Please read - possible medical issue developing due to gaming??

This seems to be something that has started I'd say in the past month or so. Just this weekend I started to connect the dots and it seems it may be due to long periods of gaming. Not really LONG long, a few hours at first and now it seems to be even accelerating, to less than an hour or so.

I am a 39 year old PC gamer (40 in December). I have been a PC gamer for as long as I can remember computers being around. My dad bought one of the first IBM PC's decades ago, back in '81 (boy I was so mad he went with this IBM vs. the ever popular Apple systems of the day - now obviously I thank him ). One of the first few games we got was the original Wizardry and MS Flight Simulator 1.0. I've been gaming ever since. Sierra, SSI gold box games, since the dawn of PC gaming I've been there every step of the way.

I've posted a few times here on these forums the fact that I've been using a Gateway P-6831FX for the primary reason of gaming. I've got the original hardware so tweaked now that I really don't have much trouble with frame-rates on the games I play. The problem I'm developing may be related to frame-rate issues but I don't know.

My hope is that someone out there has had this issue as well. I actually have an appointment with my family doctor to discuss this - seriously - for me to 'possibly' have to give up PC gaming, something I've been doing almost three quarters of my life - oh boy there has to be a better way.

Here's the problem -
my head starts to feel sorta swimmy - slightly disconnected - it really is hard to describe. A strange combination of dizziness, nausea, and headaches. The dizziness had gotten bad enough (as it tends to linger) at times I have had to hold my self up to keep from falling. At times it's given me the fear that I was having a stroke. This weekend (when I started to connect the dots) I had a headache so bad I just wanted to cry. Like drinking to much but without that pleasant feeling you get from being slightly drunk (I haven't drank in many years, not even a drop, but I remember what it was like). If a bowl was placed on the crown of my head the interior surface of the bowl would be the affected area.

Now this problem could certainly be something else and maybe my gaming sessions are just aggravating my 'problem', whatever it may be. It still doesn't disconnect my dots though, gaming will emphasis my symptoms.

So the question to this community is has anyone ever had this problem or is having this problem? Any serious ideas what it may be? If it is the constant flashing images of a PC game is there something about LCD monitors that CRTs may not have? Game manuals have warning notes in the beginning about epilepsy, I don't think I have that, but this began the connecting of the dots for me.

For years I've been rather sensitive to CRT monitors that are set to 60Hz. I can see the flashing of the screen. It looks like a pulsing to me and is quite annoying. I always have to turn CRTs up to something other than 60Hz. lCDs are obviously different in many regards and the 60Hz doesn't affect me like it does on CRTs.

 

Go to a doctor. Sounds like it could be anything. I dont think it could be epilepsy. I think you are born with that. It could be old age. LOl.

 

Definitely check with a doctor.

 

Strange thing is. I have been starting to experience almost the same thing over the last few months, minus the headaches. I used to get migraines really bad up until about a year ago but now I am dizzy from time to time. How is your blood pressure? Does it happen while you are sitting down gaming? Or after you stand up?

My doctor keeps probing me about Diabetes so I've been changing diets around to see if it could do with blood sugar but haven't really noticed anything yet. My dizziness isn't quite as bad as yours, but it can be somewhat altering for everyday life.

Hopefully your doctor and you can work something out. I hope you don't have to give up something you love, but life is more important in the end.

Good luck.

 

You should seriously got see a doctor...

 

Might fall along the lines of a form of vertigo. Another odd question...do you hold your breath (during high action/stress gaming) for longer periods while gaming. A lack of oxygen could worsen the symptoms. I have had symptoms near yours twice. Once after smoking an extremely large Cuban, and the other after hiking in Jackson Hole (7,000ft average altitude) for sevreral hours. Both due to a low level form of hypoxia. Kind of goes hand in hand with motion sickness (if you slow your breathing for some reason). The problem with dizziness and nausea is they could be any number of things. Sitting for long periods also pools the blood in the feet and hence another way to have a lack of oxygen. Definitley check into a doctor.

 

see a doc.. and hit the gym!

 

Yeah basically what bigpilot said. You are 40. Time to relax a little. Try exercise .

 

Like others have suggested checking with a doctor may prove beneficial. Your symtoms aren't that different from what other games have reported in the past.

related post from a while back:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=2542081&highlight=gaming+sickness#post2542081

The gnerally recommended solutions are to change the lighting of your environment, and/or to look at something ~10 feet away (in the room your in) every ten minutes.

 

I know a lot of gamers of all ages, console and PC, who experience motion sickness and vertigo when playing certain games. Tr shortening your game sessions, especially when playing fast-twitch experiences that force you to rapidly adjust your field of view.

See a doctor with your concerns.

 

I am an old man too (35 - lol) and get something similar from time to time. Depends on the game. Sometimes only get 20-30 minutes of playing at a time, and I'd get sweaty, and warm, and nauseaus. I was never able to finish the original Half-Life or Far Cry because of it. That was obviously many years ago, but still get it from time to time. It seems to be game specific. But I have realized that getting a larger monitor (24") has helped me in this regard. Perhaps something to do with peripheral vision.

 

i get headaches playing on occassion, but only when ive been playing 3+ hours. i'd suggest just taking a break for a half hour or something.

 

Could definitely be some form of migraine. There's very good medicine for those headaches - just go see a doctor.

And ehh.. just take it easy on the gaming. You might condition yourself => gaming = headaches.. Kinda like Clockwork Orange

 

ok here is my thought when you play a wii video game they specifically tell you that after an hour or so go take a break go get something to eat or to drink and just relax in 10-15 minutes come back and you will be fine.

 

Woot! Us old fogeys and our health probs eh? LOL I'm 36. If I ever feel "odd" after gaming for a while I take a break. Get a drink, stretch, look outside, pet my dogs etc... I actually don't game for very long stretches, maybe an hour or so, that's about it these days. I say get outside more before the weather turns to crap again. I started riding my mountain bike again after many years of neglect. Outdoors, fresh air, exercise, freedom... s'all good.

Go see your doc obviously. Might be you are aggravating some other problem. But sounds to me like you need to take more breaks and spend a little less time in front of your comp.

 

i tend to see older people play MMORPG's, since its easier on the brain and doesnt have fast movement and flashing lights, unless you casting a gigantic spell lol....but anyways 40 years old isnt anything, gaming shouldnt be messing you up, its def something else....im 22 and i game only like 30 minutes, back in the mmorpg days i would game 6 hours in a row and feel really messed up in the head for the rest of the day

 

Also go see an eye doctor.

 

..and GET YOUR EYES CHECKED. You may be on the verge of no glasses to needing reading glasses..real popular around the age of 40

Dang, didn't see Tarentum's post..

 

Hmm, I am old too... (33) but no sign of anything like this even after hours of play unless there is something else going on.

I am going to agree with the others... I hate doctors as much as the next guy, but your symptoms could be worse than stress/fatigue. You might just need a new computer chair and a vacation, but it is worth a look with what you are describing.

I think we need to be realistic... 30-40 is "older than 20" but you aren't ready for the retirement home yet. Ignore the youngin's who tell you this is old age... its something else. Maybe the fact you aren't 17 anymore isn't helping, but odds are the 17-yr-old would just be allowing his youth to absorb punishment he will pay for later. As a 39-yr-old you don't have that luxury. (you pay for it now)

Time to ask the doctors, and don't be satisfied with "then don't do that".

 

And don't tell the doctors what you think it may be. Just give symtoms and "looking at a screen" because they will tend to follow your diagnosis. You'll get the "stop for awhile" for sure then.

 

You mean an optician

 

No, an optician makes lenses for eyeglasses. An optometrist or ophthalmologist looks at patients' eyes, prescribes vision correctives and the like. Ophthalmologists, or eye -doctors-, are more knowledgeable, actually have a medical education, check for various eye diseases, are licensed for eye surgery, etc. Which is what I said, eye doctor. I don't think he should go see someone who grinds glass or plastic lenses, no (nor an optometrist). Let's be pedantic AND incorrect.

 

You have motion sickness.

It happens to me too when I play FPS games but I'm fine with RPGs. I'm 37 now but it started around the late 20s. If you must play shooters, try one with open environments. (Strangely, Bioshock didn't make me sick nor did Mass Effect.)

 

It could be many things.

Try sitting further back from the monitor.
Try standing up and walking around your chair 2-3 times once an hour.
Every 20 minutes (load screens, respawn times) gaze at stuff outside your window or on the other side of the room.
Also try setting up a desk lamp so it shines light down from above your monitor. This could really help if this is an eye related issue.
Go see an optometrist and get your eyes checked.
Go see a doctor and get the rest of your brain checked.

I think a combination of these tips should help.

 

ITS NOT A TUMOR!!!

Seriously though, I get the same sensation of dizziness, headache, and double vision ONLY during 8 hour computer board exams, and super long raids. I AM a physician and went through the possibilties. Turns out, if you go to the optometrist they will give you the answer. Visually based vertigo, and optical exhaustion leads to this sensation. There are glasses that your optometrist can provide for you to decrease your eye strain, but really the only solution is either to big screen game, or take a 30 minute break every so oft.

Go to the optometrist too.

 

Sounds like vertigo, and thats an inner ear issue and couldnt be effected by gaming. At least to my knowledge.

 

Well whatever you guys have, it certainly isn't Lupus.

My personal strategy for keeping myself healthier is to make any luxuries inconvenient to my gaming session. Want a snack? Leave it in the fridge beforehand so you have to leave the game to go get it when you want it. Soda? Same thing. Bathroom breaks? Take them. Anything helps to avoid eye strain or any of these problems.

 

See I stare at a computer screen all day and don't have eyestrain or any of theses issues that have been listed. But I must say what you sate is one of the best ideas for alot of heavy use. Personally I have a water bottle near me but having everything nearby can be volatile and effect health. Personally what I do at work is every 15-30 minutes I get up, stretch and do a few push ups to get the blood flowing. It has worked well on back pain and keeps me in pretty decent health.

 

Could be you need glasses, or even special Computer glass, LCD and CRTs are normally certain length from your eyes. And this Length just so happens to cause more stress then other positions. Think of trying to read something too close to you. It hurts your eyes trying to focus. Same thing just takes longer to come about. The distance is both not far enough and not close enough.

Getting a different screen/ bigger
Moving it/yourself back/foward
Getting glasses


Good luck at the doc!

ps lol responded first the read the replys, seems i was beat to the punch

 

I feel the same way in ocassions. It happens with some games playing then 1srt time. For example when I first Twister Metal in PS.

Also like others said takes breaks every 30 minutes no every 3 hours. Also never play games next day without a good sleep the night before. Always look the clock the hours pass and the body needs to eat.