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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Occipital arachnoid cyst
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Occipital arachnoid cyst
by zlb, Sep 01, 2003 12:00AM
Hello,
About 1 month ago I was diagnosed with a small occipital-base on middle line arachnoid cyst.( 2.5 x 1.5 cm )
Since about 3 months I have the following symptoms:
- dizzyness(not just short vertigos... I feel dizzy for hours/days)
- pain in the back of head (nape) (where the cyst is)
- anxiety
- loss of weight
I went to a good doctor which told me that all this have nothing to do
with the cyst and it's just a coincidence. Also he told me that cyst is
not operable. He gave me some medicines for anxiety and told that symptoms
are caused by tiredness and lost nights..and definetely not by the cyst.
After 1 month of vacation(no stress, no lost nights) symptoms are still there...
Do you think it's because of the cyst? If not what else do you suggest?
About 1 month ago I was diagnosed with a small occipital-base on middle line arachnoid cyst.( 2.5 x 1.5 cm )
Since about 3 months I have the following symptoms:
- dizzyness(not just short vertigos... I feel dizzy for hours/days)
- pain in the back of head (nape) (where the cyst is)
- anxiety
- loss of weight
I went to a good doctor which told me that all this have nothing to do
with the cyst and it's just a coincidence. Also he told me that cyst is
not operable. He gave me some medicines for anxiety and told that symptoms
are caused by tiredness and lost nights..and definetely not by the cyst.
After 1 month of vacation(no stress, no lost nights) symptoms are still there...
Do you think it's because of the cyst? If not what else do you suggest?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS, Sep 02, 2003 12:00AM
Based on the description you provided it would seem unlikely that this cyst was causing you problems. However, I have not had the opportunity to see your MRI's, and therefore I could not be certain. Cysts within the posterior fossa (back part of the brain) if they become large enough, and if they push on the cerebellum (balance center) could cause dizzy symptoms and balance problems. If your symptoms are not related to the cyst then migraine may be a possibility.
If the symptoms are persisting and your MRI has not been completed recently, then perhaps it should be. This will help to ensure that the cyst has not changed, and that you have not developed any other reason for the dizziness. If you continue to have symptoms, then seeing an oto-neurologist (dizzy doctors) would be good. If you are in the area, we have two excellent docotrs here at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation who specialize in oto-neurology. Good luck
If the symptoms are persisting and your MRI has not been completed recently, then perhaps it should be. This will help to ensure that the cyst has not changed, and that you have not developed any other reason for the dizziness. If you continue to have symptoms, then seeing an oto-neurologist (dizzy doctors) would be good. If you are in the area, we have two excellent docotrs here at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation who specialize in oto-neurology. Good luck
Go to http://arachnoidcyst.org and please submit your story. I am getting us all together and going to put together a media blitz so they can't ignore us or label us with "ASYMPTOMATIC" symptoms any longer.
All of us don't sleep at night. They are not connecting the dots. We all have similiar symptoms and they continue to ignore us unless there is something really wrong.
I love how they will yank out ovarian cysts and tell you why they hurt so much but leave an arachnoid cyst alone and let it degenerate your nervous system.
http://arachnoidcyst.org/dog.pdf