Visual Snow

Hello everyone. I am new to the TMS Wiki. I am 28 yrs old and have a six month history of sudden onset floaters in both eyes, intermittent double vision, light sensitivity and this has caused a lot of anxiety and panic attacks. I have had a full medical investigation and eye examinations by multiple specialists and nothing found and I have been diagnosed with with Visual snow syndrome or visual cortex hyperexcitability after migrane (at the onset after a period of severe stress this started with a very intense headache at the base of the left side of my skull and the visual changes very quickly followed. Has anyone had any success in resolving their symptoms with TMS therapy and is there a possibility this is TMS

 

I had migraines my entire life, but haven't had one now since 2014 after doing TMS therapy. The symptoms included at times extreme light sensitivity and what are called "visual migraines" where I had visual distortions, but no pain. All of these symptoms have resolved from treating it as TMS.

So, based on my experience and the fact that you've seen many specialists who haven't found anything wrong, I'd say it is TMS and can be resolved with TMS therapy. So I suggest diving in and reading/listening to TMS information, engaging in a self-directed program (like the SEP on this site, the Pain Recovery Program, or one you can purchase in a book like Unlearn Your Pain by Schubiner), and/or working with a TMS therapist.

Glad that you found us and I look forward to hearing how you're doing on your TMS recovery journey.

 

Hi @Mycatkaz,

I have multiple symptoms like you and few more like Dizziness & Joint pains that have been diagnosed because of Visual Snow Syndrome. I was wondering if TMS helped in your case. I am desperate for any help I can get.

Thanks
Anurag

 

Thanks a lot for sharing your story. I will definitely spend time looking into these. I have read Dr Sarnos book on TMS and have been trying to focus on efforts on TMS side. Hope to see some improvements in coming days.

 

Hello Anurag

How are you? How long have you had visual snow and what signs do you have? I developed symptoms suddenly about two years ago and these included headaches, photophobia, intermittent double vision, many many floaters (that appeared overnight and were definitely my most upsetting symptom), and static (but very very mild). Along with this I quickly developed huge anxiety linked to the visual symptoms.

Now I am a lot better than where I began. My photophobia has gone, headaches have gone and static has gone. The floaters sadly remain but I will say that they are less troubling. I think this is because my anxiety associated with them has reduced so there are days that my brain can tune them out and days that I can’t. Still good days and bad days but actually a lot better than where I started and having a good quality of life again now.

For me, my main problem is the health anxiety that comes with visual snow and that is what I am still working on but I think markedly improved. I do hope you are ok and managing with the symptoms and do let me know if you have any other questions! I have tried many many many things!

Rachel

 

Hi Rachel,

Really appreciate your reply. I have had below symptoms over a year now(few have developed over last 4-5 months).

• Floaters in both eyes
• Light sensitivity
• BEEP
• Shaking vision
• After images (Palinopsia)
• Tinnitus
• Tingling in hands and feet
• Bad dizziness/balance issues
• Neck, shoulder, back, pelvis and knee pain
• Bone popping in almost all joints
• Burning sensations in throat
• Ear pain
• Abdomen pain

I am not sure if all this is because of Visual Snow Syndrome. I feel I always have had a bit of health anxiety but all these symptoms came after getting covid in April of 2021. We relocated to UK from India in June right after my recovery from Covid which as also a really stressful time. I sometimes feel that a lot of my symptoms are stress related which is why I am looking into TMS.

I was wondering what helped you along the way to get over your health anxiety. I had read Dr Sarno's "The Mindbody Prescription" and it makes a lot of sense in my case but I also get confused by the diagnosis of VSS. I am sort of lost on what to do next.

Anurag

 

I have been able to eliminate nearly all my TMS related issues but haven't yet conquered the scintillating scotomas (auras).

 

Hi Booble, do you also have VSS?

 

By VSS do you mean the visual snow?
Most of the times it's the traditional little spark of light that gets bigger and bigger and then goes off to the side.
Sometimes it's a big blur of visual now black/gray that may turn other colors.

 

I grew up thinking it was normal until I stumbled apoun it reading online about
tinnitus (that I started doing Which i shouldn't have been doing but either way the visual snow doesn't really Bother me much
However I'm still struggling with tinnitus as I feel like mine has gotten louder recently so it's alittle distressing

 

I’ve had tinnitus for years because of playing in bands, and hardly ever notice it nowadays. Im talking a couple times a year I might notice it, think “oh yeah, I forgot about that noise”, then forget about it again. I used to be deadly afraid of it, and I would notice it 24/7. It consumed me. You’ll probably read people talk about “neuroadapting”, or other buzzwords like that. Really it’s just a case of fear. What you fear, you focus on. What you focus on intensifies. When you stop caring and decide to just live life despite it, you’ll notice one day that you hardly hear the noise in your head anymore.

 

I've had it for about 4 years now probably from listening to music too loud for Yeats along with going out to bars, clubs and parties in my early twenties without hearing protection.

And concerts too I went to like 15 in a span of 5 years which isn't too bad I guess but I was never educated on hearing protection considering know one I knew or talked besides maybe one person warned about tinnitus.in being young I just shrugged it off at the time and sure enough at 23 after a loud outdoor dj party.

I had to go right next to the blaring speaker for 10 seconds, spent the rest of the night over to the side. I started wearing ear plugs at work and concerts that year in 2018 however I forgot them and didn't think I would need them at this party . I had no idea they rented equipment like that

Also the cops got called due to noise complaints and it was on a farm so you can imagine it must of been loud!

I was only there for 2 hours then 5 days later I was very worried I had damaged my hearing (started googling stuff)

I found out what tinnitus was and instantly went into a quiet room and heard it. I had heard it in the past after a night out at a club or bar on occasion but I always thought it was normal. I never knew I was damaging my hearing no one ever told me I feel so stupid now looking back at it.

Since then it's gotten louder, reactive to certain things like running water, I have a fear of loud noises and sound sensitivity.

Maybe from going to the dentist alot (I've had like 16 cavities filled in the last 2 years and I need more done) I don't know what's wrong with my teeth. And I've had 1 root canal last year too.

unexpected loud situations I've been om where I dont think my earplugs helped enough or I didn't have time to put them in etc

I've also gotten multiple tones as well

I avoid loud places out of fear even with earcplugs Becuase i worry they won't protect me enough or I don't have then in correctly.

I recently stopped using my gaming headset.

I also wonder if I had taken it easier after getting if it would have went away instead of using my headset still despite the doctor told me not to for a month I still did at very low volume (stupid I know)

I went to a concert a month after onset with earplugs of course but I haven't been since.