why do you think you are worse when you get a cold?

I find it is worse then also. It's like the pressure from the sineses and the ICP are battling for the space in my head and I am always the looser!!!!!!!

Sophiasmom, that must be a trick question! ;) I believe your theory that it is the increased airway pressure that drives up the ICP. I did mention it to my NO and while she acknowledged that people tend to report this correlation, she refused to speculate as to the cause. She's not much for delving into explanation. Oh well.

I do wonder if there are other factors...I haven't thought about it in depth though. Could the inflammatory response in illness affect the brain vasculature in a way that impedes flow, just enough to matter? I don't know. Of course like many things in chronic illness whatever it is is probably happening on too subtle of a level for modern medicine to identify, at this point.

My vision problems (ambient focal disorder) are always worse when I am sick. Even if it is an illness where I don't have headaches, etc. When I went through vision therapy last year, the OT said that any stressor on the body whatsoever is likely to intensify my visual problems. Even a sore toe. She said a stressor is a stressor. I don't like feeling so fragile!

Randiew, well said!

it is much simpler than all of those explanations. yes it was a trick question!!

why do you have trouble sleeping when you have a cold?
because the nasal congestion causes or worsens pre-existing sleep apnea. this makes you wake up every time you stop breathing.

the apneas themselves raise ICP. it is from a direct effect of hypoventilation on ICP, and may also be related to any valsalva generated during the struggle to breathe. it may be that intrathoracic pressure changes alter the way CSF is drained, increasing ICP. there are other possible contributing factors. it's been shown that OSA contributes to brain edema; very recent study.

your NO needs to hit the books. sleep apnea is well documented to cause IIH and papilledema and this is MOST prominent in the ophthalmology literature! if he gives you a hard time, ask him what they do in his ICU as standard treatment for a person with a head injury? (ventilator hyperventilation to reduce ICP. it works in the reverse too, simple physiology of the effect of breathing on ICP)

Good response. Im soory RN to seem like I overky agree with Sopsmkm all of the time. I do, lol, its because ive studied like craxy over the last 5 years, nothing in the way of research and Dr.s explaination made sense. Just as many of us have sensitivities, mine are superduper I swear. I can reproduce ear whooshing by certain movements of the jaw. What she has added here is better than ANYTHING any of us will get from our Dr.s EVER, that is untilnthey get on board. It may seem sometimes as if I disagree with her, but Ive had to be persistant because I dont follow the typical IH pattern, I suffered with hindbrain herniation, POTS, paps, but low OP without leaks contributing to low OP. Now we find the TOS, I knew that something caused all of this, Sopsmom talks about head forward posture, and sleep disorder breathing. Tested, told im fine, I dont believe it. I can't get these Drs to agree and put it all together, so instead Im getting my own testing done and figuring out as I go along. Sopsmom and I were discusding TOS, Dr Collins understands alot if what others Drs don't, he is on the right track, but not quite there, I just want to see him for the right imaging
I often wonder if all of you have what I do, that my has metamorphosized because Ive had it so long, or maybe im totally wrong. Anyways she is right, regardless of how easy and simple of an answer it maybe. I think we've all been Dr. Hyped that this is incurable, idio, a fat disease. I thank goodness im a very obstinate person, I didnt believe the hype.

Dam typos, and RN im so sorry your feeling bad. I hope you get to feeling better and soon.

I'm worse when I get a cold, too. When I get well I don't bounce back right away. It can take a few weeks for my headache to get back to the normal dull roar and to be able to walk a straight line.

RN, I just reread this topic, boy I sure do come across as a smartypants. Not my intention, and truly didnt mean to overshadow or minimize your health nor opinion. Im sorry if I made you feel that way!

Mary

You are preaching to the choir here. :) I hear what you are saying about ventilation and ICP. I agree that it contributes to me feeling worse while I have a cold. I don't think it is the cause of MY PTC in the first place, which I attribute to IV steroid boluses. But certainly it is a contributing factor when I have a URI now that I have this stupid predisposition to intracranial hypertension.

No worries Mary, thanks for your support. My point was just to vent a bit and express my appreciation for the people on this board. It's a tough week for me.