photosensitive

[deagar]

Is there a way to "cure" a person from being photosensitive? I know the LCD vs CRT, lots of light etc. can help but if someone is photosensitive, does that mean that they lack in a certain vitamin, have overload in another area and need some detox???? Or, if they are photosensitive, will they always be photosensitive?

Deanna

[Chemar]

Hi Deanna

 

as far as I understand photosensitivity can be recovered from but it is not an area I am expert in.

 

Claire is the one who really has most knowledge on this

 

[orthomolecular]

I have read that photosensitivity can be a sign of a zinc deficiency.

 

I have a zinc deficiency and have had photosensitivity. (One day there was a sun shower and the combination of sun and clouds that day and maybe the moisture in the air was so bad for me. I had to stop and buy a pair of sunglasses out of desperation. Now, I always try to have sunglasses with me in my car for times like that.)

 

I even considered buying glacier sunglasses with the protective things on the side by the temples because I have had this problem at different times in my life. But good dark sunglasses doesn't really help if you have this problem.

 

I think it is possible that some photosensitivity problems can be from something else other than zinc.

 

Photophobia can be part of the symptoms with migraines.

 

But zinc is easy to rule out by buying some Zinc Status in the health food store.

[Claire]

General light sensitivity is an known side effect of Vitamin B2 deficiency, elevated mercury, and pyroluria (causing zinc /B6 def and/or oxidative stress). My son ironically had all of these.

 

I believe that for tic syndrome kids, the light manifests itself as a tic reaction to flicker. I posted a study on another thread that said that 8% of the non-epileptic population is photosensitive.

 

My son's photosensitivity was 'cured' by antioxidant supplementation, which definitely lowered his mercury levels and likely reduced his oxidative stress. His pyroluria went away once his antioxidants levels were up.

 

Someone here found yeast overgrowth exacerbated it.

 

Claire

[Sherry_Tallahassee]

I am new to both tics and this website. I am so grateful that I've found it, however, as I think it will save my family months or years of experimentation. My otherwise healthy four year old son started mild "tics" like hand licking and soft vocalizations a few months ago. We began to see occasional eye rolling/blinking but didn't know what to make of it. Last month, I let myself be talked into getting him a flu shot with mercury (never again). Within forty-eight hours his eye blinking and rolling increased dramatically, and it seems that his vocal "tic" increased as well. His preschool almost called 911, thinking he was having a seizure, the week after the shot. The physician assistant at my doctor's office prepared us for a Tourette's diagnosis based on history and observation. The neurologist also thinks we will eventually end up with a TS diagnosis. The CT scan was negative for problems, and we're still waiting for EEG results. Here's the thing, though...we have discovered that TV and fluorescent lights are a huge and immediate trigger. Without either, his tics are mild and occasional (one eye blink or head shake every ten minutes perhaps, or less frequently). With them, his tics are almost constant...very frightening. They start up immediately when he watches TV. We haven't even tried a full seven day trial, but the cause-effect relationship seems so clear because the effect is immediate. The tics linger for a while after the TV or flourescent lights are removed.

 

Based on what I've read in postings on this site, we are pursuing food sensitivity testing, and probably specta cell for nutrients, as well. Based on his recent receipt of a mercury-laden vaccination, we will probably also find a DAN doctor to look into the possibility of a heavy metals problem. However, we are amazed at the immediate and powerful impact of TV as well as fluorescent lights...controlling these will, I think, give us sanity while we look into deeper causes. Does anyone have any advice, particularly regarding heavy metals testing and chelation?

[Claire]

Hi Sherry,

 

Your story about the flu shot just breaks my heart!

 

Given the near immediate reaction to it and the TV sensitivity, I think that toxic mercury is a likely scenario.

 

DAN doctors and other alternative physicians deal with elevated mercury. We treated our son's with antioxidants and it was amazing how it truly addressed the light/photosentivity. We never did chelation, which some here have done. My son had food sensitivities also, but the screen removal and antioxidants and vitamin supplementation were major in long term healing.

 

In the meantime, minimally I would switch out all the flourscent bulbs for the full spectrum ones. GE makes a series now in the normal store (cheaper than expected) that we use.

 

At this age it is so easy to replace a broken TV/computer with other activities...unless you have other kids of course. If removal is not feasible, and you have read my other posts on this, you would see that getting a small 15" screen LCD and having him view it across a well lit room can help. Though at your son's age, I bet he watches cartoons and the graphic movement is part of that trigger. The time needs to be limited. For my son, he was so sensitive that we needed complete removal until the antioxidant and vitamin supplements did their job. Our computer broke during that time period and I just didn't fix it! I know that you know this is a trigger, but only after a week to 10 days without screens can you truly tell exactly what his baseline is without the trigger. For us it was 100%, for others it has been a range. But if it is that major, removal can provide his little body peace, and then you can reintroduce to see exactly what he can tolerate. Booktapes and building blocks are wonderful!

 

If you don't know, antioxidants are a key part of metal removal.

 

List of alternative doctors---really, most of us end up with alternative doctors in the end...

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...p?showtopic=565

 

 

Lists of tests to ID immune issues

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...p?showtopic=755

 

For KNOWN photosensitivity and highly likely toxic mercury, I recommend these right away:

 

No doctor's signature needed:

- www.pyroluriatesting.com Pyroluria test (creates B6, zinc deficiencies which cause other problems) $45 + shipping. IMO, pyroluria is a secondary condition, showing oxidative stress. My son's was 'cured' when we treated other issues. But it is a great indicator of something going on.

- laboratoire Philippe Auguste (email to get kit sent at contact@labbio.net) urine test for mercury and lead toxicity. Excellent test, posted by Kim. $115 plus $2.50 normal mail to France.

- directlabs.com DoctorsData hair test for metals (mercury, lead, arsenic, aluminum, etc) [beware of false negatives, but not false positives] $90 May not be needed if you do the urine test.

- Directlabs.com blood test for zinc, copper, calcium, lead, iron/ferritin (some of these aren't listed, you must call and ask for Laurie x204 to order some of them...not all are listed). Hmm, I think these run about $200

- Spectracell blood test for vitamin and antioxidant deficiencies Antioxidant deficiencies can highlight oxidative stress and potential metal issues. $300 if pre-paid.

 

Needs doctor signature

-food sensitivity IgG test that includes a gluten/casein test--

- there is a blood test for metals, including mercury that will show recent toxic exposure...depending on how long ago the shot was. Great Smokies does this. www.directlabs.com may do one with no signature

 

God bless and good luck. Please keep us posted.

 

Claire