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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LP yesterday, please help!

loveyalots143
loveyalots143
So after a very trying week of a wonky eyeball and nightmare headache increasing I ended up back in the ER last night. They did another LP. It was under fluro. Relatively gentle.... This morning my vision is crystal clear and my eye has not bulged once. But my head hurts when I move. Bad. I've had low pressure headaches before, I don't want another. I'm drinking, I'm laying flat, I'm being careful. There's got to be a way to stop this. I preach tomorrow and I've got to be able to at least sit up for that. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Kristena
Sophiasmom06
Sophiasmom06
so glad your eyes are better! I know they say to drink caffeine.
as long as you don't have a leak, the ICP builds back within 24-48hrs, so you may be fine tomorrow. if you have sleep apnea your ICP should be back up after another night of sleeping.....
SeaSprite
SeaSprite
Iced coffee with some yummy flavoring in it. If you don't feel better within a day or two you may need a blood patch. I've never had one but I hear it's pretty easy. They take some of your own blood, inject it in to clot and block the leak. In the meantime, lay flat, stay STILL, only get up to use the bathroom. Keep beverages and snacks by the bed so you don't have to go get them all the time. If you get worse or you don't feel better by Mon. call your neuro. Or if you get scared call your neuro even if it's the weekend. Someone from his office will be on call. That's why they get paid the big bucks.
SeaSprite
SeaSprite
P.S. Sit up to preach tomorrow if you feel you must, but maybe tomorrow is a good day to let someone fill in, if there is a backup plan? If you do go to church you lay flat on the back seat & someone else drive. Do your thing, go straight home.
Cath278
Cath278
Sorry I am a bit late with this reply.
If you have a banging hd, like someone is hitting your head with a board and all usual pain meds are not helping, I think you have a low pressure hd, God love you!
It is caused by a tiny tear in the dura surrounding the spinal coloum.
As a result your csf is dripping out of the tear leaving you with a hd due to low pressure.

Bad news is, I'm afraid,once it sets in there is little you can to do to help it.
It generally takes 7 days to heal but if you are in a lot of pain and can't take it, go to the hospital where they will do a blood patch. The results are instant.
They will take some blood from your artery, not vein. And inject it into the lp site thus closing the tear.
Pity is, sometimes it is just bad luck if you get one . It doesn't matter if it was a "good" lp, it happens.
Best way to try and avoid it.
Stay flat for 24 hours.not even crossing your ankles.
Push the fluids, water and anything with caffeine .
Problem with an lp tho is you will better than you have in weeks /months! And you will find it hard to stay so still.

I really do hope you feel better soon and the hds resolves. If not, go to the hospital. Cath.
loveyalots143
loveyalots143
You all are amazing!!! And I have good and bad news - the good? I made it through yesterday. The bad news - my eye is bulging again, my head is pounding as soon as I sit or stand up (especially changing positions), and my back is seized up on the right side. But I made it through yesterday :-)