Fluorescent lights and wireless devices

[MichaelTampa]

As I research more about PANDAS, awaiting the CamK number from the study, it's looking more and more to me like I really do have PANDAS. Sensory sensitivity is listed as a PANDAS-associated symptom, and it has been my biggest problem, particularly fluorescent lights and wireless devices and, to some extent perfumes (but the perfumes have been, until recently, easier for me to avoid). My problem with the fluorescent lights and wireless devices is very severe, causing headaches and digestive disorders and nightmares and immune system weakening. A few things I would love to know are:

 

1. Is the sensory sensitivity caused by PANDAS, or is the PANDAS causing the sensory sensitivity? Has anyone had a child with PANDAS and sensory sensitivities get effectively treated for PANDAS? If so, did the sensory sensitivity improve?

 

2. Is there anyone else out there with PANDAS with sensitivities for fluorescent lights or wireless devices? If so, how severe and what symptoms? For those who don't really know, have you considered trying to remove your PANDAS child from these potential triggers for a long enough time to tell? Probably could not be done during school, but maybe a long weekend, or vacation or holiday? This is getting a lot harder, these days, the fluorescent lights are in most public buildings, and the wireless devices are getting that way as well, as I was in a hotel and restaurant with my family just yesterday and the signals were very strong. [For wireless devices, the big ones I know of are (1) cellphones, even just when they are turned on and ready to receive calls; (2) wireless access devices that permit wireless computer access at workplaces and coffee shops and even in some homes; and (3) most laptop computers now, even if you are not using them for wireless access, come with a button or switch and, if you don't get a warning when you turn it on that wireless is disabled, it is probably on and sending wireless signals.]

 

Michael

[thereishope]

I haven't noticed a direct connection between problems with my son and lighting or electronic devices. My son did have sensory problems when he was in a PANDAS exacerbation but they eventually went away as he healed.

 

When I was a child, I had a hard time at the mall.The flourescent lights use to drive me crazy. I was able to hear the high pitch humming from them that no one else could hear.It was so loud to me we would have to leave the store. Luckily, I don't have that problem anymore.

[monarchcat]

My son (8 1/2) has been very sensitive to florescent lights since PANDAS began with him 3 1/2 years ago (though we didn't know anything about PANDAS until recently). Any time we were in a mall, large store, gymnasium, etc he would be clingy, rub his eyes constantly and his tics would increase. School seemed to be ok, but I believe that may be because there were windows letting in plenty of natural light as well.

 

Since he has been on the azith (2 months) florescent lights bother him much less, and many times not at all. He walks independently (no clingy hand-holding as in the past), no eye rubbing or blinking, etc. I definitely believe florescent light sensitivity can be caused by PANDAS. I am not sure about wireless devices and have never thought about that! Interesting....

[thereishope]

Wireless/electronic devices have had connections to neurological problems I think for awhile. I remember reading how pregnant women should not sleep with their belly facing a clock radio, cordless phone,etc. And it's not an old wives' tale:)

[MichaelTampa]

Thank you both for sharing.

 

Vickie--Could you talk about what the sensory issues were that got better with your son? I am particularly interested in knowing if you feel irritability and/or rage attacks were a symptom that decreased (if they were a symptom to begin with). Yes, the general electronics can be an issue as well. I know I did start sleeping better a number of years ago when I moved the clock/radio away from my head and also moved the bed so my head was away from the electrical wiring inside the wall (this stuff gives off EMF's even if nothing is turned on from the outlet it leads to). All that was before my health really deteriorated into full-blown TS/PANDAS/craziness mode.

 

Monarchcat--Did your son have irritability/rage attack issues, and, if so, do you believe fluorescent lights played any role in causing them, or what the triggers might have been?

 

Michael

[thereishope]

My son had irritability and rage attacks. The rage attacks were very bad during his second exacerbation. They eventually faded away as he recovered. He did not have these problems prior to PANDAS. He does not exhibit them now as he is currently recovered.

 

As for sensory issues, he was extremely sensitive to hot and cold. He had an aversion to touch., esp his head, he had clothing issues, he had problems like looking in a full dresser drawer and being able to process what he was seeing and choosing something. I didn't know that was sensory until I filled out a sensory profile questionnaire. He had a lot of sensory problems. The list goes on. They eventually went away on their own as he recovered.

 

 

These problems have surfaced during strep triggered exacerbations. During viral and allergy triggered ones, it seems the irritability comes back along with some OCD. The rages do not resurface with viral setbacks.

[monarchcat]

My son's rages were mild in comparison to many PANDAS kids, but they were rages. However, I don't think there was any correlation to exposure to florescent light. School was the only environment where he was really exposed often, and as I mentioned that seemed to be ok for him. As for irritability, he was almost always extremely irritable at home so I'm not sure if there was another trigger besides the PANDAS itself.

 

Monarchcat--Did your son have irritability/rage attack issues, and, if so, do you believe fluorescent lights played any role in causing them, or what the triggers might have been?

[matis_mom]

My son's rages were mild in comparison to many PANDAS kids, but they were rages. However, I don't think there was any correlation to exposure to florescent light. School was the only environment where he was really exposed often, and as I mentioned that seemed to be ok for him. As for irritability, he was almost always extremely irritable at home so I'm not sure if there was another trigger besides the PANDAS itself.

 

Monarchcat--Did your son have irritability/rage attack issues, and, if so, do you believe fluorescent lights played any role in causing them, or what the triggers might have been?

My son never had rages, but one of the red flags we picked up at the onset was that he would just snap (in a really out-of-character way) at his siblings if the was trying to concetrate and they were being loud/annoying. I never thought of the lights or the wireless connection, but since we are homeschooling it would be relatively simple to test out and see if there is any connection.

I would think the perfume thing is probably more of an allergy. My daughter sometimes has the hardest time at church if we are sitting next to someone with a strong perfume, and found that lately I can't even wear perfume any more, it just makes my eyes itchy and I'm cranky the whole day. My PANDAS son is VERY sensitive to smells, in the sense that he can pick up and identify the slightest smell, but his always been like that, and it does not affect his behavior.

[EAMom]

As an intresting side note, perfumes and fluorescent lights can both trigger migraines. http://www.relieve-migraine-headache.com/m...e-triggers.html

 

There are many environmental migraine triggers. We already mentioned cigarette smoke. Strong odors can be triggers, such as perfumes and colognes and perfumes added to soaps. Hair sprays, gels and creams may trigger an attack.

 

Many other things in your environment may trigger attacks - smoke, dust, wind, cleaning fluids and other chemicals. One of the best resources for learning how to cut down on triggers like these is What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Migraines, by Dr. Alexander Mauskop and Dr Barry Fox.

 

 

Light is also a common trigger. Bright lights, especially flourescent lights (that have a rapid flicker), are common triggers.

 

Loud noises have also been known to trigger an attack.: