In late August, I got a headache that felt like a cross between a sinus headache and a lack of caffeine headache. It was in the middle of my head though and would move from my head to my eyes then to my nose and back again. It was weird.
I tried to take Tylenol, Excedrine Migraine, Sudafed, Cold medicine, Advil, and Vicodin. Nothing helped.
I went to the doctor and my symptoms were – at the time – dizziness, nausea, and the head pain.
My blood pressure was low and the doctor ordered an EKG to be done in the office. My heart rate was also low. He adjusted my blood pressure medications and said that the headache should stop once my blood pressure issue was corrected. He ordered an Echocardiogram because of the low heart rate also. I was to come back in a week.
I went back a couple days later to get the Echo and went to a walk in appointment where they basically said my headache was due to sinuses and prescribed me Flonase and an antibiotic.
The Flonase made my head feel like it was going to explode.
Now this is like day 10 or so of the constant headache. No relief and I only was sleeping because I take meds to sleep.
I went back to the dr and he mentioned Pseudotumor Cerebri and ordered an MRI. He also lowered my blood pressure meds again. He also said to give the lowering of the BP meds a couple days to see if that helps the headache because if it did then the MRI was not needed.
I ended up leaving work early and going to the ER. I couldn’t stand the pain any more my head was hurting the worse it had up till that point.
In the ER they did a CT Scan, MRI, and MRV which all showed nothing – which is good. I also had a Lumbar Puncture and some spinal fluid removed because the pressure was a little high. The spinal fluid was also all normal.
I was admitted to the hospital and was there for 6 days.
Not one paid medication they gave me took the pain away. Some made me sleep, but the pain woke me up.
So, what is PSEUDOTUMOR CEREBRI?
According to the Mayo Clinic website:
Pseudotumor cerebri (SOO-doe-too-mur SER-uh-bry) occurs when the pressure inside your skull (intracranial pressure) increases for no obvious reason. Symptoms mimic those of a brain tumor, but no tumor is present. Pseudotumor cerebri can occur in children and adults, but it’s most common in obese women of childbearing age. When no underlying cause for the increased intracranial pressure can be discovered, pseudotumor cerebri may also be called idiopathic intracranial hypertension. The increased intracranial pressure associated with pseudotumor cerebri can cause swelling of the optic nerve and result in vision loss. Medications often can reduce this pressure, but in some cases, surgery is necessary.
The medication I am on is Diamox which has some bizarre side effects. It makes my face – cheeks & lips – tingle. It also makes my head, hands, and feet tingle. And it makes carbonated beverages taste HORRIBLE!!! Which sucks because sometimes I want some bubbles!! But I tried a sparkling something and it was GROSS.
The medication has helped with the headaches but I am still getting them on a daily basis and there is still not a pain medication I’ve taken that helps with the pain.
I was off work until this past Tuesday (October 7) because the doctors were tweaking the Diamox doses and it was making me sick. But we’ve found a happy medium that doesn’t make me sick…however, the headaches are still hanging around.
Pseudotumor Cerebri can also cause issues with the vessels of the eyes. Thankfully mine are ok.
My glasses, however, put pressure on my face which makes my head hurt worse so I am trying out contacts.
But that’s a post in itself.
Anyone out there have any experience with Pseudotumor Cerebri?? Leave me a comment! I could use some tips!
#pseudotumorcerebri #pseudotumor #headache #awareness
