eye pillows

5 August 2010

1% Thursday: Understimulate

This week: Create a way to cut down on outside stimulation during a migraine attack.

Noise, smells, lights, movement… it’s all around us. Often we’re not even aware of it – in fact, if we were consciously aware of all of it, it would be difficult – no, impossible – to live a normal life.

But migraineurs tend to be especially sensitive – not only during an attack, but especially during an attack. Your skin may become more sensitive to touch (cutaneous allodynia), you may be more sensitive to light, to the slightest noise, even to things like clutter in the room, movement, smells – and so on.

Our goal this week is to concentrate on cutting down the stimulation when you have an attack. Here are some things to think about:

Is there a place you often go during a migraine attack (ie your bedroom)? How can you cut down on the stimulation here? Examples: Heavier curtains, a blind, cut down on clutter, cooler colours, keeping it clean but free of heavy chemicals, etc.
What can you do to cut down on stimulation wherever you are? How about an eye pillow? Investing in some good ear plugs (these are supposed to be excellent ones)?
Are there other places you can make/request improvements? The lighting at work? Use of strong chemical cleaners around the house?

Obviously thinking through all these things can be a big task (and can mean a greater than 1% difference!). But just try to write down 1-2 priorities, and accomplish at least one. Hopefully it will make a big difference during that next attack.

What is 1% Thursday?

Every Thursday at Headache and Migraine News (weather permitting) we’ll talk about one measurable, practical thing we can do to make our lives just 1% better. Usually it will be something very easy, sometimes it will be a challenge. Let us know if you try it, or share an idea of your own – and maybe a year from now we’ll see that things have really changed for the better!

9 July 2009

1% Thursday: Buy or Make an Eye Pillow

James Tips 0

Buy or make an eye pillow to give you a cool, dark place anywhere.

I’ve been a fan of eye pillows for a long time. For most types of headache they’re a wonderful, natural way to lessen your pain.

First, they block out the light in a way that few other things can. They lay over top of your eyes, fitting over the contour of your face, and block out every bit of light (if they’re well made).

Also, they can cool your head, soothing the front part of your face.

I particularly like a silk flax seed eye pillow, which is cool, has a nice scent, and lays nicely due to the fine material and small seeds.

With some material you can make these your self, or you can also buy them for a few dollars. Some have added scent (just a little – I prefer lavender for headache and migraine), some come with a strap to go around your head.

I did a review on eye pillows here, and link to some I recommend. But there are a wide variety available if you want to browse for your own style of eye pillow.

What is 1% Thursday?

Every Thursday at Headache and Migraine News (weather permitting) we’ll talk about one measurable, practical thing we can do to make our lives just 1% better. Usually it will be something very easy, sometimes it will be a challenge. Let us know if you try it, or share an idea of your own – and maybe a year from now we’ll see that things have really changed for the better!

21 March 2007

Eye pillows

James Tips 1

Do get pain around your eyes during a migraine attack? Or even a tension headache? I sure do, which is why I’ve used an eye pillow for the last few years. I’ve had two of them, and I’ve researched a lot more than that.

An eye pillow has a lot of advantages. It blocks out the light, it’s cool (you can even cool it more in the freezer), it provides a gentle pressure, and some even provide gentle aromatherapy (and/or aromachology – see the aromatherapy/aromachology article). I like the silk eye pillows and – you can read more about what I like in the eye pillow article.

I recently updated our page on eye pillows, and I found some interesting new treasures. For example, there’s this Hugger Mugger Silk Eye Bag with Neck Pillow. It comes not only with an eye pillow with flax but a neck pillow with buckwheat hulls. I’m a fan of buckwheat hull pillows – once again, they are cool and can be cooled more in the freezer. This pillow provides neck support, and will contour to the shape of your neck. And, of course, using the both together will cool down two sides of your head. There are a few other suggestions in the article.

Anyway, I recommend you read a little about eye pillows and try one out if you haven’t before. Make sure you get one you like, and it will serve you well for a long time.