Migraine

I recently found these awesome sunglasses at my eyeglass dispensary and immediately bought them. They are designed to go over glasses, but you can also wear them alone. They are sort of like the type of glasses that vision-impaired people wear - they are very dark, very polarized, have side panels (with dark lenses imbedded so you get peripheral vision) that go far enough back to block out side glare, plus they actually come over the top of the glasses and almost touch your eyebrows. I know it's sort of hard to envision, but it might be worth asking your eye doctor about, or doing a little research to find them. The effect from inside them is almost like wearing goggles or something, since they really block the light not just from the front, but from all around. (They don't look like goggles, though. Don't worry).

I wear clipon sunglasses almost everywhere because sunlight and fluorescent light are huge triggers for me. In summer, I always wear a hat or visor (and I keep extra hats in my van in case I forget one). I wear the super-duper sunglasses when it's extra bright or when I'm driving.

They're not especially attractive, but at this point in my illness I have pretty much no shame left, so I plop them on and let people think I'm blind. They've been my best solution so far.

Lynne

its funny someone posted this. lately ive been noticing if i go outside, especially during the summer, and im out there too long, say the beach, i get a headache. but i dont know if it is from the sun, or maybe not drinking enough?

Hi, kls, welcome to the forum. We're glad you found us.

Sunlight is a trigger for me, but heat is a separate and stronger one. With the intense heat right now, I'm triggering as I try to move between indoor spaces. I don't know how I'm going to survive the summer.

quote:

Originally posted by nutcrackerHOST:
Sunlight is a trigger for me, but heat is a separate and stronger one.

Ditto.

These are my two oldest triggers. When I started having migraines at age 6, these were the original triggers.

I'm practically a homebody during summer because I just can't stand the beating sun and heat.

Diana

Yes, for me, the sun can trigger a migraine. I have to be very careful. I use transition lenses to help with the problem. Then there are days when it doesn't bother me at all. Go figure!!

For the month of May, I kept a diary of the hours that I had a migraine for my neurologist, and it was 62 horrible hours. Sometimes it just seems to go on and on.

First off, add a droolie welcome hug to your pile!

I see three or four potential triggers here, at least. Too much sun triggers some people. Glare triggers others, particularly when it "jumps around", like off water or through tree branches. Others trigger off of the heat, and others yet from dehydration. It could be any of them, or it could be stackable triggers, meaning a combo of them.

quote:

Originally posted by kls2003:
its funny someone posted this. lately ive been noticing if i go outside, especially during the summer, and im out there too long, say the beach, i get a headache. but i dont know if it is from the sun, or maybe not drinking enough?

I don't find the sun itself to be a trigger unless it is through the trees while driving.. On the other hand I find all light painful at times. I wear my sunglasses a lot.

I love hats but my head has to be perfect to wear them. Can not wear them if I have a migraine, just had a migraine or might be getting one.

Heat helps me feel better. I will go outside and cover my eyes completly. When we go on vacation I always migraine for a ocuple of days. ON those days I go to the beach and cover my eyes w/ layers of washcloths because the heat feels so wonderful.

Mary

Hi, Mary!

quote:

Originally posted by Survivor:
I don't find the sun itself to be a trigger unless it is through the trees while driving.. On the other hand I find all light painful at times. I wear my sunglasses a lot.

I love hats but my head has to be perfect to wear them. Can not wear them if I have a migraine, just had a migraine or might be getting one.

Heat helps me feel better. I will go outside and cover my eyes completly. When we go on vacation I always migraine for a ocuple of days. ON those days I go to the beach and cover my eyes w/ layers of washcloths because the heat feels so wonderful.

Mary

This past Tuesday I had a bad 2 day migraine triggered, I think, by the sun. I had to park on the roof of the parking garage at the hospital when I went to see my migraine specialist. I only had my "transitions" glasses which darken very slowly and don't darken in the car because they need UV lights directly on them to darken. It was a very hot glarey day. i also have big "fit-over" sunglasses that wrap around and cover my glasses but they are too big for my purse so i forget them a lot.

Anyway this prompted me to go order prescription sunglasses for the first time. Great big stunner lenses. I got them bifocal so I can read outdoor menus, maps in the car, etc. I am a tightwad and hate spending the money but I know the days I miss to migraines are worth more than the cost of the glasses. So, maybe I'm a slow learner but I'm proud of myslef for getting them and excited to have them! Now i can look really glamorous like Eileen!

- Megs

Good for you, Megs!

Outdoor sunlight is a big trigger of mine, too. When DBF and I were on vacation this week in central Washington (think sunny, arid, deserty climate) I had a lot of trouble with the sunlight, even with my celebrity glasses and hat. The good news is that once I got back to western WA, the sunlight here didn't feel nearly as intense.

I've spent a ton of money on sunglasses over the past year or so, but I think it may be time to buy a super-dark pair of prescription ones.

MJ,

See if Wal-Mart has clip-on polarizing sunglasses that fit your prescription glasses. Polarizing filters are what do the trick for me. They cut just about all the glare, which is a major trigger for me.

Rebecca