Oh my goodness...I'm freaking out....Fayerae you have no idea how many times I've said that very phrase..."I don't feel comfortable in my own skin". That's exactly how I've felt when anxiety became too much. Luckily I haven't had any anxiety issues in a long time. I think I truly suffer more with mild depression from time to time. But, there have been times about 10 years ago or so where the depression would become so severe that suffice to say...I'm lucky to be alive now. All that being said, here are a few websites that touch on the correlation between IIH and moods. You can read more for yourself by googling a search for IIH and psychological mood disorders. But, here are a few to get you started....


http://neuro.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/17/3/426
http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/110024682.html
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=1257348


Hope this helps...

MM3

MM3,
Love how the 2nd study references support groups...! Interesting.
Thanks for the research its helpful in helping us all understand ourselves a bit better.
Mandy

No problem. I particularly liked that second report the most...It was very thorough. There's a lot more out there. The internet is a wonderful way to gather all this info. It's right there at our fingertips.

MM3

WOW! This is pretty wild! I've been thinking i was going crazy! Mood swings, different feelings of some sort towards my husband of 17 yrs, (negative ones) depression, some anxiety. Definately worsens when my pressure is up. So glad i found this group, and thank u mm3 for those sites. Very informative.
Hugs, Dawn

MM3, go ahead and add me to your list to show the doctor. I feel like when the pressure goes up- the symptoms get worse. I am feeling complete desperation right now, which is not at all like my personality. I take Lexapro 10mg daily. But when my pressure is up like right now- I am so volatile and angry and weepy and an emotional disaster. There has to be a connection.

((Hugs))
Mer

In the past months before my optomotrist found paps that led to my diagnosis, my normal self confident personality was no where to be found! I felt like I was going to have a panic attack every day on the way to work, the only people I wanted to be around was my immediate family. I felt like the whole world was judging me and everyone hated me. Add that with feeling like crud from IH and I'm a mess. You can show your doctor, no problem

I hope I get the time to come back and read all the post. I know for myself I used to have horrible panic attacks out of nowhere; they started after I was diagnosed, and subsequently put on diamox. For the longest time I thought it was the effects of diamox. I later recalled a couple of incidents the year prior to my diagnoses that I now believe were the result of high pressure, as you described. I am also in "remission" and no longer have these attacks. I went from having these attacks two to three days a week. (more than once a day) to not having them at all. I'm no psychologist, but I can't believe what appeared to be panic disorder just went away on it's on. I also suffered anxiety and depression. I have since I was a young adult. Not depression so much, but I've had anxiety for years.
The only thing I will take is diazepam (xanax) as needed. I have found anti-depressants only make me feel worse. A lot worse.

I found another ladies story awhile back that was having the same exact symptoms as I. She was misdiagnosed just like myself. She was having panic attacks and pseudo-seizures prior to diagnoses. She was later diagnosed with IIH. I think this is definitely a symptom of high pressure on the brain.

Ok. I've gone back and read all the post. I still have mood swings etc..
I just assumed I was hormonal. I have sworn for over a year that I was perimenopausal. At age 36.

I'll tell you something I read over a year ago. It's crazy though. People with schizophrenia produce too much csf fluid. Now... I definitely don't think we're schizophrenic. I just think it's an interesting fact. Again, I don't believe we are in danger of developing this disorder either. I do wonder if the pressure plays a small role in that disorder. I honestly wonder if the body produces too much csf due to a signal the brain is sending to the body. Anyway, that's a completely different issue.
I did read that yawning helps release csf fluid from the head.. This was all in my search for "what causes one to produce too much csf fluid". It's sounds simple, and a bit crazy. But medical research claims it's true.
Betty

This is exactly what I was looking for when I found this group. I was diagnosed in November with IIH. From the beginning none of my symptoms fit the "norm". But one thing I have noticed is personality changes. I'm more outspoken, social, crave the spotlight so to speak, (maybe TMI but even my sex drive has change, increased dramatically). After we began treatment I noticed myself going back to my normal, quiet, calmer self. But recently I have noticed the initial physical symptoms coming back and as I paid more attention and looked back the personality changes started before the physical and are only increasing.

The neurologist doubled my Acetazolamide to 1000mg a day but things still aren't under control. And when I mentioned the personality changes I was dismissed.

There has to be some connection. This is not me.

~D

I have to add my experiences, do I blame being a fatass for the IIH, hell no. I totally agree with you folks, I too suffer from panic disorder. It gets very serious, however, I have had it for so long that the fear of dying is totally gone, now I mainly panic and fear I am totally losing my mind during the attacks. My question is what has changed? I was not always a fatass, I was a hot mamma, I recently posted about the new neuro I saw, she sent me to the Neurophysiology department at St. Johns in St Louis for testing to identify which parts of my brain are being damaged or changing due to constant presssure fluctuations. There are several noted changes that the Neurophysiologist called to discuss with me, when I visit the Neuro again I plan on asking for the finding, I would be glad to report back to you gals in order to firm up MM3's suspicions. You are right with your assertion concerning pressure and mental issues.

This is so interesting to read. Right before I was diagnosed, in Sept. of 09, from Feb. 09-August of 09, I had what can only be described as a complete panic and anxiety period. I had never had panic or anxiety before, ever. I was waking up with nocturnal panic attacks, I was afraid to go out, and I was experiencing a fear that I never knew existed. I was put on Zoloft and Xanax, but only for three months, because they did nothing (the xanax helped a little, but the Z did nothing.)

Eventually, those horrible feelings "melted" away, However, in its place came headaches. At first, I thought they were "brain zaps" from Z withdrawal, however, they did not go away. Finally, after pursing them, and switching doctors, I went to the Neuro and Optham who suspected my headaches were from IH.
A couple of things:
1. I lost weight on Zoloft---every doctor was shocked by this. Z did nothing, not a thing for me.
2. Right after Zoloft I quickly, very rapidly, put the same 20lbs back on.
3. I had stopped using Solodyn, for acne and really believed the panic and anxiety were from that (look at what happens to people who get off of accutane, which is not off the market).

One final thing: When I was going through what I now refer to as "The Dark Time" (Star Wars reference) in my heart of hearts I knew it was something physical that was happening to me. I would get this odd feeling in my arms and then the fear would start, then the heart racing, but it was physical. I had doctors dismiss that, which is why I switched to the awesome ones I have now. Although they do not connect the anxiety to the IH.
I must say, I no longer am experiencing this, as it did go away, but both of my sisters who began peri-menopause had similar experiences (although no IH, thankfully for them.)

Sorry this is long, it's just that I think we may be on to something.

MM3- did you ever take this info to your doc? If so what did he/she have to say?

When I read these posts I just laid here and cried. So much has happened to me and here might be an answer.

I've felt not like myself for several years now, getting worse every year until this last year I was wondering if I was going wacko.

After my LP I felt like my old self again - happy, calm energy. As things were coming back I noticed a change in my personality. Not due to stress or physically feeling worse.

It's hard to describe kind of like feeling oppressed and confused plus horrible dread. Judgment got terrible, had trouble thinking things through, was making mistakes all day. Got impatient, irritable. What people were saying to me didnt make sense and I was having a hard time understanding what they wanted. Couldnt think of simple words sometimes. Obsessive behavior couldnt stop shopping, eating, internet surfing. Impulse control seriously affected. I got sad sometimes. Real sad. I got scared.

And this last weekend I ended up in the ER for what the cardiologist said was a "panic attack." I have no idea what all this adds up to, but I hate it and I can't make it stop. I just stay home in bed most of the time. I feel safe there.

I told my neuro who set it aside and said it couldn't be my meds or the IIH.

Now listening to you I'm pretty sure it is the IIH. But I'm on Diamox and the psychiatric/emotional stuff isn't getting any better. Along with some physical things that aren't getting better. For example I'm puking my guts out all day and night, and I'm so tired I feel like someone drained the life force out of my body.

I'm really confused and now I'm crying again and I don't know who to turn to for help. Any suggestions on what's going on with me and who to go see would be very helpful.

SeaSprite, as I read your post I totally understand as I am sure most peeps on here do. I throughly can relate to what you said here "
It's hard to describe kind of like feeling oppressed and confused plus horrible dread. Judgment got terrible, had trouble thinking things through, was making mistakes all day. Got impatient, irritable. What people were saying to me didnt make sense and I was having a hard time understanding what they wanted. Couldnt think of simple words sometimes. Obsessive behavior couldnt stop shopping, eating, internet surfing. Impulse control seriously affected. I got sad sometimes. Real sad. I got scared."

I am now more assertive when it comes to my doctors, I do not have a problem firing their ass, right up front in their face! I pay alot for this dam insurance, and it pays them to give me some bullsi=== opinion! Not in my world. I decided I would go to the type of doctors that the rich folks here in St. Louis see. I tell ya what, it makes a difference. They take me seriously, the consult and testing with the Neurophysiologist made a difference. This shows the science behind my assertions that I am truly suffering brain damage due to this condition. With that said, it still stands if this is permanant. How do I continue to live like this?

We got your back and can lend a supportive ear, words, or advice to shove up your doctors ass when they won't listen. Especially when they tell you its in your head, or my favorite one "the likelyhood of that", then you can show them our posts and say "see moron other people do have the issues I have, they are not in my head, and they are comprimising my lifestyle"! There is a science behind this, trust me, just no one figured it out yet. They blame this on being fat, cause they have nothing else. I say whatever, figure out the mechanics, then this will be cured.

My theory is my best hope, the botched epidural I had that leaked for 1 1/2 months caused this, nothing else. Interestingly enough after I exoerienced this my skeletal structure started changing. I also feel that I have scoliosis now, and loss of the natural curve in my neck comprimises the csf flow.

Don't cry, just realize your problems are being caused by something physical. Your not going crazy. Better days to come.

Mary

Ewww sorry all, I read what I just posted and realized I sure do curse alot! Sorry if I offend anyone.

Mary