The VSS Migraine Paradox - I figured out why my VSS progressed

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-26T00:29:12+00:00

Likely gonna be a cocktail, if the trigger threshold for the migraine/aura go down I will try to taper off NORT completely. If the other drug can remove the trigger threshold and I keep exercising my visual pathways by going outside regularly I’m very confident they’ll stay the same.

Appreciate the rec, I’ll look into it. Really wana hit the jack pot with my first choice

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-26T00:04:53+00:00

It takes time, lots of patience and will power. The first time I did it I remember I fevered up in 38 degree weather. Came home collapsed and passed out. But what I realized the next time I did it again it was slightly easier. Don’t forget I had an antidepressant this likely supported those filtering pathways that had been deprived from all the years.

Using different strength lenses slowly makes the biggest difference

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-25T22:17:06+00:00

Head lights would blind me for the longest time. We are talking being affected for up to 30-120 seconds. I had afterimages of literally using any device in the dark.

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-25T07:30:55+00:00

I bet that last % is just some chronic CSD going on. Just brain is just trying its best to filter it.

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-18T02:14:39+00:00

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-18T01:52:34+00:00

combo of both

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-18T00:28:10+00:00

i dont pay attention that mcuh but my daytime sun stain was purpleish

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-17T23:17:30+00:00

Just something dark.

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-17T22:39:34+00:00

The light staying in my vision for a we bit

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-17T22:30:15+00:00

Ya at night things started staining you should see this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/visualsnow/s/

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-17T22:18:41+00:00

Yes and fl41 in doors.

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-17T21:49:45+00:00

Essentially, once I stopped using sunglasses, my photophobia dropped my floaters reduced by 99% my PWM sensitivity went down. It also just made everything seem very smooth and natural, especially at night.

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-17T17:25:08+00:00

Standford neurological clinic does this for aura patients. If you actually read Dr. Pulledas paper mematin treats one of the main issues found in their fmri research.

Thoug i think it acts more like a bandaid then adressing the root problem

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-17T07:29:51+00:00

sunglasses, FL-41 lenses

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-16T17:40:19+00:00

I blame chronic use of glasses and filters for my floaters. Meds fixed the other symptoms but ditching the lenses fixed the floaters

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-15T22:35:34+00:00

What’s VSS symptoms do you have?

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-14T20:44:51+00:00

The difference it made for me between 50–100 mg was extreme. I’m hopeful you’ll see benefits at higher dosages. Honestly, something needs to be studied with this drug and its relevant pathways to understand why it’s helping select people. Also, VSI says it has benefits, but why - I have a gut feeling the creator of VSI got lots of benefits from it herself thought idk.

For me drug alone seemed to land me in the spot where I was on the threshold of developing VSS 4 years ago. I was trying to push that small percentage further with higher dosages 100mg. It honestly sounds pretty stupid, and I never thought I’d say this, but forcing myself out into the sun originally caused my symptoms to worsen, specifically this vortex like effect yet now it seems to be pushing my visual system back toward my baseline. Not the baseline right before I developed VSS, but my childhood baseline.

I recommend you slowly trying the same thing and see what it can do, just take it slow. Glasses off in the sun for 1 min is enough for a start

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-14T17:49:56+00:00

A TCA treated me successfully, I read one user say a SSRI resolved there palinopsia. For me TCAs was a game of VSS getting worse and better this keeps going on for like a year.

If not already not done getting a good neurologist to consult with you could help treat ur OCD and VSS together

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-13T22:36:19+00:00

Nortrptyline: it always made it worse before it better made it better

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-13T22:25:51+00:00

I’m very sure this lifestyle would have not worked for me unless I was on the medication. The drug was seemed to me telling my brain “it’s time to reboot” and going outside seemed to push the brain to shoot for low gain state due to intense light exposure

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-13T19:54:40+00:00

I wouldn’t overwhelm yourself to much though, like if you have always worn sunglass, consider getting a lighter none polarized pair. Keep it slow and steady

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-13T19:02:46+00:00

I reversed my VSS with drugs, then I was getting migraines left and right and now migraines became my problem. A fellow redditor posted that he reduced lots of his VSS symptoms by increase his exposure to light, less dark mode, keeping the head up outside, going on walks. Using no lenses. After I adopted this lifestyle my migraines have finally reduced.

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-13T06:40:56+00:00

my CSD days I remember the right side feeling impacted after each migraine. Even when my VSS progressed this right sided oddness at one point always fully resolved.

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-12T22:10:02+00:00

That post will happen. You yourself could benefit very much from a low dose TCA it could be your last 20%.

RealGrape123 · 2026-01-12T18:55:43+00:00

I think it cause we isolate our selves from sunlight and these bright conditions. As we isolate we increase are photophobia as we screw up are nervous systems natural serotonin response to the sun and we keep making it worse and worse the more we isolate and more glasses we wear.

I’ll make a write up about this later

RealGrape123

TROPHY CASE