Fluorscent lights a sure trigger - any ideas?

[mosidisco]

I'm a migraineur who has finally nailed down fluorescent light exposure as a sure trigger -- all it takes is about a minute. I suspect that I'm especially sensitive now; hopefully one day I'll be able to tolerate a bit more, but meanwhile I can't enter most public buildings without dire consequences. So I'm trying to figure out how to accomplish very simple things (deposit a check at the bank, mail packages, grocery shop, use public transportation, etc.) in new ways. It's a ridiculous situation.

I've tried the following, to no avail: polarized sunglasses coupled with visor, #5 welding goggles, squinting.

Any other ideas?

[Lara]

Hi mosidisco,
You might want to repost over on the Headache & Migraine Forum (http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=157) . There should be other people posting there who might be able to give some more advice.

Another thought is to also ask on Epilepsy Forum (http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=144) . Although it's a different condition there might be people there as well who can advise about the lighting problems you're facing.

all the best.

[michael178]

I get myoclonus jerking after going into stores with cheap florescent lights" Walmarts and discount stores especially. I have been told that some of these less expensive lights emit pulses. and that is probably what is triggering the problem.

[wickedwings]

but the picture of welding goggles made me think of welding face-shields. that would be so hilarious to see in a public place! please don't take offense, for i know this is a very serious matter. i even make fun at myself with my own disabilities. i hope this brings laughter. if not, my apologies.

[Lavandula Canadensis]

hello mosidisco...
fluorescent lights in public places, as well as the small twisted ones for home, also trigger migraine and anxiety, sometimes for 3 days... when I come back from a public place where I have been for a 3-hour afternoon, I come back totally hyperactive and exhausted... I know that I won't be able to sleep that night... a lot of people think I exaggerate in describing my reactions... I can understand how you feel...

Have you tried to wear a large hat (like a hay hat or sombrero) in public to kind of diffuse the light pulse/rays ? (I have to wear one anyways to protect my head/neck/shoulders from the air conditioning)...

lets check the other forums suggested by Lara... I'm new here... a lot of interesting stuff to explore... thanks!

[scipilot]

I know this is an old thread but just wanted to add that fluorescent lights can also cause problems to people with hearing impairments, sounds crazy but 'faulty' fluorescent lights transmit sounds picked up by hearing aids and hearing induction loops.

Just thought i'd throw that in the pot :)

[joy]

I wanted to revive this & hope to bring some of this up when I do talk to our WalMart store that my daughter had her seizure outside of. Not that the lights caused her seizure just that in their newer stores there is a lot they could do to improve them. One thing would be to build them without curbs I think. Our newer one has no curbs but the older does. It hurts me to have to do that step up and in rainy weather it is much worse. The store dasughter had her accident, there was a curb.

I doubt they'll listen tho' because the manager already siad that since she acknoledged she had seizures he doubts they will be inclined to help. I won't be talking about money but on how to help their customers. ;)

[scipilot]

Very sad state of affairs, if WalMart can't or don't wont to address access issues what hope have the smaller shops, companies and service providers got of getting their act together :confused:

[joy]

maybe there will be changes in a new store but I don't think they are going to make any changes to any of their already built stores.

[rfarmer]

I have fought this problem for five years. I get lightheaded and headaches working on computers (monitors), watching tv's, fluorescent lights, night lights, etc. Lights that blink. I have been using Elavil for this problem. It helps. But I do not obviously like taking elavil. I am using a projector instead of a monitor and that helps. Nothing is 100%. Any suggestions. It is not refresh rate. I have seen more doctors on every subject thing it might be diet, allurgic, eyes, brain, etc., etc.,
thanks

[joy]

Welcome rfarmer. I noticed the one post. I hope you find other forums to your liking and will stay with us. I had the anti-glare film or spray whateverit's called put on my glasses this time. It's to early to tell if it helps a lot or not. Sure hasn't hurt anything except maybe the pocket book. It was worth it at that just to see. I haven't been in many stores with yet and no florscent lighting using a computer at all yet. My eyes are just easy to hurt at any glaring type light, sunlight reflecting of chrome etc.
reminds me of pink eye & the pain when I was a child. awful weak feeling at times. Well just something else to complain about, LOL these days. Getting older is awful! But I'm not ready to leave just yet so guess I'll keep looking for things myself.

This does seem to bother a lot of people that I had not suspected. You would think that the stores would invest a bit more in them. Maybe they don't really know? Hubby is buying more off the Internet these days so I just might try that also if it wasn't so hard to return things.

[cwendyhawk]

Go to a chiropractor (a good one though since only the good ones can help get rid of the migraines......the sensitivity is likely because your spine is misaligned. Many chiros have free or discounted X-rays......I paid about 50 bucks for my initial consultation which would have run probably a few hundred dollars....if you think the X-rays look A-okay......then you can look into other causes of migraines......Gluten Intolerance causes it to......anyway the teacher that referred me to my chiro had migraines all the time and after going a few weeks her migraines are gone....as in gone completely ....though you still have to go every while for maintenace......anyway.....chiros are real nice...nothing like docs......(well the good ones are.....try to find a good one).......but I'm sure they is a heck of a lot more good chiros than good docs out there....I went through 8 after I got sick......8 that wasted my time....and just made me upset. Anyway......I know the frusturation of having to live with things....still trying to get out all my stupid heavy metals slowly(got kidney stones) from an altenative doc trying to get it out fast....and it will take another year or so for my spine to get all the way back in place and shaped right.....(about 40% of the way there)...
hang in there.....and look into chiros......wish someone would have told me years ago....(I'm real sensitive to light too...and night blind pretty bad......heavy metals will cause that too.....though the symptoms are not as bad as yours though).....


I'm a migraineur who has finally nailed down fluorescent light exposure as a sure trigger -- all it takes is about a minute. I suspect that I'm especially sensitive now; hopefully one day I'll be able to tolerate a bit more, but meanwhile I can't enter most public buildings without dire consequences. So I'm trying to figure out how to accomplish very simple things (deposit a check at the bank, mail packages, grocery shop, use public transportation, etc.) in new ways. It's a ridiculous situation.

I've tried the following, to no avail: polarized sunglasses coupled with visor, #5 welding goggles, squinting.

Any other ideas?