Updates
Since I created this site, I keep learning more and more based upon feedback from various people as well as personal investigation. So this section is devoted to updates based on my new realizations (though I also did go back to edit the entire site as well)
March, 2004:
Well... by now I've tried Solar Stat. I even attached two layers of it to my LCD, yet remained with symptoms (even if those symptoms are relieved by GABA crushed into hot water at bedtime). So I now realize that it's not necessarily UV (ultraviolet) that's the worst culprit - but rather the worst culprit is brightness - which includes color, since white backgrounds are worst. Another way of putting it, is that high-intensity incandescents as well as brightly-lit bright colors may trigger my hyperactive nervous system even more than very-dim fluorescents (which also are not problem-free!
This past month I finally managed to wheedle a prescription for Neurontin from my rigid doctor, since I wanted to try it out as it's known to relieve pain for many people. Indeed, I've discovered this is true for me. But I need to take at least 300mg at bedtime, whereupon it makes me lightheaded and drowsy. By the next day I feel "lighter" and less stressed out.
Update: I now realize that Neurontin (like Soma) does cause side effects such as rebound pain after it wears off, even while it's sometimes a calming lifesaver....well, it's now mid-March and I've been busy corresponding with a very helpful photosensitive fellow who I met on a group. Indeed it's true that the people who usually help the most are those with similar issues, because he helped me figure out how to get the browser's color changing to work despite Microsoft's ridiculous quirks (shame on them). You better believe no techies helped me - not Dell, and not Samsung. Here's how to do it:
Changing Screen Colors (Windows XP / Internet Explorer 6):
On the IE6 browser toolbar, Click:
Tools | Internet Options | General | Accessibility | Checkmark: Ignore Colors Specified On Web Pages | OKYou should now be back in the General tab. Next, click:
Colors | Un-Check: Use Windows Colors | then:
Click on the boxes adjacent to Text | Background | Visited | UnVisited
(drop-down color menu - choose your desired colors) | OK | OKAt this point, you should have achieved your goal - right? Uh uh - not necessarily!! If you find that Windows glitched, such as turning your background all-white or some other such nonsense, then here's your next step (and even that menu may prove unstable, as I've found):
On your Desktop, Right-Click your mouse. Next, click:
Properties | Appearance | Advanced | then go down the dropdown-menu, click each one, and choose desired colors
OK | Apply | OKTip: If you have an HTML editor such as Arachnophilia, you may be in for a surprise in that some of its text may have become indecipherable. The solution to that would be to use its independent Tools option to Un-Check "Use Default Windows Background" then change its background independently.
But even this probably won't be enough. You also need to dim your screen to the point of tolerability via the Color Correction feature of your video card. Here's how to achieve this via Windows XP:
On your Desktop, Right-Click your mouse. Next, click:
Properties | Settings | Advanced | GE force videocard tab | On popout on left, click:
View Display Mode | Device Settings | Color Correction | Adjust sliders until your screen reaches comfort level | ApplySave As (to save your settings after working so hard to achieve them!) | OK
Now, that wasn't so hard, was it? HUFF... PUFF...
Below is a screenshot displaying the muted colors I chose, though frankly, it barely relieved my symptoms. Note the taupe, amber, aqua, dark blue and black. Since this didn't relieve me, I'll continue experimenting with different colors, though I'm not holding my breath.
Below are my dropdown menus / superimposed
on a website superimposed on my Arachnophilia editor.
April, 2004:
I acquired a NEC FE750+ 17" CRT, 16" viewable, with flat aperture grill touted as "striped phosphor of CRT delivers superior vertical definition with improved brightness", OptiClear screen surface which "reduces reflection and glare..."
What can I say... I found that indeed the image quality is as SUPER as the irritating Samsung LCD, and even better because text isn't jagged.
But... my symptoms flared up again with a vengeance. Therefore, my previous speculation that expensive name brands might be better, or that phosphor technology might be less irritating than fluorescent technology is now shot. I did read somewhere, though, that CRTs' phosphors get dimmer as the CRT ages, so older CRTs may be better. And another key factor may be the viewing area - i.e. the smaller the screen's dimensions, the less irritating it may be. Meanwhile, though, I've been wasting too much money already on both LCD and CRT both of which have proven unhealthy for me. And the trend seems to be getting worse and worse - ever bigger and brighter. What hope is there for those of us in the minority? sigh...
May, 2004:
By now, the forementioned very-helpful photosensitive guy emailed me the URL to Dr. Yolton's article (which I inserted above, under SOLUTIONS). The Yolton article is the most plausible explanation of any I've read thus far, and most jives with peoples' experiences with large/bright computer screens. However, Dr. Yolton and many other experts are wrong about one thing: Increasing the frequency rate from 75 Hz to 85 Hz does not help everyone. I know this, because upon researching, I came across this chat:
"I have a cheap 17" Viewsonic monitor (E70, not the flat screen model). Even though I set the vertical refresh rate to 85MHz at 1024x768, prolong looking at the monitor makes my eyes water and a bit of headache. I have not experienced such problems with my older 14" and 15" monitors."
Update: Read my June and Mid-June 2004 updates which prove that what I had thought was a plausible article by Dr. Yolton, proved incorrect in my real-life experience. Also see Solutions area re: futility of raising refresh-rate up to 150Hz.
June, 2004:
May/June
Tried the 13.3 inch Fuvision LCD advertised as: "active matrix TFT LCD Panel. Pixel Pitch: 0.297 (H) x 0.297(V) mm. Max. Resolution: 1024 (H) x 768 (V) XGA. Contrast Ratio: 200:1 (Typical). Brightness: 150 cd/m2 (Typical). Response Time: 35mS( Typical)".
But it turned out to be way too glaring (even when dimmed) perhaps because it lacked a non-glare screen. The panel was practically like a mirror - ugh! Worse even than old CRTs.
Lesson learned: That despite the peripheral vision factor in the Yolton article, even small 13 inchers can be intolerable, depending on whether there's a non-glare screen and perhaps other factors which still remain a mystery.
Mid-June
Tried the Scanport 14" LCD (including non-glare screen) - but it caused me the same plethora of health issues as the Samsung Syncmaster 151s did. Once again this would seem to disprove Dr. Yolton's article.
I have also just learned about the Computer PBDE flame retardant issue - so I'm open to the possibility that the monitors affecting me may have been emitting flame retardant chemicals, since I happen to suffer from multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS). Note, too, that last year, a hair analysis indicated I have high cadmium, mercury and arsenic, as well as some lead. And computer components contain cadmium and mercury, which is very telling, because I've been working on computers for years, hours on end with barely a break in between.
October 2004
I acquired an older 1990's Hewlett Packard Pavilion M45 14" CRT from someone locally. And I'm finding it to be as tolerable as my forementioned 14" Impression Plus CRT. So far, that's two older CRTs that are SOMEWHAT tolerable, as compared to any of the newer CRTs/LCDs I tried which were intolerable.
Update: I changed my mind. The HP is lethal! It required more exposure to realize that.
August 2005
Upon the recommendation of someone I met on a Yahoo group who wrote me that she had bought an already-outgassed, floor-model Flatron LCD and she "loved" it since it was symptom free (unlike another monitor which caused her bad symptoms), I therefore decided to buy a brand new Flatron L1530S LCD (TFT, and TCO rating of 99) because it had very similar specs as the Flatron model she quoted. What can I say... while the 1530S is quite lightweight (more so than the Samsung 151s) yet it gave me symptoms similar to the Samsung though not quite as bad. I note that I detect a very strong chemical odor via its rear vents - which may either be flame retardants or epoxy glue. It's anyone's guess - but it's so toxic, that even when it's OFF and I just stand near it for a short while, my throat gets irritated.
November 2005
The past few months I've been leaving the forementioned Flatron LCD near a window to "hopefully" outgas. Meanwhile I've been using a zero-radiation 15" Dell LCD which is also giving me plenty of symptoms. So much for claims of "shielding". Maybe it requires more outgassing? Ahem... more likely it requires one (vs. two) fluorescent tubes - and not so potent either!
August 2006
I have just started experimenting with a near infra-red LED pocket-size massager. It operates on two AA batteries, & it's potent at 60,000 mcd total, and 660 nanometers. Interestingly, it causes my teeth to throb, as well as eye irritation & dryness, despite that I shut my eyes tight & keep them covered with my arm. So... what's my point? My point is: This is proof that light radiation is a major culprit, rather than Alternating Current, Refresh Rates, etc. Further proof is that nurses exposed to blue lights in neonatal wards for jaundiced preemies, have been known to experience headaches & nausea.
2007-2008
Over the past year I got gypped when buying a refurbished 12" X31 Thinkpad which arrived with defects. Despite what I previously stated (based on feedback received from others online), I'm now finding I disagree with their feedback, and strongly advise against buying such small screens. But that's only because most websites have become biased toward very wide screens. I'm also finding that there's no difference in how I feel after I'm online awhile with the 12" Thinkpad or with my Desktop's 15" Dell. I need to minimize usage to feel better. That doesn't mean the Thinkpad isn't way more tolerable than many other monitors I've been using. But it's hopeless trying to fight the trend of BIGGER AS BETTER.
2008
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