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 ended up going to the ER last night for my head, the pain had just gotten to the point of being beyond overwhelming. To make a long story short the ER doc finally agrees that an lp is the route needed to go. They get all the supplies ready, numbed up my back, and then after trying with at least two different needles and several different pokes says I can't get it, we are sending you to radiology to do this. So radiology comes down and gets me, ok this should be easier right? WRONG! They get me all rolled over on my belly, re-explain the procedure (I guess I looked like I had never had one done before...), painted me orange, and since its been long enough they had to re-numb the area. Just so everyone knows, simply because they have the machine doesn't mean they know how to do it! He poked and poked and poked, got really close, then pulled out the needle and said we have to go somewhere else. So we numb the new area, he still has to poke and poke around, but then he got it.
He put the pressure checker on (sorry, still kinda out of it) and tells me I have an opening pressure of 15. What??? That makes no sense - then he says but you aren't laying in the right position to get a pressure check but if we move you the needle may move. I wasn't about to have that happen so I just went with it. He drained off 15 cc of spinal fluid. Then wanted to check for a closing pressure and rolled me on my side - it was 13.
When I asked the radiologist how it was possible he basically just said the opening pressure was not as accurate as it could have been. Does anyone know if I can figure out an accurate opening pressure if I know the closing and the amount drained off?
Kristena
He put the pressure checker on (sorry, still kinda out of it) and tells me I have an opening pressure of 15. What??? That makes no sense - then he says but you aren't laying in the right position to get a pressure check but if we move you the needle may move. I wasn't about to have that happen so I just went with it. He drained off 15 cc of spinal fluid. Then wanted to check for a closing pressure and rolled me on my side - it was 13.
When I asked the radiologist how it was possible he basically just said the opening pressure was not as accurate as it could have been. Does anyone know if I can figure out an accurate opening pressure if I know the closing and the amount drained off?
Kristena
If your closing pressure was 13, and they drained 15, your opening pressure, accurately, would have been 28? I think?
Sorry your LP was such a process, my last one was MUCH like that, too, they could JUST NOT for the life of them get their shit together and get it right, I'm sure you're all kinds of sore today. Rest up, friend.
Are you feeling any better now? Any relief at all?
Did your LP help?
When I am laying down, my head is not hurting hardly at all. I have some ringing in my ears, but all in all I'm ok.
However, when I sit or stand up, the very top part of my head hurts. I get really nauseous and even dizzy. I'm not jumping up and laying down either, this is from slow movements.
I've had a spinal headache before and this isn't as severe, but there's still something I'm not getting here. Any help?
Kristena