Hi all,
I haven't been active on here for a while, as my issues basically resolved after ditching the MacBook Pro 16 back in 2020. A couple years ago, I did also upgrade from an iPhone 8 to an iPhone 13 Pro without any issues at all (just to add some context). I am still using my 7 yr old Dell laptop.
However, a couple weeks ago, I was given a new office at work. Immediately upon sitting down I started feeling really uncomfortable. I told my office mate and we moved the desks around, trying to get the only window to be close to a 90 degree angle from my desk. I thought it helped a little, and although I have been able to work a few hours here and there in that office, last week things got worse. I started getting headaches and feeling nauseous after being there for 2-3 hours. I have been closing the blinds from the window, since somehow the (sun)light coming off the window irritates me. The lights were off as well so it can't really be the overhead lights. I went home after that episode but the nausea lingered for several more hours, and I only felt better the next day after a good night's sleep.
This office is smaller (not sure if that is important) and the walls are white (as opposed to a light blue in my previous office), but with some type of roughness onto them, and I am wondering if that could be the culprit. This morning, after being rested from not being in the office for 3 days, I started feeling pressure on my temples, and some kind of light numbness on my scalp with a hint of nausea to come. I moved back to my old office for the rest of the day and although I feel a little better, the feeling is still lingering to some extent.
I am trying to understand what could be the common denominator between the MacBook and the new office? I always thought the MacBook issue was related to a certain inability of focusing correctly on the screen. But the office? I am having a hard time finding an explanation. What makes it even more interesting is that my setup is not even great in my old office. The window is behind my back and gives off some amount of glare on my laptop screen - but this has not bothered me at all for the last few years. In the new office, there is no glare at all and the setup is quite better. White walls will reflect more light, though, and that's my only lead but I can't really ask my department to paint the walls just to test out that hypothesis.
I am quite at a loss. Any idea?