General Medicine

» Elaine Moore - Psuedo Tumor

In response to Psuedo Tumor posted by Jennieferlyn:
Hi Jennie,
Thanks for sharing this information. Furosemide is an excellent treatment for reducing fluid and thereby cerebral pressure. It's important while on furosemide to have regular potassium and magnesium levels since these minerals can be depleted by furosemide diuretics. Low potassium and magnesium can cause their own symptoms including headaches, muscle cramps and nausea, and many people on Lasix take mineral supplements to prevent these side effects. I hope you continue ot improve. Best, Elaine

» Jennieferlyn - Psuedo Tumor

In response to Psuedo Tumor posted by daisyelaine:

What kind of supplements do you suggest. I get my electrolytes tested every three months. Should I be doing something different? Please let me know.

-- posted by Jennieferlyn

» Elaine Moore - Psuedo Tumor

In response to Psuedo Tumor posted by Jennieferlyn:
Hi,
Besides checking your electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and chloride) you should be having calcium and magnesium levels. A good multi-mineral supplement with the above and selenium along with extra calcium/magnesium (1000 mg calcium/500 mg magnesium) would be helpful or more if your levels are low. The Vitamin Shoppe, has a good product called Multi Minerals with Boron and Vitamin D that you could start with. Colloidal minerals are also good if you prefer liquid over pills. Specials are at www.vitaminshoppe.com/dec6
Best, Elaine

» mrsbud - Head pressure

Hello, I'm new here. I am 35 years old and weigh 215lbs. This is my story.
In Jan of 2002 I had back surgery at the L5/S1 disc. I came out of surgery fine. About one month later, I started with a severe headache. I had it for three days straight before I went to the doctor who sent me to the er and to make a long story short, after 10 days of running around with my vomit bucket, they admitted me to the hospital. They had done a spinal tap and didn't find anything too abnormal, but my pressure looked a little high, so I was in the hospital for 10 days on intravenious pain meds. They took MRI's of my back and head during my stay. One doctor did say something about hypotensive something in my head. But I guess it was written in my chart that I had Viral Meningitis. I'm still not sure if that is true or not, but anyway. I continued to have headache problems for another couple months and then all of a sudden, they went away.

Well, in August of 2005, I started having pressure in my head whenever I would sit and then stand, or look or reach up above my head. The pressure was in my head and neck, gave me a feeling of almost passive out, but then it would go away after walking or standing straight for a few mins. Then the back pain started again and I ended up having surgery twice in the summer of 2006 on the same L5/S1 disc. Now it's December 2006 and the pressure is worse then ever. I type for a living and after sitting for a while and getting up, I get a rushing sound in my ears, my vision goes funny (everything looks far away) and I feel faint. I straigthen out my spine and it goes away in a few mins.

I have talked with Doctors about this in the past and they have treated me for allergies, mirgraines etc. I told them I think I have a blockage in my spinal fluid and no one believes me. In the past couple days it has gotten worse, what do you think I should do now?

-- posted by mrsbud

» smith05 - Psuedo Tumor

In response to Psuedo Tumor posted by Alexus27:

Hello, My name is April. I have ptc. I had a vp shunt surgery in 2002. My headaches are still there. But not as often. After one spinal tap a week, I just could not handle them anymore. Surgery followed. There response to me is to loose half my body weight. Now I have other problems. Severe sharp pains in my head when I laugh, bend over, cough and such. But I have my vision, my family has me. What do you think?

-- posted by smith05

» smith05 - psuedo tumor

I as asking for help from anyone who has a vp shunt and it's side effects. I get sudden sharp pains alot. Especially when I laugh, bend over, cough, ect. The neuro says I just have to live with that. I wonder if it is normal. I also am looking for support groups with people who have ptc, or vp shunt. Can anyone help?

-- posted by smith05

» Elaine Moore - Psuedo Tumor

In response to Psuedo Tumor posted by smith05:
Hi,
My guess would be that increased pressure causes compression of a nerve in the area when you move a certain way as with coughing. Losing weight can help with ptc since weight loss reduces inflammation. Following a low inflammation diet, avoiding saturated fats and sugars especially, would be a good way to go about it. Even minimal weight loss can be helpful. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - Head pressure

In response to Head pressure posted by mrsbud:
Hi,
Sorry to be slow here. I'd ask for a consultation with a neurologist specializing in spinal problems. You probably need imaging tests to tell if a nerve is being compressed. I'd also go to the medical records dept of the hospital where you were treated to see if you had viral meningitis or not. Perhaps they wrote viral meningitis ?.
The results of the spinal tap should be abnormal with elevated protein and low glucose. And a viral panel should have been done to identify the virus if there was a viral cause. It's important for any doctor treating you now to have that information. Let me know what lab tests were done. Best, Elaine

» tracey1980 - pseudotumor cerebri

HI I AM SUPPOSED TO FLY OUT OF STATE IN A WEEK. I HAVE READ THAT SOME PEOPLE WITH PSEUDOTUMOR CEREBRI EXPERIENCE SEVERE PAIN IN PLANES. I HAVE NEVER FLOWN BEFORE AND DIDNT KNOW IF ANYONE HERE HAS ANY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THIS. ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED.

-- posted by tracey1980

» Elaine Moore - pseudotumor cerebri

In response to pseudotumor cerebri posted by tracey1980:
Hi,
The change in altitude can affect cerebral pressure. You should contact your doctor's office and see if he or she can prescribe anything to help or make any recommendations for you such as increasing fluid intake. Best, Elaine