Can working at a hair salon trigger MAV? I understand the chemicals in the air and in the dyes etc. could cause problems but they may be the sole cause of my episodes.
I took off on a trip to Europe for three months away from my job this summer. My job is working at a hair salon as a receptionist. I was very happy during this time because within the three months I was away I never got a single migraine or ear pain! This is unheard of for me, I was normally getting one at least once a week. I have identified my food allergies and was making progress but the migraines dissapeared when I left for Europe. When I was in Europe I did many things I could not to at home like try eating chocolate, drink decaf coffee etc. had much stress and still had no problems.
After being dizzy free for quite a while I have taken a step backwards now and am going through a dizzy episode. I went back to work on Saturday and by the end of the day had ear pain. I went back to work today and also got ear pain. I did not have any ear pain on the days in between work. Lying on the bed today after work I got rotational vertigo for about 5 minutes and now I just feel wobbly and out of sorts and nauseous. It seems like pretty conclusive evidence to me that my job is causing my migraines and vertigo. My first ever MAV incident happened while I was working.
This leaves me thinking I must quit my job. Does anyone know anything about getting medical leave from an employer in Canada? I can’t risk working there any longer if it is going to be so detrimental to my health. Do chemicals and smells cause and effect your MAV? Do you think it is taking it too far to quit my job immediately fearing for my health? Thanks for your help everyone, I’m at a loss how this could be the main cause of all my problems.
All I can say is I really regret some of the choices I made to expose myself to unhealthy crap over the years, just to get the job done. I won’t stop paying for those earlier choices.
Thank you for that David - you are right. I quit my job today after being there for three years. It was emotional because I really loved my job and I wondered if I was making the right decision while I was walking there. I sat down inside to wait to talk to my manager. As soon as he started hair spraying a woman’s hair my rotational vertigo started and I had to stumble outside and take an ativan. It passed in 5 minutes again but that was proof enough for me that I cannot expose myself to chemicals any longer. I was not dizzy all day long and had no symptoms while away from the chemicals.
I’m really sorry that you are hurting from earlier choices David, all I can hope for is that from being good for so long you can start to repair damage that has been done and feel better each day. I hope that is the case for all of us, it seems like we have to live like saints just to get by while I watch everyone around me bombard themselves with chemicals and seem to be fine. Maybe it all catches up to them in the end too, I am not sure.
I think you have made the right decision. Chemicals are a huge trigger for me and proof of hair stuff… I had my hair done the other day and within 20 minutes of the colour going on, I got zig zag flashing lights indicating the beginning of a nasty migraine. I also got the flashing lights when I was abroad and they came out and sprayed the villa with insect spray to kill the ants. I dont always get the flashing lights, but if I do, its nearly always after chemicals.
There are many other triggers for me, but chemicals are one of the worse. Hope you find another job you enjoy which is kinder to your heads
Sorry to hear that you got a bad migraine from getting your hair done. It is supposed to be one of those relaxing experiences where you take time out for yourself… not for us unfortunately! I guess I’m going to grow my hair out for a while for fear of getting vertigo in the chair and having my hair accidentally snipped off or worse!
I have picked up a crappy job at a pharmacy for the time being that pays much less than my last job and is not exactly enjoyable. This illness is surprising in the way it makes you think you are better and everything is fine and then bam - the world is spinning again and you have to make hard decisions that affect your happiness. Isn’t it enough that we cut out chocolate and coffee and alcohol and staying up late? … etc etc. It makes me wonder why we have a society so based around chemicals too. Reading labels on food products and body/hair care is enough to make me dizzy in itself! Just ranting now, but I wish there was an easy answer for us all.
Sweetie you have definitely made the right decision and its great that you can pinpoint so specifically your triggers - this will help you a lot in the future.
I am struggling with my job - I work in an office and have had to go down to limited hours. However, I know 100% if I could find a job outside in the fresh air, I would be LOADS better… but to find such a job…?
I am struggling with my job - I work in an office and have had to go down to limited hours. However, I know 100% if I could find a job outside in the fresh air, I would be LOADS better… but to find such a job…?
Good luck.
Mup x
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Sorry to hear you had to reduce your hours… I’m in the same boat as you- desperately trying to think of what career change I can feasibly do that will get me outside for the majority of the time… not too much I can think of with a media degree unless I want to learn a trade and take a big pay cut… Pain in the arrrrssseee.
Sorry to hear that you got a bad migraine from getting your hair done. It is supposed to be one of those relaxing experiences where you take time out for yourself… not for us unfortunately! I guess I’m going to grow my hair out for a while for fear of getting vertigo in the chair and having my hair accidentally snipped off or worse!
I have picked up a crappy job at a pharmacy for the time being that pays much less than my last job and is not exactly enjoyable. This illness is surprising in the way it makes you think you are better and everything is fine and then bam - the world is spinning again and you have to make hard decisions that affect your happiness. Isn’t it enough that we cut out chocolate and coffee and alcohol and staying up late? … etc etc. It makes me wonder why we have a society so based around chemicals too. Reading labels on food products and body/hair care is enough to make me dizzy in itself! Just ranting now, but I wish there was an easy answer for us all.
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P.S Alex, I’m really sorry you had to give up your job.
I’m not good in hair dressers either… I put it down to the lights, but maybe the smells contribute too.
Good luck x
Nothing to offer for dealing with hairdressers, but do you office workers have any chance of telecommuting? My sweetie does, every so often, and she often reports that she got more done at home than she would have on site.
I married a migraineur, but we have some different sensitivities. I had to stop using hair spray because of what it did to him. Hair spray didn’t bother me (if it wasn’t too heavily perfumed - I always bought unscented kinds, even though they still had some smell to them). But, I spray no more.
With naturally wavy hair, my bangs (or fringe, as some of us might say) looked horrid until I found a little flat iron.
Small sacrifice, though, compared to changing jobs. That’s a real tough one! But our health has to come first. You did the right thing!
I am struggling with my job - I work in an office and have had to go down to limited hours. However, I know 100% if I could find a job outside in the fresh air, I would be LOADS better… but to find such a job…?
Good luck.
Mup x
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Sorry to hear you had to reduce your hours… I’m in the same boat as you- desperately trying to think of what career change I can feasibly do that will get me outside for the majority of the time… not too much I can think of with a media degree unless I want to learn a trade and take a big pay cut… Pain in the arrrrssseee.
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Let me know if you want to start up a business together… between all of us that NEED to be outside - SURELY we can think of something :idea:
