Comment by Herdinger | Hacker News Reader

Comment by Herdinger | Hacker News Reader

I suffer from a condition called visual snow.

I realized about ten years ago that what I was expering wasn't normal. The condition was completly unknown at the time and I got multiple MRI's, my eyes and nervous system checked out from every angle and there was nothing abnormal.

Talking with many people I know it turned out that this condition is surprisingly pretty common, though in a mild form. People told me they saw some form of constant noise too but dismissed it as normal.

Your article got me to check the condition out again and it turns out there is new research from May identifing something wrong with the brain of people under the condition.

It's nothing life threatening like you're story, but still it's something you have to learn to live with it's there 24/7 even when you close your eyes and can be imparing at night.

http://www.eyeonvision.org/news/107-visual-snow-research-stu...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_snow

Sadly I'm not in the US and there don't seem to be any research studies in Germany. Therefore I want to shout out if anyone on HN suffers from this condition, maybe hasn't even realized it because it manifests in mild form. You can all help the understanding of the condition.

Oddly, I think I have this. I've tried to explain the vague faint multi-colour noise that overlays my vision that is especially noticeable at night to e.g. my parents before, and they didn't get it. I've always assumed it's normal and that I just failed to explain sufficiently.

Reading the wiki article: > In addition to visual snow, many sufferers have other types of visual disturbances such as starbursts, increased afterimages, floaters, trails, and many others.[9]

eh maybe; I have no frame of reference

>Non-visual symptoms such as tinnitus, depersonalization-derealization, fatigue, speech difficulties and cognitive dysfunction (brain fog) are frequently encountered.[citation needed] Secondary psychiatric sequelae such as anxiety, panic attacks or depression may develop and necessitate appropriate treatment.[citation needed]

Tinnitus: Yes, sometimes it flares up a bit for about half an hour before going away again. There's a background level of ringing in an even slightly quiet environment, but I'm not sure if it's just the blood rushing through my ears.

I also like listening to music at a loud volume (I find it hard to enjoy music otherwise.)

Depersonalization-derealization: Not sure. See 'depression' below.

Fatigue: Yes, which I've associated with my depression

Speech difficulties: I stutter and find it hard to remember names, but if I'm presenting something you would never realize either of these.

Cognitive dysfunction: Quite possibly. If I'm in a more depressed mood, I can't think.

Anxiety/panic attacks/depression: I was diagnosed with clinical depression a couple of years ago, when it got so bad I stopped caring about anything and went to a doctor.

Headaches/migraines: It varies wildly, but I do get headaches quite badly on occasion. I put this down more to stress & depression.

Tinnitus: Yes, sometimes it flares up a bit for about half an hour before going away again. There's a background level of ringing in an even slightly quiet environment, but I'm not sure if it's just the blood rushing through my ears.

My oldest son has a history of tinnitus. He has benefited from generally improving his health. Our best understanding is that addressing magnesium deficiency was specifically helpful with this issue. He suffers less than he used to.

I still develop noise sensitivity any time I am magnesium deficient. So when everything starts being too loud for me, we make sure to up my consumption of magnesium-rich foods.

I was diagnosed with clinical depression a couple of years ago

I have seen some articles/studies that link depression to brain chemistry and suggest it can be helped with avoiding certain oils/getting certain oils. My medical condition significantly impacts how my body processes oils/fats and my experience is consistent with the research I have seen. I am very picky about what oils I consume. I can get suddenly and dramatically whacked out by consuming an oil my body can't process.

Some other things that have helped with brain issues in my family: Coconut oil, high cholesterol meals (such as eggs, bacon, butter), and B vitamin supplements.

Also, the lymphatic system for the brain is apparently separate from that of the rest of the body. In the rest of the body, lymph gets moved faster when you walk but for the brain it is mostly processed during sleep. So if you have sleep issues of any kind, working on resolving those may help your brain function better because good quality sleep helps the brain take out the garbage, so to speak.

My migraine-like headaches are resolving but I don't have any quick suggestions related to that.

I think I may be suffering from this as well. I thought it's normal but I do remember not being able to explain it to my parents when I was younger. I also experience most of the related symptoms:

* tinnitus - less nowadays, but I remember having some problems at night as a child

* depersonalization-derealization - it's occasionally happened for as long as I remember

* fatigue - I thought it was caused by my depression

* speech difficulties - yeah, I thought it's related to the brain fog I get when I'm nervous

* anxiety

* depression

Now, my visual symptoms seem fairly mild, I wouldn't say I've been affected much. But if the other things turn out to be related...

Is anyone doing studies in the UK?

Does this look similar to what you have ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVFIcF9lyk8

If it is - Ocular migraines are well known (though not the cause or a treatment). It often is a matter of using the right term or finding someone who knows them. I've had RLS for years and never managed to describe it (until I randomly read an article with a resonant description).

Hello, I have VS too! I was actually one of the many people dr Schankin interviewed by phone for the first phase of the research that you mention. I have had it for nearly 25 years!

Wait, this isn't normal? Huh. Thanks for the info.

Just a thought: You might want to put contact info in your profile if you want to make this shout out more effective than a passing conversation in this one post.

Thanks for pointing this out.I thought my mail would surely be in my profile like on most pages. I guess thumbs up for hn for not requiering one.

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