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590279 tn?1286336022

pseudotumor cerebri question

I have read many things on here and elsewhere about psuedotumor cerebri and I am just wondering if someone has this, can periods of dizziness, tightness in head, facial pressure etc come and go?

I have gone for so many tests and to different doctors to try to find a cure to my problems and this is one thing that seems to have similar symptoms. I mentioned it to my doctor and the idea of a lumbar puncture and she just said "oh you don't want to have that, that will give you a headache"... Welllllllll, I already get headaches on/off for years so I don't see the harm trying to see if it's the cause of my other problems that have been around almost 2 yrs now. I don't know what I can say to her to get them to try this or who I would go see to perform a lumbar puncture to see the pressure levels in my head?
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397460 tn?1268533736
Hi again. Im sorry that I didnt answer your question about  the pressure. Like selma said, it is different for every one.For example, I am ok for 20mins -1 hour after I get up. Then the pressure starts to build and the headache starts.By 4.00 in the afternon I am in great pain. I have found that this is the time to take a rest. I lie down for 20 mins and I feel a bit better. Why? Im not sure but it feels like the csf is redistributing  itself. When this first started for me , it was small things that I noticed that were going wrong. Gradually, things got worse until I had to see a neuro. All my MRI andCat scans came back negitive as well. I think you should go and have another talk with your dr.Explain how distressed you are feeling and that you need an answer.Remember, IIH is a rare illness and not all drs are familar with it. The best of luck and keep us up to date with whats going on.Cath.
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620923 tn?1452915648
HI...may I suggest u ask for a CINE MRI...it is a flow study...it looks at CSF fluid and will detect if there is too much or too little.

As to ur question...can this come and go during the day...sure....everyone is different and it could be u r in the early onset of symptoms.No one person can tell u exactly how u will feel.Because we all will react and feel differently.

I encourage u to google ASAP, or the chiari institute for more info.


Godspeed
"selma"



Helpful - 0
745090 tn?1259078360
Anybody can suffer from Intercranial hypertension as I`m proof, I`m a man,kids can get it and slim people,it`s just associated with overweight women so no it shouldn`t rule you out just because you are not overweight.
The pressure does fluctuate throughout the day,although if your a IIH sufferer it will pretty much be a constant pain,I get alot of lightheads when the pressure is up and at one time my eye twitched alot but since being on meds that has stopped.
It doesn`t surprise me that your MRI/CT scan has come back `normal`I`ve had 3 and it nevers shows anything,infact I think thats why amongst other things why I got diagnosed with IIH.
Are you having any vision problems?As this is usually a good sign of raised pressure.
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590279 tn?1286336022
I know this is more common for obese women, and females of child bearing age - though I am within this age range, but most definitely not overweight in the least, would this rule me out right away?

I don't think anyone actually answered my question though - if someone had PTC or intracranial pressure can this come and go through out the day?
Like today for example, I was fine one minute, then when i went into a store I started feeling a lot of pressure in my head, slightly lightheaded and my right eye started twitching a bit, then a little while after it all seemed to die down a bit again.

I'm just at a loss of what to do and who to see now, and my MRI/CT, everything has come back normal, when clearly I'm not fine.
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Avatar universal
Hi,

Thanks for writing in.
The main symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri are headaches, visual disturbances like loss of peripheral vision, blurring and distortion. As rightly mentioned this condition is common in obese women in child bearing age group.
The main line of treatment includes diuretics like acetazolamide or Diamox, Furosemide and steroids.
Lumbar puncture should not be done till the presence of space occupying lesions is ruled out by CT scan. Other options include optic nerve decompression and shunt surgery.
Please discuss these options with your treating doctor as final decision can be taken only after careful clinical evaluation.

Helpful - 0
397460 tn?1268533736
Hi there.I was diagnosised with IIH in July this yr but had been treated for a different illness ( the wrong one!) for a yr. My symptoms were; very bad headaches which were innitially thought  to be migraine. They started in May 07 and got progressively worse. Pain in and behind my eyes, loss of balence, vertigo, nausea,poor concentration,feeling of pressure in my head all the time,tinnitus( ringing or swossing sound in the ears). Durning this time , with symptoms not improving, I saw a neuro who admitted me to hospital. She suspected IIH but had to do tests to eliminate other problems.A Cat scan and MRI should be clear as are all tests. A lumber pucture is only then considered. Opening pressure should be 10-12 in a normal healthy person.A person with IIh will have a much higher op.Mine was 46. Only then can a diagnosises be made.
I understand your need to find out what is wrong and causing your problems. Try talking to your dr again and may be  suggest a vist with a neurologist. They would be better able to assess your problems. I do hope that it turns out to be a simple thing and not IIH. IIh is a very difficult illness to have.Best of luck! Cath278
Helpful - 0
620923 tn?1452915648
Hi, from what I know PTC can be related to being overweight...but is not always the case.It is also refered to as intercranial hypertension. There is too much CSF and is causing the symptoms u mentioned in ur post.

The only reason for a LP is to check the pressure and to drain some of the excess fluid out......sometimes a shunt is placed, but I am not sure y u have more CSF and y ur body doesn't absorb it.Because of the excess fluis it can cause overcrowding in the cerebellum....it can force part of it down in the posterier fossa...causing a cerebral tonsil herniation called chiari.

The best drs for u would be a chiari specialist. We do have a chiaari forum here on medhelp.

ASAP and the chiari institute are two of the best places for info on these and related conditions.

Good luck
Godspeed
"selma"
Helpful - 0
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