For the record, I hate bras...but they are a necessary evil. I'm a 40 DD and it seems to have become a bit more uncomfortable for me. This is definitely something to think about.

I don't mean the bra is hurting me. I just refer to the area on my back as the bra strap area. Actually mine rides up higher than that area. It's where your bra strap should be across your back.

I used to wear a 40 G bra and was dx with IIH in May. I became extremely ill and was unable to eat. My only form of food was ensure Meal supplement shakes and I ended up losing 40 lbs rather rapidly. My breast didn't seem to cause my back to hurt, my only back pain was my lower lumbar area. I had a VP shunt placed 7 weeks after dx and I'm now off all meds, still having minor issues not eating. I don't get ill when I eat I just lack appetite now. Think that is from the many weeks of not eating. I truly don't believe large breast cause IIH. I have done extensive research on the many causes of IIH and it boils down to most of theses factors:

Obesity
Prolonged use of birthcontrol. ( I was in it for 13 years)
Hormone imbalance (normally caused by birthcontrol)
Prolonged use of antibotics
And typically seen in females.


I have/had all those risk factors. We run a study here with Dr Sophia Chung in St Louis who is fabulous and extremely helpful on helping determine your cause of IIH so that you have a better chance of winning this retarded battle

I am currently IIH "free" meaning I don't really have symptoms anymore except the random migraine.

Best of luck Randiew!
~Courtney~

This is surprising! I was 34FF until I had a surgical reduction in the late 80s. I've been a C ever since. My insurance covered it as "medically necessary" because I had a lot of back and shoulder pain, even with extremely expensive and supportive bras. I don't know how statistically common it is to have excessively large breasts or if the numbers of women in our group here prove or dispute that number, but I do know the condition comes with a whole set of comfort and health issues that are unrelated to IIH. I didn't begin to show any signs of IIH until three years ago, so I know in my case, one condition had no impact on the other.

I hate wearing bras and I'm a 36 B. I realize I do not have IIH, so your theory could be very possible..just wanted to say I have great empathy for you discomfort/pain. Were my bra hits my back seems to agrivate upper back pain.
Mallory

Sorry
*where my bra hits

This is a very interesting topic to bring up! It would be interesting to see if your theory is correct.

I just lost 40 lbs and I'm thinking my back hurts in the same bra line area because it doesn't fit well anymore. Me hating bras was a very bad joke on my part :( sorry about that. I was just burning the bra and throwing it into the fire so to speak...:D I just couldn't pass up the opportunity! Normally IIH causes extreme low tailbone pain for me. I also don't believe IIH is caused by having large breast, but it is interesting to find that a lot of us here are large breasted. Reduction will surely help and good luck with disability. I also just signed up a couple of months ago and it's now being reviewed by the medical department.

I am a 42DD (my mom is also big-breasted) and when I wear a lot of bras, they give me tons of headaches and neckaches. I am not sure if they were worse before, but I have most definitely realized it now! As soon as I have insurance, I am going for the breast reduction as now, I can hardly wear bras, they hurt so much! I have such headaches, neck pain, etc., that I can't even get out of bed now. They were not this bad when I was younger (not meaning before PTC, I was diagnosed in 2010), but the pain is MUCH worse now than it was previously. I am most definitely going to fight with the insurance until I get the reduction. I just cannot take it anymore...

Courtney,
Im sorry but i have to add my two cents when it comes to Chung, question her and youll see the real person. I switched to Dr. Shepperd, she was wrong in so many ways when i saw her. I hope she does ya right.
Imo iih comes about in those that are immune comprimised.
im very glad to hear that your doing so well!

I am also large breasted and have always had back pain.

One thing that has helped me tremendously is the chiropractor. I get those vertebra and even ribs slipped out of place right around the bra-line area. It's not surprising, that's a lot of weight to carry around and it is right around the transition of the thoracic to the lumbar. I would recommend chiropractic care to anyone with aching and painful back problems. There are some very gentle methods and advancements these days. My doctor uses the Activator Method. Which is just like a small trigger gun that can tap spots back into alignment without the twisting and cracking and popping.

Ps I also want a reduction!!

Mary,

I agree with you to a certain point on Dr Chung. She knows so much about IIH but yet she isn't aggressive. That's why she isn't my doctor. I only went to her Bc she was running a study on IIH and I wanted to hear her info. Dr Chung is always kind to me, and she is a great doctor for those of you who don't want to go the surgery route. She believes strongly in the meds and weight loss as a cure for IIH.

I saw her for the first time 2 week post op from my VP shunt placement and she was nice but the team of residents and neurologists who follow her aren't. Those guys flipped a lid when they heard I went from dx to surgery in less than 7 weeks. One of the boys said "we never recommend shunts till well after 2 years of giving the meds time to work" then when dr Chung came into the treatment room that same guy gave his verbal report to her saying "after only 7 weeks of meds Courtney jumped to the radical solution of a shunt." That pissed me off.

Only doctors I trust are my NS and neurologist. They believe in being aggressive and getting your life back to normal. Dr Chung to me is like my "boat" while my NS & neurologist are my life vest.

My NS is Dr Levy and he is my gift from god. I have been meaning to post an update and was going to mention stuff he told me. Basicly I have the tiniest ventricles he has ever seen. They are literally the same size as the cathedar used for the surgery. He used the stealth station to assist. Last week when I had my 7 week post op visit and I was chatting about this site, I explained that some of you are in so much pain, some were losing their eye sight, etc, he offered to help any of you regardless of where you lived. If you really want/need that VP shunt then he's the one to do it when no one else will and he will do it right. If any of you want his info just send me a message

I pray that those who are still suffering find release soon. Life is to short to let some doctor drug you up and keep you from enjoying life.

~Courtney~

I find that the bra, on the right side, where the strap goes from the front to the back pulls at my shunt tract. It's actually quite painful. It isn't directly ontop of my shunt tract, but it causes pain there.