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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Light-Sensitivity
        
(Message started by: starlight on Aug 4^th, 2006, 1:54pm)

Title: Light-Sensitivity
Post by starlight on Aug 4^th, 2006, 1:54pm

Anyone else light-sensitive during attacks? I am normally very
light-sensitive during attacks--will flee from open windows with sunlight. At Kip 9 and 10 (last cycle) even the tiny light on my oxygen machine was agonizing (in the one eye)(not exaggerating). Just curious--are there others?

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by LeLimey on Aug 4^th, 2006, 1:57pm

I am too Starlight, this is something a fair few of us have discussed before, at the convention and such like and you are definitely not alone with this one
Helen

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Aug 5^th, 2006, 1:42am

I have quite poor eye health as it is, so I am normally quite sensitive to bright light.
When I am getting hit though, direct sunshine or night lights like headlights are a real pain. When I am getting hit, I am more sensitive to it.
PF wishes
BMonee

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by Gator on Aug 5^th, 2006, 2:19am

I can dig it. I am light sensitive as well. Sometimes even miniscule amounts of light bothers me. The router for my home network was in my bedroom. There were times it seemed like the little green lights on it were lasers burning into my right eye.

The numbers of clusterheads who report light sensitivity ranges from about 56% to more than 80% depending on which study you read. There are many threads on light sensitivity here. Do a search to find them.

Whether or not light can trigger an attack has been the subject of debate as well. Many people report bright lights, fluorescent lights and glare can trigger a hit, while others are not affected and at least one person, Jonny, can kill a low kip attack by staring to the side of a light bulb.

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by lionsound on Aug 5^th, 2006, 4:29am

me too, light sensitive....sometimes worse than others.

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by Bob_Johnson on Aug 5^th, 2006, 8:23am

Absolutely!! The only thing which saves me is that my attacks are almost always in the evening/night but, even then, I have to turn off all lights in the house or sit in the closet/basement--to find the darkest spot around.

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by roy21302 on Aug 6^th, 2006, 1:08pm

I am very sensitive to light when in an attack, also I find it very difficult to cope with bright sunshine when outside. I have to shade my eyes or some time it will trigger me off. I can also be triggered by bright light when driving, if you have got the sun casting shadows of the trees across the roadway, you know you get that flick flick flick as you drive. Funny thing is noise or music does not worry me. ---------------------cheers Roy

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by starlight on Aug 6^th, 2006, 2:35pm

You guys,

Thanks for replying--I was very curious as to what percent had the light-sensitivity thing--I have heard it was not the norm--but it is very much the norm for me so I wondered who else.
Gator, I will definitely do a search--thanks for letting me know there is more information on board about that.

Pain free wishes to you all,
Star

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by TxBasslady on Aug 6^th, 2006, 3:14pm

I am very sensitive to light during a CH.

Mine are always at night....but I can't turn the light on..it makes it much worse for me.

J

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by kevinpix on Aug 7^th, 2006, 12:23am

Gosh, hate to be the only one, so I plead the fifth on this one. Now, by the way, I thought the light problem was more associated with migranes. We learn more each day, to my surprise, thank you.

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by chopmyheadoff on Aug 7^th, 2006, 5:41am

no light sensitivity for me . . [smiley=huh.gif]

doesnt seem to bother me.

i do get a little bit when i come back into the room after hiding in my bedroom, but i think thats just coz iv had my eyes screwed shut for so long !!

:P

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by E-Double on Aug 7^th, 2006, 6:29am

only to light beer.

no photosensitivity

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by LadyElaine1 on Aug 7^th, 2006, 6:55am

I was the first five years, I even had black curtains in my bathroom so I could go there when I got hit. Then something changed, the light no longer brother me as much the last 20 years.

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by Bob P on Aug 7^th, 2006, 9:47am

Quote:

Vingen JV, Pareja JA, Stovner LJ. Quantitative evalution
Cephalalgia 1998;18:250-6. Oslo. ESN 0333-1024
of photophobia and phonophobia in cluster headache.
In order to evaluate photophobia and phonophobia in cluster headache (CH), light and sound-induced
discomfort and pain thresholds were measured quantitatively in 50 patients and 50 sex-matched and agematched
headache-free controls. During bout (i.e., during the active period with attacks), CH patients were
more sensitive to light and sound than controls (p<o.OOl). Outside bout they did not differ signifkmtly
from controls except for binaural stimulation. Patients were more photophobic and phonophobic during
bout than in the remission period (pGO.05). However, for those tested during bout, the sensitivity to light
and sound was not related to the presence of pain during test, usual pain intensity, or pain laterality. In
response to a questionnaire about their sensitivity, a significantly higher proportion of patients considered
themselves sensitive during bout than outside (91% vs 46% for light [$=5.9, p<O.O5] and 89’% vs 49% for
sound [x2=4.7, p<O.O5]). These results indicate that photophobia and phonophobia are important
accompanying phenomena of cluster bouts.

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by Bond007 on Aug 8^th, 2006, 5:34pm

Interesting that you posted that Bob P. I'm EXTREMELY photophobic during a migraine episode, but not so much during a CH attack. On the other hand, I'm EXTREMELY phonophobic during a CH attack, but never during a migraine episode. When I'm getting hit with a kip 5 at the office and someone down the hall rips a piece of paper, it'll send chills straight through me! A really loud booming sound will literally bring me to my knees during even a mild CH attack. I'm such a whimp!!! :o

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by Margi on Aug 8^th, 2006, 6:40pm

For Mike, he's more sensitive to light when he's getting hit than when he's not. He can tolerate dim light though and soft noise. Sensitive, not phobic.
Me, as a migrainer, I'm phobic to light - it's painful, like someone said a laser to the eye, that's it exactly for me. I become a vampire when having a migraine, gotta live in the dark. Mike, not so much. He has to come downstairs here to get on his oxygen and he always manages to do it. If he had to do it in the total dark, he'd be adding broken legs to his problems. If I'm past the point of no return in a migraine and if it's dark outside, I can't even try the oxygen because I know I'd have to use light to find it.

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by Bob P on Aug 8^th, 2006, 7:37pm

I'm with Mike. I actually like to have the table lamp on and the TV on when I'm getting hit. I don't like it when someone turns on the bright kitchen lights or some stinkin' beebop commercial comes on the tube. It irritates me!

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by Jonny on Aug 8^th, 2006, 7:46pm

For me looking just to the side of a bulb helps, it seems the darker it is the more it hurts.....no idea why, but thats how its always been with me.

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by Karla on Aug 8^th, 2006, 8:43pm

I like light until I get to a kip 10 then I may get sensative to the light. Sound bugs me also.

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by Tattoo on Aug 9^th, 2006, 9:46pm

I when having a CH of at least 6+ kip light and sounds both make things worse & when it hits me at work its real bad , Im a welder :(

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by unsolved1 on Aug 10^th, 2006, 12:08am

Lights do bother me. Sometimes it bothers me more than other times. When it's a big hit, I prefer no light, sound, or smells. (I already have enough to deal with) :-X

UNsolved

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by georgej on Aug 10^th, 2006, 12:42am

Can't stand sounds, but not particularly photophobic. I prefer it dark, though--it enables me to concentrate more fully on dealing with it.

Best,

George

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by big_guy on Aug 10^th, 2006, 5:59am

Light is not painful to me except during a Kip 10, but I seem to stay in the dark with even mild hits. I don't really know why. Maybe I feel the need to hide.

Big Guy

Title: Re: Light-Sensitivity
Post by acidcase on Aug 14^th, 2006, 6:47am

I seem to be very light sensitive during attacks and for some time after, usualy wear my sunglasses for some time after attacks