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...
I have really bad period problems and I think it's time I did something about it. Yesterday my cramps were so severe they caused me to vomit all over the floor and roll around in agony. My roommate called an ambulance for me and they did nothing to help me with the pain at the ER. I waited 10 hours in the waiting room for an ultrasound and pelvic exam. Nothing. I'm still going to investigate this issue but I'm wondering if the benefits of taking BC would outweigh the risks. Does anyone have experience with this? What are the real risks of doing BC when you have PTC? If it does cause IIH to worsen, does it go away after treatment is withdrawn for a while? Can it cause permanent effects? It seems from what I've researched that it helps some and hurts others, so, I don't know what to do. All I know is that yesterday was the last straw. I have never felt so much pain in my life and would gladly have my uterus removed if it meant I never had to deal with it again, but, obviously it's not so simple. Any advice would be appreciated.
For the record, my PTC is a relatively mild case. It is well-controlled on a low dose of Diamox and my opening pressure for my diagnostic spinal tap was 25.
For the record, my PTC is a relatively mild case. It is well-controlled on a low dose of Diamox and my opening pressure for my diagnostic spinal tap was 25.
I wonder if taking lots of magnesium would help. it is a muscle relaxant. it has also been shown to reduce brain swelling. it is used to reduce uterine contractions in premature labor. maybe your problem is a magnesium deficiency, not a synthetic hormone deficiency. it is very common and largely ignored by allopathic medicine. try taking 500-1000 mg per day.
Magnesium levels also parallel progesterone levels and will be lower about the time of your period.
When I was first diagnosed I was on BCP and wasn't taken off of them right away (I didn't know better at the time) and was put on Diamox. My paps decreased but didn't go away. It wasn't until I stopped taking bcp that the paps resolved. Granted I made a couple of other changes at that time too so I can't say for sure what made the difference but theoretically stopping bcp is the most likely factor.
I would think that if you went on birth control and your PTC got worse that going off them again would lead to an improvement in PTC...but you never know for sure. It all comes down to the risk:benefit ratio. Avoid them if at all possible, but do what you've got to do. Good luck, keep us posted!
http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=21602
go natural first.
fish oil has also been shown to reduce brain swelling.