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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/ Pseudotumor Cerebri Support Group

Topamax questions

Monkeymom3
Monkeymom3
I'm now up to 75 mgs. of Topamax and have been on the medication for 3 weeks. I am downright stupid. I can't think, and can't remember much. Moreover, my pressure feels ridiculously high, even though a couple of weeks ago when I saw the neuro and she placed me on these meds she said she thought I was PTC free based on a eye exam only. I have pressure in my head/neck/shoulders, I now have it behind my eyes also. My eyes are feeling like they are starting to burn a little and it is getting hard to focus. Things seem blurry. I also feel more fatigued than normal and a little nauseous. Could all of this be from the Topamax or is it the PTC? Should I contact my doctor? I'm back on the couch again. I want to do something. Family is coming back up again later this week for my son's graduation and I have stuff to do.
Monkeymom3
Monkeymom3
THANK YOU KRYS!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!! YOU ARE MY NEW BESTEST BFF!!! : )

LOL!!!

It is so funny that you mention this, because just before my diagnosis I had mentioned this as an idea to my husband. I guess I just need to put my business cards together, set up a home office and get to it eh??? I think this is the right thing to do. And your response was like God's voice confirming my intuition. AMEN SISTER!!!! LOL!!!

Love you!!!

MM3

(I'll keep you updated on how this works out!)
krystell
krystell
MM3: I'm very happy to hear that, and I'm sure you'll suceed. You have a special drive and natural leadership plus excellent unique writing style which makes you always stand out from the crowd, just as you've done since you enter this group. I know you that this plus your natural and honest way to react/analize to almost any problem will overpass any physical limmitation that comes with having this condition we all share. Should be me the one hiring...sure I'll want you in charge of the boat. I'll be preying for this project.
Krys
deleted_user
deleted_user
MM3 - I only take 40mg of Lasix per day. For awhile the pressure symptoms had gone away, but they've been back the past few weeks. Also, despite the symptoms briefly going away, my last visual field test was worse, so I don't know. I'd read somewhere online that Lasix is most effective when paired with Topamax or other medication. On its own, it's not that effective and my NS seemed to agree that it really doesn't do much by itself. Perhaps with a very low dose of Topamax (if you can tolerate it), it would work well for you?

I'll be praying that you can find a good work-from-home solution, I am VERY grateful that I'm able to work from home and have a flexible schedule - it really makes life so much easier when dealing with all of these symptoms!
Monkeymom3
Monkeymom3
Krys:

Thanks for the support and the vote of confidence. I'm sure I'll be needing a lot of that along the way. But, it is certainly good to hear it right now! I'm a bit nervous about the new venture, but can't help feeling that it's the right thing to do!

KS:

Hmmmm??? Still not sure what they're going to do with me. I don't know if the low dose of Topamax will really do the trick yet, but I definitely know that 75 is too much. So...We'll see. Just trying to stay away from the whole shunt thing. We'll have to see how this all pans out....

MM3
"Master of Monkey Drama"