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 had my spinal tap done almost a month ago and just recently went for a recheck with the doctor. My opening pressure was 37 and he was trying to decide if he wanted to put me on meds or not since my symptoms have been better lately and my swelling of my optic nerves are going down. We agreed that I am going to try to lose weight and see if that helps before starting meds. What still concerns me is that the amount of lymphocytes in my csf fluid was very high like around 86. He says this isn't concerning but of course my anxiety won't accept that answer. So has anyone had high lymphocytes in their csf like this and know if I actually should be concerned or is this just normal for someone with iih? Also anyone have improvement with just weight loss alone? I hate taking any meds so was happy when I got to try it this way first even though I would love these symptoms to disappear soon! Thanks for any advice.
Hope
I would also use meds for a pressure of 37. that's very high. weight loss takes too long. you can always wean off the meds after you lose some weight. I was very thin at one point with my IIH and was still very sick. weight loss doesn't always work. I got better with jaw surgery for my sleep apnea.
were your white blood cells elevated?? if not, then don't worry about the lymphocytes. they express it as a percentage, and if it's high in the CSF it's probably the same proportions as seen in your blood, and it just means it was a "bloody tap" meaning some blood got in. when I was a resident we would have challenges when we did spinal taps. you were deemed to have done well if you got zero red blood cells in the CSF, and to have done poorly if you had a lot of RBCs. if the WBCs in your CSF were significant, the doc would have told you, and it indicates a bacterial infection which you obviously don't have or you would be in the hospital or would know about it: meningitis. also you see high protein and low glucose with infections. if those were normal, no worries.
now there are some people who have IIH secondary to viral infections, but I would think you would have other signs, like recurrent shingles or similar rashes on your face or neck. you could ask your doc about it. I think the docs don't look hard enough for secondary causes. my mother has this and I think she said that she felt better on Valtrex.