I have been lurking on this site for about 10 years. I was diagnosed with silent migraines back in 2013 and started with Topomax and then depecote and then gabapenten. Finally in 2016 I went to John’s Hopkins and was told my vestibular system was over worked. I started on 20 MG or nortriptyline and it has helped quite a bit. My big problem is when I am feeling good I come off the HYH diet and feel like crap for several days. Recently I have noticed that I have become more sensitive to computer screens and store lighting. This might sound like a silly question but is my light sensitivity due to my migraine issue and if so will the sensitivity subside as I get below my migraine threshold. Cheers
Hello! I’ve noticed that my light sensitivity worsens during an episode and improves when my nervous system feels more stable. Sometimes it’s hard to define exactly what an “episode” is, but for me it usually starts with a brief dizzy spell that lasts only seconds, followed by a strong headache. During those episodes, my head may feel weird in general (not spinning).
Light sensitivity, however, is always present. The lighting in malls or supermarkets is overwhelming for my brain, even on days when I otherwise feel fine. I currently take 10 mg of nortriptyline, and this medication has truly been life-changing for me. Unfortunately, nothing has fully helped with the light sensitivity. The doctor prescribed Nurted D as an abortive, but I don’t see a huge difference regarding light sensitivity.
I wear dark glasses inside stores. I’ve tried the expensive migraine glasses, but they didn’t work for me. Inexpensive sunglasses from Dick’s have helped the most. Also, I try not to stay too long inside stores.
Thanks for your comments. I have purchased the theraspecs that filter out the blue light. The work pretty well but when I forget them ouch. Cheers Bob
What is the HYH diet? I want to do more research. Thank you!
It’s called the Heal Your headach diet. It’s been helpful for me. I would suggest you google it and see what comes up. Another good resource is the dizzy cook. She has lots of recipes that use food that is considered migraine friendly
Just search on this site. Heal Your Headache is discussed soooo many times :).
There’s also a lot of ads for the book haha 
NB Buying via the affiliate ads helps support this site and helps guarantee its future.
@Dizzybot please list the most important posts on diet on here.
Here you go @turnitaround (and this should help answer @MariaF’s HYH curiosity too) — the “greatest hits” on diet from right here on the forum:
Core wiki / overview
- Diet (6 C’s / MAV diet wiki)
The main reference post on the “MAV diet” a.k.a. the 6 C’s (Cheese, Chianti/alcohol, Caffeine, Chinese/MSG, Citrus, Chocolate) + notes on caffeine levels, links to migraine diet books, and The Dizzy Cook.
Diet
Practical “how do I actually eat?” threads
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Shopping List for the Diet – with external blog link to a researched HYH/6C’s shopping list (US-focused but very usable anywhere):
Shopping List for the Diet -
For the people doing 6cs diet please help – super practical Q&A (what to eat, brands, is rice ok, eggs, etc.):
For the people doing 6cs diet please help -
Newly diagnosed with VM, diet? – good short thread on starting out, with link back to the 6C’s wiki and comments on how well it helps different people:
Newly diagnosed with VM, diet?
HYH & strict migraine-diet experience
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New - could do with some support! – @DDAM1994 goes fully strict HYH (+ extras like gluten/dairy-free) and there’s lots of discussion of how hard/beneficial this level of restriction is:
New - could do with some support! -
Newbie and found the Best Doctor in Boston – classic Dr Rauch case; detailed report of using the “Migraine diet” (HYH-style) with big improvement, plus tips on problem foods like nuts, almond milk, restaurant eating:
Newbie and found the Best Doctor in Boston -
Helpful diets? – comparison of HYH with other approaches (keto, vegetarian, etc.), for when HYH/6C’s alone doesn’t seem to move the needle:
Helpful diets?
Specialty / alternative diet angles
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Ketogenic diet – people trying keto specifically for vestibular migraine and reporting symptom changes:
Ketogenic diet -
Wish I’d been told about this diet 20 years ago.. has been life changing! – whole-food plant‑based success story (again, not HYH per se, but important context that different diets help different migraine brains):
Wish I’d been told about this diet 20 years ago.. has been life changing!
If someone wants the short explanation of HYH in this context:
- HYH = Heal Your Headache elimination diet (from Buchholz’s book).
- It’s stricter than just the 6 C’s: you avoid caffeine, aged/fermented foods, processed meats, nuts, citrus, chocolate, certain fruits (bananas, avocado), MSG, artificial sweeteners, etc., for about 8–12 weeks, then carefully re‑introduce.
But the links above are the best jumping‑off points on the forum itself.
If you’d like, I can pull together a one‑page “starter menu” that’s HYH‑compatible and VM‑friendly so nobody has to stare at an empty plate under those evil supermarket lights.
Yes and yes. I invested in a no flicker screen and an lcd screen - although I’m at a point now where I can work on normal screens again, for a long time the special screens were essential. Store lights/fluorescents still bother me sometimes.
Thanks for your comments.
Hi fellow VM’er: one of your VM symptoms is “photophobia” - buy FL-41 computer glasses and sunglasses (oor have your eyeglass shop make your eyeglass lenses FL-41’s - the computer glasses are literally “rose colored glasses” and will screen out the light from your computer that is irritating your migraine brain and tamp down the lights in super markets that make you dizzy. You can use them for outdoors in bright sunlight (these are yellow lenses) and indoors for your screen work. Buy the Dizzy Cook cookbook by Alicia Wolf and don’t stray from your HYH (Heal Your Headache) diet. Avoiding ALL high tyramine foods (including alcohol) is key. Your condition is chronic but manageable by using all of the right tools in our large VM toolbox (reduce stress, improve sleep, migraine-safe diet, the right medications (I have started a high powered MAB call Aimovig and it seems to be helping my symptoms to recede), exercise and vestibular rehab therapy. Good luck!
Thanks so much for your response. My dizziness has been pretty much under control 20mg Nortriptyline. I have the Fl-41 glasses, and they do work pretty well. I need to ensure that I stay on the HYH diet for the next 10-12 weeks and see how much it helps. I actually went to the store this morning and could feel the uneasiness when in those big grocery stores.
I have had light sensitivity (photophobia) for years. Sudden brightness used to affect me so much that I would regularly lose consciousness with sun glare, lights from cameras or emergency vehicles. I needed to stop driving. Photophobia still bothers me (difficulty walking, dizziness) but not nearly as dramatic as in the past. I started improving a lot in 2024. I hope you improve as well.
Thanks for your comments. This always seems to be a never ending issue with me. I always feel a bit uneasy when indoors but when I get outside on a nice sunny day I feel great. Lights in most stores are tough. I have changed every light bulb in my house to soft white. Just got to keep plugging away. Cheers. Bob