Quick Poll - When are you worst? Fall/Winter? Or Spring/Su

Specific Illnesses & Conditions VM/MAV
1

This may not apply to some, but I saw a post a while back, and saw quite a few comments on how the fall/winter seemed to be the worst for a lot of people, and I wanted to see if that still stacks up. I have a theory. It’s just a theory, but here’s what I’m thinking. First, there are many individual/personal factors involved in what triggers each person in their MAV, and that it’s the total “load” of that trigger burden that causes discomfort (Bucholz). We all have highly personal triggers, but I also believe that there are generalized triggers that many of us can share. This idea of seasons, I believe brought up by Chaz or Brian, I apologize because i can’t remember which lol, I think could be an important one. Just for kicks, I’m going to go out on a limb, and suggest that POSSIBLY, there could be a major trigger here lurking under our noses. It would only apply to the people who are consistently worse in fall/winter, and better in spring/summer. I personally fall under that category, and I know there are a few others. I won’t go into a whole big thing on it, but I’ll just put it out there for a discussion. Vitamin D levels significantly drop in fall (by say late november), and continue to steadily decline right through the winter. They don’t start to climb again until the later part of the spring, when the sun moves closer to the Earth. I’ll just add that low vitamin D is not only implicated in osteoporosis, but also implicated in migraine (source - www.mercola.com with Scott’s permission). The purpose of my post is just to raise the idea of this, and to see if others think they might be suffering from a lack of vitamin D as a “part” of their total migraine picture. I certainly believe it to be a part of mine, and i have been working at keeping my vitamin D high during the winter, to see what, if any impact it has on the condition. My crash happened last January by the way, when my vitamin D was tested at a mere “6”, when optimal (not normal, but optimal) is considered around 55… There may be no correlation there at all, only coincidence, but since Vitamin D is a hormone, I thought there may be something to it. For those who seem to suffer more in the Spring/Summer, and feel better in the Fall/Winter, perhaps allergies is more of a trigger? Just trying to provoke some thoughts on that. Also, has anyone else ever had a vitamin D test? If you are interested, the correct test is 25-0H. I would be very interested in knowing the results of those who feel better in both the winter and summer, and to see if there is any correlation with vitamin D. I would be interesting to see. It’s a cheap test, and easy to get done. Mercola also says Labcorp is best for accuracy and explains there why. I won’t go into the full explaination here. It’s boring an technical :lol:

Rich

2

Hi Rich

I don’t have any seasonal variations in my symptoms. I feel lousy all day, every day. I feel tireder some days more than others but my other symptoms are pretty much the same every day.

Becky

3

Hi Rich,

I am generally a bit better in Summer, not significantly so, but as a test, I have just bought some vitamin D to try.
Christine

4

Only had this two winters, but so far they are a lot worse. I had a Vit. D test come back great Jan 4th 2008 though (within the optimal range), and I get just as much sun during the summer as I get during the winter - zero.

Christine: If you’re very deficient, you’re usually prescribed HUGE doses (10-100 times the RDA, I think?) to correct it, so a regular supplement probably won’t reverse it if you already have it. Despite that, though, I started taking mine (400 IU) today too… I’ve cut down on the salmon the last few weeks anyhow, so it can’t hurt to add some back.

5

— Begin quote from “Rich2008”

This may not apply to some, but I saw a post a while back, and saw quite a few comments on how the fall/winter seemed to be the worst for a lot of people, and I wanted to see if that still stacks up. I have a theory. It’s just a theory, but here’s what I’m thinking. First, there are many individual/personal factors involved in what triggers each person in their MAV, and that it’s the total “load” of that trigger burden that causes discomfort (Bucholz). We all have highly personal triggers, but I also believe that there are generalized triggers that many of us can share. This idea of seasons, I believe brought up by Chaz or Brian, I apologize because i can’t remember which lol, I think could be an important one. Just for kicks, I’m going to go out on a limb, and suggest that POSSIBLY, there could be a major trigger here lurking under our noses. It would only apply to the people who are consistently worse in fall/winter, and better in spring/summer. I personally fall under that category, and I know there are a few others. I won’t go into a whole big thing on it, but I’ll just put it out there for a discussion. Vitamin D levels significantly drop in fall (by say late november), and continue to steadily decline right through the winter. They don’t start to climb again until the later part of the spring, when the sun moves closer to the Earth. I’ll just add that low vitamin D is not only implicated in osteoporosis, but also implicated in migraine (source - mercola.com with Scott’s permission). The purpose of my post is just to raise the idea of this, and to see if others think they might be suffering from a lack of vitamin D as a “part” of their total migraine picture. I certainly believe it to be a part of mine, and i have been working at keeping my vitamin D high during the winter, to see what, if any impact it has on the condition. My crash happened last January by the way, when my vitamin D was tested at a mere “6”, when optimal (not normal, but optimal) is considered around 55… There may be no correlation there at all, only coincidence, but since Vitamin D is a hormone, I thought there may be something to it. For those who seem to suffer more in the Spring/Summer, and feel better in the Fall/Winter, perhaps allergies is more of a trigger? Just trying to provoke some thoughts on that. Also, has anyone else ever had a vitamin D test? If you are interested, the correct test is 25-0H. I would be very interested in knowing the results of those who feel better in both the winter and summer, and to see if there is any correlation with vitamin D. I would be interesting to see. It’s a cheap test, and easy to get done. Mercola also says Labcorp is best for accuracy and explains there why. I won’t go into the full explaination here. It’s boring an technical :lol:

Rich

— End quote

Your thoughts are well worth considering in my opinion. When all of this started with me last November I did not have a test done to find out about my levels, it was this July when thing went completely out of control.

I had my levels tested in July and they were a mere 8 so she (my doctor) put me on 50,000 for a month and then since that time I have been on a daily of 1400 and will have my levels checked again next week. I too have read that Vitiam D deficiency can have an effect on this and other conditions. I also get out and sit in the sun for at least 15 minutes every day now. I think it is plausible that this can be part of the problem as since I have been feeling better over the last few weeks perhaps this is one of the reasons. Plus, I have gotten my blood sugars under control which I feel is also related in a RHG state.

6

Rich,

I started squirting some D3 into my morning “cocktail” as of about 5 days ago. No idea if it’s doing anything yet. No diff for me with seasons.

Scott 8)

7

Rich,

I do believe it was me that mentioned that I am considerably worse in the winter than summer. ( Hardly ever have a 100% day, and the dizzy spells are more frequent and sever.) I can also track storms in the winter as I have a corresponding dizzyspell, but storms don’t bother me in the summer. I think it was on an allergy thread that I talked about this. There is some minor evidence that weather affects a small majority of people so I just tacked it up to that. I do believe in you theory that the small things all add up and this isn’t a main trigger, but makes me more sensitive to other triggers. I also like your suggestion of the vitamin D. I am going to add it into my supplement regime and see if it helps.

Brian

8

Hi Rich,
In the first few years of mav, I had remissions as I called them, the cycle was breaking , but I always returned to my symptoms during the summer, I didnt know what it was, the Drs all said MDds, I thought maybe swimming or sometimes sailing could have contributed to it at first.

who knows, but I know my symptoms are alway’s much worse when I’m hot, I live in Queensland and summers are humid and very hot, with afternoon thunderstorms, so it may have something to do with low pressure systems ect…
my body and legs are like tree trunks when I’m hot, and the engergy of a sloth, and symptoms much worse.

jen :stuck_out_tongue:

9

— Begin quote from “scott”

Rich,

I started squirting some D3 into my morning “cocktail” as of about 5 days ago. No idea if it’s doing anything yet. No diff for me with seasons.

Scott 8)

— End quote

Vit D is fat soluable. How much is okay to take? Course you’ve had your D tested, right, so you know if you’re low.

What I mean is, should just anybody be taking D without being tested, and if so, how much? It’s winter, and even though I’m going out now, I’m not out much in the sun.

Julie

10

— Begin quote from “Julie”

— Begin quote from “scott”

Rich,

I started squirting some D3 into my morning “cocktail” as of about 5 days ago. No idea if it’s doing anything yet. No diff for me with seasons.

Scott 8)

— End quote

Vit D is fat soluable. How much is okay to take? Course you’ve had your D tested, right, so you know if you’re low.

What I mean is, should just anybody be taking D without being tested, and if so, how much? It’s winter, and even though I’m going out now, I’m not out much in the sun.

Julie

— End quote

400IU is extremely safe (if not a requirement), 800IU should be no problems. In fact, studies have had trouble to prove any toxicity below 4000IU/day, but that kind of dose wouldn’t be recommended. :slight_smile:
I’d stay at or below 800.

11

Interesting that you post this thread right now because I’ve been thinking of Brian and MSDXD who I know have a lot of trouble in the winter. Brian, and MS, I hope you’re both doing okay. I know the midwest was near 0 during the days this past week.

Julie

12

Ritch…for the most part i have not noticed the Seasons playing a major role in triggering the symptoms but if i were to pick one season where i tend to feel a bit more motion on some days because of the Heat…it would have to be at the peak of Summer. The hot weather tends to be a slight aggravator at times. But Sleep and Diet continue to be my main concerns.

Joe

13

I haven’t noticed any season that is worse than another - they are all pretty bad for me. High barometer, low barometer, high pressure, low pressure - no change in how I feel. I have no known allergies that seem to affect me. The only thing that does seem to bother me that would be seasonal related is sun glare with a strong emphasis on snow and ice glare. I’m in the Northeast and here it is 2 days after our major ice storm - trees are still covered in ice, the sun is brightly shining and the sky is blue. Except for the fact that thousands are still without electricity it is stunningly beatiful to see the ice shimmering in the sun. But I cannot see the beauty in it as it makes me feel so terribly sick everytime I look outside.

14

— Begin quote from “Julie”

— Begin quote from “scott”

Rich,

I started squirting some D3 into my morning “cocktail” as of about 5 days ago. No idea if it’s doing anything yet. No diff for me with seasons.

Scott 8)

— End quote

Vit D is fat soluable. How much is okay to take? Course you’ve had your D tested, right, so you know if you’re low.

What I mean is, should just anybody be taking D without being tested, and if so, how much? It’s winter, and even though I’m going out now, I’m not out much in the sun.

Julie

— End quote

First, thank you ALL for the replies. Unfortunately, I see less of a pattern there than I would have hoped, but I still think it’s worth getting a test done since it’s cheap, and just about all insurances cover it. Julie brings up the perfect question. Vitamin D IS fat soluable, so for those who may not know, that means that it gets stored, and has the potential to build up in your body, which could be dangerous. I learned all of this from Dr. Mercola’s book “Dark Deception”. It’s a great book. Anyway, In my post, I didn’t really get into how to get vitamin D or what the best ways to do that are. The best way to get vitamin D is from the sun, as you can never get too much this way (although you CAN burn so you have to watch that lol). It’s kind of cool actually. When your vitamin D gets too high this way, your body simply shuts off its vitamin D producing mechanisms and you never get too much. This is my prefered way and I am getting Vitamin D from a sunsplash vitamin D tanning bed right now. But you can always take Vitamin D supplements. But with the supplements, you CAN take too much. The dosing is based on your test results. But it’s generally agreed that 4000iu’s a day is very safe for the average person even with no testing, but I prefer testing just to be safe. My level was so low a year ago, I had to take 50,000IUs a month for 3 month, and 5000iu’s a day to bring up my level. That might put someone else in the toxic zone. So testing is always a good idea. And getting a lot of sun in the winter won’t produce too much vitamin D anyway due to the angle of the sun in relation to the Earth. Winter stinks lol. I was just hoping that based on what i heard, that there might be a common factor here but I see a lot of people suffering the same all year round, people suffering more in the summer, and some only slightly worse in the winter. BUT, as I said, I think that low vitamin D could be a minor trigger for some, just adding to the total load. And if for nothing else, it’s just worth mentioning if anyone wishes to persue it further. But I do recommend the test. 25-OH through labcorp. Thanks guys!

Rich

15

Hi Rich,
I definitely feel a lot worse in the winter and actually the last two Novembers (as I’ve had MAV for a little over two years) have been the “kickoff” to my worse symptom periods, with my first “attack” occurring in November. I’ve felt the 24/7 being on a rocking boat sensation though pretty much all year. It’s just a lot more unbearable when the weather is cold. I think I’m going to try taking the vitamin D. :slight_smile:

Stacey

16

Summer for Jason, perhaps this is a living in a sunny place all the time thing?? For Jason, getting hot will do him in every time, and well we’ve thought about moving because except for like 3 months out of the year, Tucson stays above 70 degrees and is usually at least 100 degrees (Fahrenheit) but doubt we will because of his kids being here.

17

— Begin quote from “girl9”

Hi Rich,
I definitely feel a lot worse in the winter and actually the last two Novembers (as I’ve had MAV for a little over two years) have been the “kickoff” to my worse symptom periods, with my first “attack” occurring in November. I’ve felt the 24/7 being on a rocking boat sensation though pretty much all year. It’s just a lot more unbearable when the weather is cold. I think I’m going to try taking the vitamin D. :slight_smile:

Stacey

— End quote

As I mentioned though, get the 25-0H test. Why take a chance with vitamin D toxicity. But I think for people who’s symptoms are NOTICEABLY worse in the winter, that there may be something to that. I just had my level redone to see what’s going on, as I’ve been trekking the 85% line for several weeks now, and can’t climb out, despite not having changed anything in my regimen. It’s not the end of the world. It’s just that time of year. This may be that smoking gun for me. I have a baseline from last month when i was feeling ok, which was 24. If it comes back in the teens or worse, there is probably a correlation. But if it’s about the same, or higher, I would imagine that this is not the culprit.

Rich

18

I have happened upon this website after spending the last 4 years in and out of hospitals seeing several neurologists, doctors and even a psychiatrist…
For the past year I have thought I was suffering from Depersonalization Disorder and met others through a support forum similar to this one…It wasnt until I met someone in person with DP when I quickly realized I actually was experiencing Derealization disorder…which is closely linked to Post Migraine Aura phenomenon as well as several people also claiming they are experiencing rocking/dizzy sensations…
I have episodes consistently every halloween, christmas and valentines day for the past 4 years lasting about 10-21 days in length which are best described as having Derealization…
I started thinking about how I have extreme light sensitivies to argon and sometimes fluroscent lighting also…however I don’t feel like I get migraine really…I do however feel the sensation of a rubber band being pulled across the top of my head from temple to temple and then the aura lasts after this…
anyway…I am starting to be convinced i am experiencing DR because I am having migraines and post migraine aura phenomenon
I have time after time tried to understand what is the connection between halloween, christmas and valentines day? I thought maybe it was being in the malls and stores and being exposed to this lighting which triggers me into a DR state later on…
however yesterday after talking to someone he said he would experience migraines during the holidays after eating chocolate during only this time of the year…
I also eat chocolate at this time of year most and do not celebrate easter which explains that perhaps…
It is just a theory but I have also thought long and hard about seasonalities myself and my next scheduled episode usually comes around valentines day next so I will be eliminating all chocolate until after then…

19

Bumped up for Rich :mrgreen:

20

The winter used to be the absolute worst for me. Not the case anymore. I’d have to say the fall.