Iām ready to give up my job because itās detrimental to my health in various ways, but yeah, itās definitely not conducive to MAV sufferers - loud sounds, bad and bright lighting, poor ergonomics, generally unclean environment, and completely idiotic, uncaring people.
Oh yeah, did I mention that I work in the office of a Fortune 500 company?
I am currently on 4 weeks sick leave that my employer has kindly granted me, as working on a computer under fluorescent lights has become almost unbearable. I have only been in this job for a year and have been unwell for 10 months of it. I have considered if I can continue or not working in this type of job and am currently weighing up if I should resign when i return and rethink my career or at least go freelance so I can control my hours when going through a rough patch. I have also thought about gardening but not sure about the salary.
Hello Ant, Iām similar to you. I work in an office and has been my career for the last 19 years but not had mav for all of them. What sort of symptoms do you get? Have yiunot been diagnosed yet and are on no meds. The sooner the better to get on the diet and some meds as its not a quick fix. Have you seen a specialist yet as I see you from London so are lucky as there good ones your way. I have to travel from Norfolk to Gillingham to see mine. We might be able to help each other so hope to hear back.
Ian
Lost my work over a year ago, currently on 24 month LTD disability. Overhead very bright LED lighting did me in and made my symptoms worse than where I was with Florescent for 2 years which was bearable, cannot tolerate much florescent now eitherā¦
Jesse
ā Begin quote from āInixon79ā
Hello Ant, Iām similar to you. I work in an office and has been my career for the last 19 years but not had mav for all of them. What sort of symptoms do you get? Have yiunot been diagnosed yet and are on no meds. The sooner the better to get on the diet and some meds as its not a quick fix. Have you seen a specialist yet as I see you from London so are lucky as there good ones your way. I have to travel from Norfolk to Gillingham to see mine. We might be able to help each other so hope to hear back.
Ian
ā End quote
Hi Ian,
Sorry - only just saw your message late - not sure if you are still on the forum. It must be frustrating for you having to travel to see a specialist and I bet the waiting time is long as well.
I have had many varied symptoms that have changed and cycled around over 2014. As it turns out I have now quit my job and am going to take a few months off work to see if I can get to the bottom of this. I have been to multiple doctors, neurologist, oto-neurologist, ENT specialist and have had 2 MRIās and not much has come up. The only diagnosis resembling MAV is the oto-neurologist diagnosed me with peripheral vestibular hypofucntion based on the caloric test as well as migraine (based on family history) to explain all the other symptoms. I was disappointed with the neurologist as he didnāt really take me seriously and just kept telling me I had anxiety.
The symptoms I get are feeling dizzy (non-spinning) pretty much every day and have really weird limb and body symptoms such as twitching, tingling, weakness, numbness and dissociation. All my symptoms are exacerbated under bright lights, looking at screens or movement/busy environments. When I look directly at a computer screen a force pushes/pulls my head sideways and ends up exhausting my neck as I try to hold it straight. I have become very depressed and anxious about the whole situation. I am originally from Australia and am heading home for 2 months to see family and will see another specialist while I am there for another opinion.
Iām not really taking any meds at the moment other than the occasional valium 5mg. I have tried Amitriptyline and Propanalol with no positive effects.
How are you travelling? Have you had any recent breakthroughs with your condition?
Ant.
Hi all-
I know this is an old post but hoping someone can help me out. I am at a crossroads feeling I canāt work, but am struggling financially as I have to pay for my apartment and car and frankly to put food on the table. Do you have any suggestions for jobs, etc. that have benefited you? I am a college student so I cannot do anything crazy full time. Thank you everyone!
Itās a sobering thought and I know people have quit their job because of MAV. Yet in the UK itās not even classed as a Disability! Indirectly I lost my last job due to episodic MAV because it coincided with an office closure and a move which would have resulted in excessive commuting by car, something I could no longer rely upon myself to do.
Iāve always been convinced the office environment and excessive computer use plays a huge part in many people developing MAV in the first place which, in my book, makes it an Industrial Injury as much as Asbestosisā¦ I was told many years ago by a physiotherapist that my chronic back pain was the result of 40+ hours per week sitting at a computer and by an optician that had I not bern employed doing close work on a computer I would probably have reached old age without the need to wear glasses so I donāt imagine anybody with a predisposition to migraine/MAV would be likely to avoid it in the modern office which is such a MAV hostile environment. Iām also convinced Trigger Avoidance is a major factor in recovery and most people need to get away from screens and office lighting to facilitate recovery but I do often wonder how many people with aid of drugs, lifestyle changes and whatever are eventually able to return to their former employment in its entirety and after what length of time. Helen
Hi
I left my office job due to MAV - I tried to make it work but long commute plus screens plus bad lights plus super stress all added up to keep pushing me back into MAV territory.
I could probably do it again now but I donāt want to - Iām enjoying working from home. A lot of screen time, but less stress and I can break from it when I want and control the environment moreā¦
I donāt think Iād have recovered so much if I still had to do the old grind. Iād probably get stuck in a vicious āhalf betterā circle
Agree entirely and pretty much everything Iāve read on here seems to strongly back up our opinion. That toxic to MAV environment can be The Main Trigger for many and will just keep the cycle going, Helen
Im stuck in this cycle at present but im going to work more from homeā¦its that or early retirement due to ill health. Im struggling in that type of environment. 2 steps forward then 1 back as soon as i walk into the office
Jo
Scrolling and flicking through images/ information really gets me, as does artificial lighting and busy office environments. But mostly itās the stress for me. I would recommend trying as much as you can to find a way to minimize stress and take regular breaks outside. Hope you find a solution that suits you.
The Office Environment is toxic to MAVers and migraine sensitive brains everywhere. Indeed I would think anywhere with much artificial lighting and computer screens the same. A break away from that environment can only be beneficial. One of the few pluses of the current Covid pandemic must surely be Home Working. Iāve heard of at least one confirmed MAVer so very much improved by having to work from home.
I agree with this. In the other threads in this forum, I read that one of the members uses glasses to resolve dizziness and headaches, and it works. But, do not wear the prescribed glasses because youāll get frequent headaches and dizziness if not.
Iāve quit AND been let go for missed time. I had multiple co-workers that thought I just went to the restroom a lot. They were shocked to know I was vomiting multiple times a day.