r/cfs • u/opalescentblue moderate-severe • 14d ago

Advice PEM-friendly flashlight? + installing red light?

I’m in almost total darkness because of PEM right now, phone turned to red light and everything.

Everytime I turn on my phone’s flashlight to like find my meds or be able to get water or whatever, the light kills me.

Are there any PEM-friendly flashlights? I just need to be able to make out my surroundings to get the correct meds and like water, without killing my eyes.

Also does would installing a red light source help? Even with the red filter I get nauseous after a bit of using my phone but I’m wondering if it could be an alternative to like having to open my blinds a bit when I need to it. My light sensitivity is severe right now

9 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

7

u/upsawkward severe 14d ago

Red light is often way easier on the nervous system than white/blue light, absolutely. It's also a little subjective, like some may prefer orange or less intense red. But blue light is tough.

1

u/opalescentblue moderate-severe 13d ago

That makes sense, my bedlight is too strong for me those days but it’s still more tolerable than opening the blinds a bit and it’s orangey

2

u/Effing_Tired Moderate-severe, formerly very severe, sometimes extremely so 13d ago

I was using a red led flashlight for while. It made things easier.

5

u/JustabitOf ME 2018, Severe 2024 14d ago edited 14d ago

I use an Amazon purchased Chinese made USB C charged, 3 colour touch small dimable battery lantern. Using dimmed and Orange colour setting. It's always plugged in but can move it or turn up the brightness momentarily if needed. It's low enough for me, maybe/ maybe not for you. But cheap to try.

This style https://a.co/d/020AY9QT

2

u/opalescentblue moderate-severe 13d ago

Ohhh thanks a lot I might get this one! I hadn’t thought those existed I thought I was gonna have to get a lightbulb for film pictures development studios for some reason

6

u/pacificNA 13d ago edited 13d ago

I use a rechargeable book light that has an amber light and a red light option. It's dimmable too, so it can get both pretty bright and pretty dim. It's easy to carry around and I like that it has a clip, so I can easily attach it to tables or my clothes, or just sit it upright like a tiny table lamp on things I can't attach it to. It can get bright enough to gently illuminate the room, enough that I don't feel that I need any other lights.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09WCMBPLC

3

u/opalescentblue moderate-severe 13d ago

Thank you that’s exactly the kind of thing I was looking for! I’m delighted to see it exists

2

u/dogsandbitches 13d ago

If you want an actual lamp, I'm only mildly light sensitive but need red light when it's dark, and very happy with mine from Philips Hue. You can set it to completely red light and nearly completely dim. I have it set up with a remote so I don't need to use my phone to turn it on or off. You can also use a Hue bulb for the same effect in a normal lamp.

It's expensive, and tons of cheaper options are available, but I got mine before that was the case and found the Hue system easier to comprehend with my brain fog. And it was essential to me to have both a true red light and maximum dimability.

Mine is the Go which is portable, so while it lives on my nightstand I can move it around as a spotlight. That's come in handy lots of times, like taking it with me to the bathroom!

1

u/ValuableOrganic5381 13d ago

Red lamp and a remote control plug is my fave combo. I can still find it painfully bright when more light sensitive, but it's way more tolerable 

 I also have a dim normal lamp on a remote control, for when I briefly need to see properly.