Migraine Triggers: What About Compact Fluorescent Bulbs?

I consider myself very lucky that CFLs are not a trigger for me. Regular fluorescent bulbs are, but not CFLs. We use them all over our house and they are really no different for me than incandescents are.

I'm really into being green, anyone can tell you, but when my place of employment replaced our bulbs with the compact florescents, I noticed I was having more headaches.  Not the "severe, out for two days" type, but the "popping 2 excedrine migraine every 3 hours" type.  And I don't see the company changing their going green policy to accomodate little ole me!  Do you suppose tinted glasses would help?

My girls and I are deeply effected by these new bulbs, especially since they are exposed to them all day in schools and my younger girl has migraine.  We all get headache from them, but my 9-year old and I get migraine as well.  Its a real problem and hard to get around in public spaces.  Environmentally or politically correct or not, these are a hazzard to our central nervous systems.  I don't need a scientific study to prove that to me.  So we don't use them at home and avoid them as much as we can in public.  Dark glasses and a hat are DE RIGUER for my girl at school(hard but she has to wear them to function) and elsewhere.  I get by with just the dark glasses.  Its a real pain, but the alternative is not thinkable.  I encourage everyone to continue speaking about the discomfort these cfb's are causing, and that it is a REAL health issue for us all, but migraineurs in particular.  I just had to get that off my mind, as it is a daily struggle for our family.  Its one more trigger we don't have control over much of the time if we want to leave the house!  KD Austin, TX

I work at a large retail store that uses CFL bulbs everywhere! Yes they are a headache and migraine trigger for me. I am especially dizzy while on a computer at work. I might as well be stanting in front of a stobe light! I also witnessed a preschooler having a temper tantrem. I asked his mother if it was the light that triggered the attack and she thought that it was a very valid possibility since he was a drug baby and had a very sensetive nervous system. Poor thing. Other migrainers in the store also agreed that the lights and smells that come with this type of work enviroment is no good for us. But, what can I do ? We have to work. Thanks for letting me vent on this subject.

I am not certain yet, but I suspect that those light bulbs have triggered migraines in me. 

I am a retired elementary school teacher.  Over the years I have had many children in my class who were diagnosed with ADHD or who were just plain squirrely.  Usually my  class room had flourescent lights and also windows.  I discovered that if I put the ADHD kid by the windows, he was much calmer.  When I first noticed this, I experimented by moving the squirrely kid to the back corner for a couple of days,where the flourescent lights were the strongest, and then moving him or her back over beside the windows.  The difference is amazing.  In almost every case the child became much calmer and more focused when sitting in natural light. I would mention this to the child's parents, and if they followed through at home, they would report the same effect.

So, if you have an ADHD child, get rid of those blinky flourescent lights, use good old incandesent bulbs at home, and discuss it with your child's teacher so arrangements can be made at school.

My own migraine begins to kick in if I spend much time in one of those big stores with the flourescent lights. Of course when I was teaching, my desk was always by the window!  I also have a friend who has epilepsy, and too much of the flourescent lights can send her into a petit mal seizure. 

So we can be extreme green, or we can be in pain and watch our kids climb the walls.  I know which one I choose!!