DS, 11, suddenly dizzy & unwell after playing video game, tablet, etc.

[sadie9]

My son has been kind of unwell on and off the past few days. Now however, any time he tries to play a game on his tablet, or on the console. He lies on the sofa and says he doesn't feel well, and complains of headaches. Once he is away from them for a few hours he seems to recover. His appetite is fine, he is sleeping fine, no fever. He does have a history of motion sickness, hates swings or roundabouts but has never had car sickness.
Anyone any ideas, could it be his eyesight.

Eyesight? Migraine?

Get his eyes tested asap

could be. how long is he playing on the screens for? i would get him checked out.sometimes screens can bring on my migraines.

Eye strain? I'd get his eyes tested.

Are they 3d games? Or first-person perspective? They are known for making people feel sick/headaches etc

The headaches are very mild, I've only given him a Calpol fastmelt about twice in the past few days. Just mostly this lethargy and 'I don't feel well' and sometimes says he's cold, but its definitely being triggered/very exacerbated by the screens...

Is it a new game? Have you tried it? I can feel my body tensing up when playing some games and that bodily tension can cause a headache.

My son was having headaches before the holidays and we got himchecked out at optician and doctors but the only cause seemed to be tension.

How is he with prolonged time away from the device? Or how long was he playing? I encourage my children to limit their time.

I suffer from motion sickness when my DCs demo their games to me, so it can happen. However, if I'm pkaymg then it is usually OK (a bit like only feeling sick in the back of the car, driving is fine).

Thanks so far. His time is limited now to half an hour on the laptop today that was it. He said he was ok after it, but then I caught him helping his sister with an Art game on the Wii where you colour in stuff by shaking the remote at the screen. After about 10 mins on that he had the 'attack' again. But fine all afternoon now off everything for rest of day. Will keep him off everything tomorrow.

I get problems with my ears/sinuses that cause me to have vertigo/dizziness. I also suffer with motion sickness etc just like your son. When it's bad I can't look at computer screens for any length of time as they make me feel me feel sort of sick and dizzy and generally just bleurgh. Some games etc I just can't play at all because they trigger my motion sickness almost immediately.

He must have had an ear infection/disturbance (although no temps). Day before yesterday I asked him to stand on one leg...he couldn't do it for love nor money without toppling over almost immediately. Today he can do it fine, not a problem. I let him on laptop for half an hour. He seems fine today and not reporting any symptoms. Strange... the only symptom seemed to be the video game 'sickness'. And I think he was kind of clomping when he was walking, not staggering but something going on with the walking.
He had had a virus just before Christmas with temps on and off for a week. Anyway seems to be fine now.