In my research about CBD oil I remember reading somewhere (can't remember the site) that CBD is becoming a common supplement to treat people with IBS.
 
I use kefir, a multistrain probiotic, to help my stomach. I also use cinnamon, cloves, and cayenne pepper as antioxidants and antihistamines. I use prebiotics, like garlic and onion, regularly. I use ozonated water, water cleaned by ozonation, rather than chlorination. Excess chloride ions (in the gut) increase my photosensitivity, so I supplement my diet with elements to bond to the Chloride anions with like Potassium, Calcium, and sometimes salt, to change the pH of my stomach so it is more alkali. I have had to shroud lamps, from time to time. I have also adjusted the brightness on my computer and television, as that helps somewhat.
 
Good I'm glad all that is helping.
I'm on the go a lot, the CBD I have is in a little bottle one squirt and I'm off again.
 
Keith said:
Thanks for your reply and please don't feel awkward, that was a great sharing and will probably help a lot of people begin to consider how the gut is connected to eyes and brain.

Your constipation may have been a matter of microbial imbalance. I wonder what kind of probiotic you were using because they are not created equally. Hemp oil was a good choice!!! I like this brand:
http://www.vitacost.com/nutiva-organic-hemp-oil

You might also research black seed oil (Nigella sativa):
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/black-seed-remedy-everything-death
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18049435

Constipation is associated with low levels of serotonin. Here's a study I just found about black seed oil raising serotonin in the brain (of rats!!):
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19339222


Just to clarify, were you using CBD oil or just regular hemp seed oil?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info on the black seed. I told my husband about it, it seems to be really good for the issues he has. He had me order 2 bottles for him right away. He wanted to try the CBD after seeing the way I reacted to it but the trace amounts of THC (.3% or lower) made him nervous, random drug test at work.
 
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