Ask HN: What can migraine sufferers do post-incandescent ban?

by joker_minmax on 7/29/2023, 3:24 PM with 5 comments

I don't have migraine myself, but I live with a family member who does. Never felt comfortable around CFLs because your house becomes a toxic waste accident if you drop one, and LEDs are a migraine trigger. My reading has lead me to believe CFLs have the same problem with migraine anyhow. My family member works from home because the lighting at his office is that bad. I thought the ban was staved off for a few years but we both heard on local news last night it's just a few days before the ban. Somehow we missed this before now. What can we do? Campaign for a medical exemption to be added?

  • by jaclaz on 7/29/2023, 4:57 PM

    I think CFL's are the worst (so I am told, by a friend that does suffer of migraines), leds in a warm range 2700-3000K should be fine in most cases.

    If the migraine is triggered by flickering, there are "special" flicker free bulbs, dimmers and power supplies/drivers (actually I think they make the flickering at a very high frequency, 1250 Hz or more instad of the "normal" 100-120 Hz).

    I read that there are glasses with special lenses that may help, but of course it depends on the specific case, I know that there also filters (to be applied to lighting fixtures) but I have not any experience with them.

  • by Mezzie on 7/30/2023, 12:59 PM

    Campaign for a medical exemption + import bulbs from abroad in the meantime. I'd probably campaign with a two-pronged strategy of 'don't discriminate against people with health issues' and 'don't make businesses take a hit of more employee sick-time/lack of productivity due to employees with migraines being sick because of Government Overreach'.

    And stock up on triptans. I have pressure and hormonal migraines, so suffering is my only option and it sucks.

  • by ThrowawayR2 on 8/1/2023, 12:43 AM

    If you Google for additional information on the ban, there seem to be some less common types of incandescent bulbs that are exempt. One of them is 3-way bulbs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-way_lamp) and lamps / lamp sockets that work with that type of bulb should still be available. Rough service bulbs, commonly used in garage door openers because of their vibration resistance, also seem to be exempt.

  • by mickelsen on 7/31/2023, 6:39 AM

    Lightbulbs on Aliexpress have been amazing and much more durable to the ones I find in the supermarket. Buy from some dealer that specializes in lightbulbs, more than tech or home gadgets in general. Some of those no-diffuser E27 LED ones can be a real migraine starter when looked at directly, but they are bright and feel like matching the expected color temperature unlike many dimmable+color smart ones I have around, where it felt more like a hit or miss. There are some low flicker ones too.

  • by helph67 on 7/29/2023, 9:56 PM

    I'm not a health professional but these links may help...

    See item #10 - Naja https://brainworldmagazine.com/10-natural-remedies-pain-reli...

    May be caused by magnesium deficiency? https://www.huffpost.com/entry/magnesium-the-most-powerf_b_4...