Eyes Blurred by Pseudo Tumor

[GiantElfen1]

I've been diagnosed with psuedo tumor which was 1st discovered by exceedingly blurred vision in my right eye. Ialso had severe headaches & memory loss.
The neuro-opthamologist sent me for an MRI of my brain, with & without contrast & said my brain looked fine so she sent me for a spinal tap.  My spinal fluid pressure was almost twice as high as it was supposed to be.  They drained a good bit of spinal fluid off but the doctor performing the operation said it took a lot longer than usual because I have a very narrow passage.
Then I was put on 500 mg Diamox twice a day, which I took just like I was supposed to but it really made me sick to my stomach!  Nauseated ALL the time!  Even vomitted my food a few times. Then after I was re-evaluated in her office she raised the amount to 3 a day.  I tried for a week but I was SO sick I begged her for anti-nausea medication which she finally prescribed.  But even with it I was still sick as a dog! Oh and I take 2 Prilosec a day as well.  So I went back to 2 a day on my own.  But I was still too sick to eat.  I'm diabetic & my sugar levels would be real low because I wasn't eating.  So I quit taking the medication altogether.
Now I'm having blurred vision in both eyes the right being real bad & the left not so bad yet but blurry.  My eyes weep all the time now.  And the headaches & memory loss is back.  So I'm going to 1 Diamox a day until I can see a neuro-surgeon to see if he can do something other than medication that makes me sick.
Am I going in the right direction?  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Diamox is a rough medicine and many people have trouble taking it. Maybe you'll tolerate 125 mgm bid. You could also have an optic nerve fenestration procedure.

JCH III MD

[Randa1010]

Today I was diagnosed with a pseudotumor behind both of my eyes. I have been having headaches for about 4months now, a raging ocean in my ear for several months, but for the past few weeks I have experienced several blackout spells, where I would bend down to look at something and when I stood back up everything would be black for at least 20 seconds.I also had a horrible headache w/vomiting that send me to the hospital via ambulance about 2weeks ago. I to have experienced memory loss but I thought it was due to the Seroquel 100mg that I take to sleep nightly. Upon hearing the news this morning I was directly over to the Neurologist to have a spinal tap. He took out 40cc, telling me that he normally only takes out 10cc. He said to go home and rest and my headache would be a different type of headache, but eventually the pain would be massively reduced. I currently still have a headache, but not as painful.
I am absolutely scared to death. I just finished an intense drug rehabilitation program, and am 121days sober. I am currently taken Suboxon 16mg daily. Which in my mind has accounted for my rapid weight gain, even though I've only gained about 15-20lbs.My Suboxon doctor says that headaches are not a side effect, but should I stop taking it? Will it have any effect on the Zonisamide 100mg, 3times a day that the neurologist put me on?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

We Have some good discussion on pseudotumor cerebri which you can access with the search feature. Also the section on emedicine is very good.

We do not give recommendations on medication dosage and your questions will need to be answered by your physicians.

JCH MD