Still testing out the Sea Bands. So far I’m having so-so results. There are times where I feel like its doing its job to an extent, but I still have a headache from gaming. Its just in varying degrees depending on the gaming session/band placement.

HOWEVER I think this relies more on me then on the actual product. I’m rather petite sized for an adult. I’m about the size of a child, so to speak. My wrists are incredibly tiny. The bands I bought were adult sized, or I can only speculate as such as the packaging lacked anything to denote they were for children.

I think it’s possible my wrists are too small for the adult bands. So, I’ve placed an order for some kids sized ones.

I also think I may not be placing them right. The included instructions seemed easy enough. But on further research I came across this online:

The Pericardium 6 (P6) or Nei Kuan points are fairly easy to locate - they are on your inner wrists, approximately the width of three fingers below the wrist joint.

To locate P6 exactly, first hold your hand palm up and note the position of the upper wrist crease. Then place the three middle fingers of your other hand onto your wrist, with the top of the upper finger just on the wrist crease. The P6 point will be beneath your index finger, between the two central tendons that run from your wrist down your forearm (clench your fist to see the tendons more clearly). A slight sensitivity or tingling should tell you that you have the right spot.

This sounded a little more in depth then what I got from the product. I followed these instructions on one wrist, and found that sort of “tingling” spot—-which is a sensation I have not received putting the bands on.

So an official opinion is still up in the air. I feel like the product is helping to some extent, but we’ll see what a size smaller and these instructions do for me.

(Source: motion-sickness-guru.com)

So actually managed to find a pair of Sea Bands in town to try out. On first look, they’re really small. But they come in a really cool plastic case for traveling, and the instruction sheet fits right into the case too.

Instructions are pretty basic and simple to follow. They do feel a bit tight and weird, I’ll admit this. But since this is acupressure, the bands need to be tight to keep the pressure where it needs to be. At times it feels a little uncomfortable, and other times it feels as if I’m not really wearing them. Instructions state that they begin to take affect 2-5 mins after putting them on, though its recommended the affect is better the longer you are wearing them before the activity that causes you motion sickness.

I waited around five minutes. Since I don’t have any immediate motion sickness inducing video games on hand to give a try, I went to youtube. I found a blind Let’s Play of Skyrim where the player is crazy obsessed with looting everything, essentially exposing me to fast camera changes, varying degrees of running speed, and just general nauseous inducing gaming elements. Since the LP started from the beginning, it involved a 15-20 min character creation, which I think added more time to allow the bands to do their thing. I ended up watching an hour and a half of game play, and feel pretty okay considering. I sort of feel it a little bit of a headache, but it feels really masked—though admittedly I’ve been feeling a bit of a headache most of today. So I’m inclined to believe it’s possibly that and not from the gaming.

All things considered, these seem to work really well. I’d like to give them a test gaming or watching someone play a dizzying game while I’m in the same room with them.

So its no secret to the people who know me that I suffer horribly from simulator sickness when I’m gaming. In fact, this sickness determines 99% what I can play, the remaining 1% are the sickness causing games I’m stubborn enough to play through. It’s really upsetting, actually, as I do really love video games even if I’m not entirely good at them.

For the longest time I would only play rpgs, specifically Final Fantasy games because I didn’t have any real problems with them. Though, in recent years, with the plots of said games becoming utter crap I have sworn these games off. Which cuts out about all of my gaming choices.

I’ve done really well sort of “previewing” games by watching Let’s Plays. If I get sick, then I know its not a game I’ll be buying. I’ve discovered Haunting Ground through this, and the Fatal Frame series seems to be okay (I’ve yet to hunt down copies to have a go), and the earlier RE games seem safe as well. And this is great, it has introduced me to a different genre of game.

However, it really does cut hugely into my social life. I don’t have too many irl friends, but the ones I do (including my brothers) are all big gamers. And almost all of their games are hard to watch or play without getting ill. It’s been really crappy, I want to jump in and have a go with my friends, but it always turns into me being the “debby downer” and forcing game play to stop. Similarly, by missing out on these gaming sessions, I’m also somewhat excluded. It really sucks :/

While doing research on how to jump this hurdle, I came across a recommendation for Sea Bands. Which, from what I understand, uses acupressure on a specific nerve that prevents the “motion sickness” response from triggering in the brain. It’s been used for things such as traveling, pregnancy, and the article I read suggests it for gaming too. Ultimately they seem inexpensive, and are surely a preferred alternative to motion sickness medicines (that sound like they also cause drowsiness).

So, idk guys. I guess my point here is, my gamer watchers—do you guys ever have simulator sickness? And, I’m going to try and get a hold of some of these bands to give a shot and perhaps talk about my results.