Bright Snow Triggers Migraine 2022

March 14, 2017/

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bright sun and bright snow make me want to hibernate

Bright snow triggers migraine attacks in me. I live in the snow belt of Cleveland. We currently have mass amounts of snow. It’s crazy cold out, but oh well. I’m used to it. So we hibernate. But unlike those cozy, dozy bears in a dark cave, I am forced to face the dreaded snow glare.

Snow Triggers Migraine

I have windows all over my house. While they look beautiful, they torture me. The windows frame a world of gleaming light-reflecting bright white snow. This week we ordered blinds for our windows because when I walk into our kitchen, I feel like someone is stabbing me with an ice pick through my eyes extending out the back of my head.

Bright Snow Reflection

I wear sunglasses in the house most of the time, but it still doesn’t touch nausea and aura the glare forces upon me. When my children nap, I am forced to retire to my room with blackout shades and curtains over them to provide the cave I require.

Leaving the house is torturous. I’m always prepared with sunglasses (*affiliate link) and a big hood to block out peripheral light. Driving escalates my pain instantly and without fail. There’s nothing more I know to do. I am not a bear and need to take my daughter to school, buy food for my family, and do other human tasks. It’s not realistic for me to hibernate.

I’m counting the days until I can make my castle a bit more cave-like and for this snow to melt. Cloudy days, at this point, are my friends, and this is not a statement I make often. It’s a difficult situation when it’s best to stay home, yet my home and the snow’s glare make me sick. This has been a very difficult winter, migraine-wise, and this snow needs to go. Snow, No! You need to go.

Is Bright Snow a Trigger for your Migraine Attacks?

*if you purchase through the affiliate link I will be paid a small amount that is invested in the My Migraine Life website. Thank you!

Cold Weather Migraine: Sinus Infection and Head Cold

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Sarah Rathsack

I tell stories of My Migraine Life. Living life through Migraine consists of advocacy, treatment, prevention, and searching for health and happiness in a positive honest way. My kids, husband, dog, family and friends motivate me to make a difference in the Migraine World.

Posted in Migraine, Triggers

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mymigrainelife on January 26, 2016 at 2:44 pm

Reblogged this on My Migraine Life and commented:

While so many of you are snowed in and hit with the bright glare, I thought I’d repost about snow. Here in Cleveland I feel like I could leave it up all of winter!
asouthernceliac on March 14, 2017 at 10:01 am

Just thinking about the weather change from
a snowstorm gives me a headache. When we visited my in laws in PA I couldn’t go outside and look at the snow.
mymigrainelife on March 14, 2017 at 10:08 am

I live in Cleveland and it’s even worse with Lake effect here! ❄️????
cherished79 on March 14, 2017 at 10:25 am

I hear ‘ya living in Ontario, Canada with migraines. xx
ribbonrx on March 14, 2017 at 5:30 pm

Wait, you live in Cleveland? ME TOO! ????And totally yes with the snow glare…I was having migraines a year ago due to my brain tumor and it was definitely exacerbated by the snow glare. Even still, if it’s a sunny day in the winter, I stay in my room with the shades drawn.
mymigrainelife on March 14, 2017 at 5:37 pm

That’s crazy! I sometimes wonder if the person siting next to me at the neurologist is a reader of my blog. You never know!
Dana on March 15, 2017 at 1:37 pm

While the snow isn’t a problem here in CA, where I live there isn’t a lot of cloud cover so it is a bright, bright sun and the peripheral light can be a doozy. I find I have to wear sunglasses and a baseball cap to keep things in check. I haven’t thought about switching up my sunglasses once in a while and should consider it.
mymigrainelife on March 15, 2017 at 2:04 pm

Check out the axon optics link in the post. I really like them!!