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...

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dizzy

Manicuristbaby
Manicuristbaby
I have been getting dizzy since all this restarted for me. Two different types1:)when i get up from lying down, stooping down 2:) just movement or activity. The other day I was trying to make dinner for my family I stood up on the step stool got down had the wrong thing stood on it again and man was I dizzy. But just walking for awhile gives me the about to pass out feeling. My blood pressure is good right now so It's not that. Today at the neuro he said IIH doesn't cause dizziness. Is that true? He has scheduled me though for sleep study, ICP study and a tilt table study so I don't know if he is trying everything to help me out or to disprove my reports. He said it in front of my husband so of course that gave some seeds of doubts about how bad I really am. UUGGGHHHH!!!!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Step stool....were you looking up, reaching up? Does cocking your head back or to the side produce symptoms?
Manicuristbaby
Manicuristbaby
I was reaching up nothing to far just normal not so tall people stuff. Never experienced any syptoms from either one of those head positions. I do loose my vision sometimes when I bend my head forward.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Yes, being dizzy is common. I was running into doorframes and the floor was tilting up when my pressure was high and before meds. If it's worse when you move your head a certain way it could be issues with your neck or chairi. Here's a good paper that is for medical dr's but includes the dizzy symptom - http://www.ruh.nhs.uk/gps/clinical_guidelines/documents/paediatrics/IIH_Paeds_guidelines_G708.pdf
deleted_user
deleted_user
hi! i have been through all sorts of tests and they haven't found anything except for the IIH. my main symptom is dizziness.... i don't have much for vision loss or headaches thankfully. just pressure in my head neck and of course the dizziness. it is with me CONSTANTLY! all of my doctors say its from IH
SeaSprite
SeaSprite
The Intracranial Hypertension Research Foundation (IHRF) says that dizziness is a symptom of IH.

http://www.ihrfoundation.org/intracranial/hypertension/info/C70

I get dizzy spells. It used to be often, but now not as many. It isn't spinning dizzy. It's more like being on a ship at sea.

What a great link - thank you. I'm going to print it out for my primary care provider along with the one below. No PCP on the planet is expected to know stuff about IH. Most never have an IH patient in their whole career.

http://www.aoneuro.on.ca/Articles/IIH-Review-Cephalalgia.pdf
deleted_user
deleted_user
It's common to voluntarily inhale and hold it while stepping or down...doing that, coughing or sneezing will momentarily increase your CSF pressures. Maybe you did that on the step stool?

Another area affected by increased pressure is the inner ear; not only does it cause auditory problems like tinnitus but balance problems too because of the vestibular system. I'm sorry, and quite surprised, that your doctor didn't put any thought into that and just threw it at you like pure dogma.
With the sleep study I think he's looking for sleep apnea as it does cause IH and daytime functional problems. I have both, and I cannot sleep hardly at all without my cpap.
SeaSprite
SeaSprite
Odd thing about sleep. I was having a problem sleeping. It started out mild and kept geting worse. For awhile I was only getting 2-3 hours a night. I was a walking zombie. I don't know if it was the IH or what. Then I went on prednisone for a couple of weeks and it was like someone had pressed my sleep reset button. On prednisone I slept 8-10 hours a night. And now after tapering off of the stuff I still am sleeping like a baby. It's a mystery....

A sleep study is such a good thing. Let us know how it comes out.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I've had three of those...I love the post-study paper work in the morning with the question "how was the study different than sleeping at home?" Uhhhh...well for starters I'm not usually tangled up in wires...lol
Manicuristbaby
Manicuristbaby
Thanks for the links they are very helpful. My dizziness is like the being at sea thing to.

Holding my breath while using step stool I never paid attention to. I will have to try and take notice.