Get dizzy and overstimulated watching TV
 

Was just wondering if anyone else has dealt with this where they can't watch TV or sometimes even look at screens much without getting dizzy and feeling overstimulated?

I'm trying to investigate this and wasn't sure if this was due to a visual issue, a vestibular issue, or a brain issue, or multiple so would be curious as to anyone's thoughts on who I should seek out.

Also of course would love to know if anyone found a solution. I have light sensitivity and head pressure headaches that come on with exercise as well.

Thanks!

There are past posts on light sensitivity and exercise intolerance that can be found with our search tool..
Also scroll to bottom of the page, there are some related threads linked.

snappydad,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Many struggle with various screens.

You don't give us any background. Are you personally struggling with screens or are you researching for somebody else?

If it is you, can you explain the situations that cause a problem?

There are many issues to consider. Refresh rate, color temp (blue light, etc) rate of movement on the screen, intensity of images, and more can contribute to struggles.

It can be a visual issue. Vision does impact vestibular issues. Visual processing in the brain can also be an issue.

Some use color modifying software. F-lux is one.

So, gives us some background and maybe we can help.

That's called neurofatigue and it's a sign of inflammation. Inflammation is what causes the symptoms.

A lot of the foods we eat cause inflammation which inhibits the healing, so avoid processed foods, fried foods, fast food, sugary drinks, refined carbs, and processed vegetable/seed oils. Eat a high-fat, low-carb diet.

Lower your activity to a comfortable level to avoid the overstimulation, then gradually increase your activity level.

Hi Mark. It is for me. I had a concussion back in 2016 but got over that one within a couple months. This past February I had a lot of those symptoms come back. I think I attribute it to extremely long iPad game sessions as I got hooked on some over the pandemic. The day before this all came on I was staring at my iPad for probably 8 hours straight. Next day I started to get a dizzy/headache feeling I hadn't had since my concussion.

I've had brain CT, brain MRI, flexion/extension cervical MRI, blood work, EKG, cardiac stress test all come back normal. Seems like blood may be pooling in my legs a little and having less to go around elsewhere so wearing compression socks for that but otherwise tests check out.

I've had visual and vestibular therapy at times but nothing has helped. I did syntonics 6 months ago and it made things waaaaaaaaaay worse. Before I did that I was still able to watch TV and was not at all light sensitive. After that though it took things from bad to horrible.

I've mostly been able to get away with watching some sports by trying to trick my brain that I'm there so I'll watch the play in football where it's just one camera angle and then after the play I'll look away while they cut to the coach and crowd etc and then once the next play is ready I'll look again for a few seconds and watch. It's starting to feel like even that though is an issue. A few months ago I tried to just watch parts of the Dr Strange Multiverse movie and that set me off for days. Mostly just using audio description now on movies and shows.

I've tried Avulux migraine glasses for the light sensitivity but that made things worse somehow. Haven't had much luck in finding solutions for my symptoms or getting on the right path it feels like. Thanks for any thoughts you may have!

You were doing fine after your 2016 concussion, until the long sessions of gaming in recent years?
Your issues might stem from the head ,neck and arm positions during ipad, computer or phone use and not related to the 2016 concussion after all this time.
Concussions also often involve some sort of neck impact or strain/whiplash that can show up later

Consider getting a comprehensive evaluation from a skilled PT or quality chiropractor.
Upper body postures, trigger points or old injuries can be a factor.

Any new medications in this recent timeframe?

Thank you for your response and for a few months I did a lot of investigating into craniocervical instability to see if that was the cause. I had a flexion/extension MRI done as well as other imaging and hired spineandbrainadvocate.com to review it all as most people aren't well trained to look for it. They did all kinds of measurements of the imaging that the top neurosurgeons would do and determined I don't have it.

I also have a good NUCCA chiropractor a couple of minutes from my house. He thinks there has been some minor instability but that some posture and strength exercises I've been doing and his adjustments have me on the right track and I'm starting to have to go less often.

I've been working to improve my posture just in case the neck is in play.

No new medications in this timeframe. I did have a campylobacter intestinal infection a few months prior to all of this and after some antibiotics it showed I had a mild candida infection that took over. Did some antifungals for that and took VSL3 and Mutaflor to repopulate the gut a little and think things are probably fine there but otherwise not a lot of new meds or anything to discuss.

Thanks for your response and any additional thoughts you might have.

Thanks for your response Drew. I've had a lot of depression and anxiety dealing with all of this so my psychiatrist has recommended potentially doing ketamine treatments. That's I think anti-inflammatory so wondering if there's any potential it would help reduce the inflammation and make a difference on my physical symptoms?

snappydad,

1st, It sounds like you have tried to push through and continue to live your active life by tricking your brain, etc.

You don't mention anything about your quality of sleep....

What meds are you on now and what meds were you taking when this started?

Have you had Covid or received the Covid vaccines and boosters. When?
There are some who experience some extreme neuro complications from a Covid infection and from the vaccines/boosters. It is called Covid brain, like chemo brain.

Years ago, we had a man here on NT who had a horrible and lasting struggle after a marathon of gaming.

You sound tightly wound. Maybe a perfectionist. Maybe with a "Find what is wrong and just fix it" attitude. With PCS symptoms, often we must surrender to how our brain is working, give it a rest, then slowly start returning to past activities.

You mentioned a psychiatrist and depression and anxiety. Do you have a history of struggling in these areas? Hard driving perfectionists often do. They often self-medicate with activity.

Do you consume energy drinks, Red Bull, 24 Hour, Monster, etc? even just coffee or other sources of caffeine? What about alcohol or other recreational substances?

A stressed brain can become very sensitive to many things that were never a problem before. You might benefit from an elimination diet and start carefully consuming only foods and supplements that are known to be low inflammation, low allergic, with minimal sugars/carbs and high protein and fats. No soy, at all.

I don't recommend Ketamine. It seems logical to take an anti-inflammatory drug for the inflammation, but unfortunately those drugs don't seem to work.

Someone mentioned that when they were on ketamine, they felt good, but then they were a wreck without it. So the benefits are questionable.

Fish oil and curcumin would be a better anti-inflammatory option.