Health...

[GRitchie]

So, recently (past 3 months or so) I've been getting random occurrences of feeling dizzy/having a migraine? I'm starting to think that maybe it could be work related?

Been to see the GP on and off, but so far no luck! Next step with them is an ENT specialist!

 

Admittedly I probably spend more time looking at my screen now that we have an apprentice who goes out to do some of the more simple jobs. But this job obviously involves staring at a screen!​

I just wanted to know if anyone else has had this at any time and how they fought it?

 

 

EDIT: When edugeek gives a tooltip for GP, but I actually mean General Practitioner

Edited May 3, 2016 by GRitchie

[witch]

So, recently (past 3 months or so) I've been getting random occurrences of feeling dizzy/having a migraine? I'm starting to think that maybe it could be work related?

Been to see the GP on and off, but so far no luck! Next step with them is an ENT specialist!

 

Admittedly I probably spend more time looking at my screen now that we have an apprentice who goes out to do some of the more simple jobs. But this job obviously involves staring at a screen!​

I just wanted to know if anyone else has had this at any time and how they fought it?

 

 

EDIT: When edugeek gives a tooltip for GP, but I actually mean General Practitioner

 

Go and see an optician as it could be an issue with the screen staring thing. Remember you can get free appts and free glasses too

[dry]

Anything significant in your life that you've started doing/not doing? Started drinking coffee? Not having much water? Could be a few things.

 

Try giving up sugary food for a couple of weeks. I haven't had anything sweet for 2 weeks (and kept well under 30g of sugar consumption per day) and I've found the random energy spikes and troughs have stopped.

[elsiegee40]

Go and see an optician as it could be an issue with the screen staring thing. Remember you can get free appts and free glasses too

 

This! You can claim the cost if the test from your employer

[GRitchie]

I've been to the optician, who told me my eyesight was perfect? But I suppose maybe eyesight and staring at something are two different things.

No need to claim the cost - get to Tesco where it's FREE! (EDIT: FOR THE TEST)

 

I don't drink a great deal and have tried to drink more. I've also recently stopped drinking coffee as frequently, thinking that may have been it. Completely drop sugar 100% or?

Edited May 3, 2016 by GRitchie

[witch]

I've been to the optician, who told me my eyesight was perfect? But I suppose maybe eyesight and staring at something are two different things.

No need to claim the cost - get to Tesco where it's FREE!

 

I don't drink a great deal and have tried to drink more. I've also recently stopped drinking coffee as frequently, thinking that may have been it. Completely drop sugar 100% or?

Did you tell the optician about your problems and what you do for a living? My son had the same symptoms and the optician said his vision nearly perfect BUT he was fractionally long sighted. A very low power pair of glasses (which aren't free, even from Tesco), +0.5 I think, have solved his headaches

[GRitchie]

@witch (see edited post) I didn't, but I went for a different reason so didn't really think about it at the time. I think a return trip to the opticians is a good shout!

[dry]

I don't drink a great deal and have tried to drink more. I've also recently stopped drinking coffee as frequently, thinking that may have been it. Completely drop sugar 100% or?

 

If you've significantly lowered your coffee consumption, it may be the caffeine that your body is craving? I've heard reports of people who say they get headaches and 'the shakes' if they haven't had a coffee for a while. Remember there's also significant caffeine in things like Coke. Even chocolate has it in, so on a daily basis you may have been consuming more caffeine than you may have initially thought.

 

I've cut sugar out completely, apart from that which is practically difficult to exclude (I still eat Weetabix at breakfast with semi-skimmed milk). The changing point was when I realised how much of the white stuff I was putting through my gut daily. One chocolate bar and a couple of biscuits and you've probably gone over 30g of added sugar (which is what the NHS website says you shouldn't exceed daily). I'd have that throughout the work day and still have a sugary 'snack' when I got home.

[abillybob]

I had the same kind of issues. Feeling dizzy and bad migraines normally occurred after work when I was at home, it couldn't be that I wasn't drinking enough fluids because I make sure I have at least 8 glasses a day, I drink water like there's no tomorrow. Went to specs savers and had a check up and they found I was slightly short sighted so had some glasses. I use them now when watching TV and driving and the difference it has made was brilliant. Don't get headaches half as much now, my eyes have adjusted to the glasses now and I haven't had any problems for a week... touch wood

 

My new school (Only worked here for 4 months) wouldn't give me any money towards my glasses which pi**ed me off a lil' as it's under the same local authority as my last school and I was told by Specsavers that I was having these problems as a result from staring at screens too much! They though that because I've only worked here for 4 months it wasn't their fault so never bothered getting back to me even though the school is under the same local authority as my last school (though it is an academy so not sure if this makes a difference) where I was working for 2 years! Can they do this or should I challenge them to try and get some money back?

[witch]

@abillybob

Yes

See here: Should My Company Pay for Eye Sight Tests

 

Try going straight to the local authority HR - ours has a form

Edited May 3, 2016 by witch

[Duranis]

Disclaimer, not a doctor, etc, etc.

 

I also would recommend going to an optician as well and explain that you have started spending more time working on a computer and have been getting headaches. There is apparently an anti-glare coating they can apply to glasses that is supposed to be good for people that work on computers for long periods of time. I don't know how much difference it makes but it probably wouldn't hurt.

 

Also make sure you are taking plenty of eye breaks. I know its not always easy but staring at one fixed spot for extended periods of time is really not good for your eyes. Even if you take 5 minutes every hour or so to go take a look around and get your eyes focusing at different lengths will help.

 

I would also start making a diary of when you are getting these headaches (dates and times), how long they are lasting, how bad are they, what were you doing at the time. If you can, also keep a diary of what you eat and drink and when (including any medications). This is a pain but can help to see if there is a food related trigger. Between the two diary's you might start to see a pattern of when you are getting them and if a certain activity or food is causing them.

 

One more thing, are you taking pain killers regularly (maybe to help with the headaches)? A few years back I was getting constant headaches and had put it down to being really stressed all the time with work (it was a super busy and stressful period). I had been taking paracetamol and ibuprofen to stop the headaches but it got to the point that they did nothing and the headaches were there from when I woke up to when I went to bed. When I went to the Doctor he told me to stop taking all pain killers as they can actually cause headaches if taken for long periods of time. I was pretty skeptical but after a few weeks without them the headaches went away.

[hardtailstar]

There is apparently an anti-glare coating they can apply to glasses that is supposed to be good for people that work on computers for long periods of time. I don't know how much difference it makes but it probably wouldn't hurt.

 

There is an anti-glare coating and when I got my new glasses recently it has made a hell of a difference.

 

I was getting same symptoms as you @GRitchie went for the eye test and they found my eyes were slightly less then perfect.

 

Had the coating added and the headaches and dizzyness have gone in the two weeks I have had them.

 

Good Luck Saturday ;p

[GRitchie]

Not taking excessive paracetamol or anything, did take a few, but then I know you can work yourself up to being 'immune' to them if you keep taking them.

 

I'll definitely get myself to the opticians again and see what they make of it.

It's a nightmare for me though, because it's just such an inconvenience. Makes me feel like

[hardtailstar]

Not taking excessive paracetamol or anything, did take a few, but then I know you can work yourself up to being 'immune' to them if you keep taking them.

 

I'll definitely get myself to the opticians again and see what they make of it.

It's a nightmare for me though, because it's just such an inconvenience. Makes me feel like

 

It was for me too as It would take about an hour to go back to normal again.

[GRitchie]

Happy this isn't just me then! It's always a relief to know you're not completely alone:o

[Garacesh]

I've cut sugar out completely, apart from that which is practically difficult to exclude

 

You're not kidding! My throat has been killing me the last few days, so I've been having hot Ribena cordial to soothe it. According to the label, one 250ml serving contains 26g of sugar! What the ever-loving-$SwearWord?! At this rate I'm having like.. six mugs of this a day.. Going to have to buy some honey instead, methinks, but that's not exactly sugar-free either..

[witch]

You're not kidding! My throat has been killing me the last few days, so I've been having hot Ribena cordial to soothe it. According to the label, one 250ml serving contains 26g of sugar! What the ever-loving-$SwearWord?! At this rate I'm having like.. six mugs of this a day.. Going to have to buy some honey instead, methinks, but that's not exactly sugar-free either..

 

Try whisky and lemon, or rum and lemon - no sugar in that and tastes great. Have enough and you will forget your sore throat

[Garacesh]

Try whisky and lemon, or rum and lemon - no sugar in that and tastes great. Have enough and you will forget your sore throat

May I point out that my throat also hurts me at work, too, and is where I'm drinking the majority of my heated beverages (to be honest, this includes tea, too)