Pseudotumor Cerebri Support Group
Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is a neurological disorder that is characterized by increased intracranial pressure, in the absence of a tumor or other diseases affecting the brain or its lining. Diagnosis requires brain scans and lumbar puncture. Characteristic symptoms are headache, transient visual obscurations or transient visual loss in one or both eyes usually lasting...
As I mentioned in another post, my headaches are rare and mild. However, I am going on a week now with a headache and ibuprofen isn't doing the trick. I feel like someone has dropped a brick on the top of my head. I know that this is unfortunately common place for many of you. However, for me, this is not usual and it's gotten me pretty scared. What if it's something else? What if I have a tumor or an anuerysm? Or, if it is the PTC (which it probably is), why are the headaches just starting for me now when by all other accounts I am stable (no more paps, minimal side effects to Diamox, no neurological issues)? I have considered myself very lucky not to have the debilitating headaches. I'm terrified that this headache is not going to go away or that it means something serious!
I have an appointment tomorrow with my neuro, but I need you guys to talk me off of the ledge.
I have an appointment tomorrow with my neuro, but I need you guys to talk me off of the ledge.
According to my neuro, this is cyclical, some days the pressure can be high and some days lower. Since you are seeing your neuro tomorrow, take a deep breath, relax and when you are ready to go to bed, bring a nice cold compress with you. Elevate you head and breath deeply, slowly, in and out.
It may be close to your cycle...my pressure tends to go up during that time.
If anything s/he may put you on a higher dose of Diamox. You sound exactly how I was when I was dealing with this. My pressure would go up and I was sure something tragic would happen. Then, I would think, "I have doctors monitoring me, if the worst happens, they can still treat this...I caught this early, I will be okay." That helped.
Please let us know how it goes tomorrow.
For IH people.. Sometimes the smallest things can cause long headaches- change in eating habits, not sleeping regularly, stress..
In the morning, have a good breakfast, try some Excedrin Migraine (my OTC HA med!), and relax until it's time for your appt.
This disease is so scary sometimes. I try to reassure myself that it's not life threatening and that everything is going to be ok. But, when my pressure gets high and my ears feel plugged up and my eyes feel like they will pop out and my head feels like it will split open I can't help but think that something terrible is going to happen. I know you all know how I feel when I say that.
Anyway, thanks again. And, I'll check in later!
Today, I am doing a watermelon cleanse, nothing but watermelons (a natural diuretic---take THAT diamox!)....all in attempts to counteract this.
I find the more control I take the less this has on me. :-)
My Dr. has forbid caffiene and and lots of other migraine triggers because he says all headaches are vascular in nature. Caffiene causes restriction of blood vessels and you feel better when it wears off they flare up worse and require more and more caffiene. It's been a big help.
I feel ya ;(