I was diagnosed at 18, right out of high school. A routine eye exam for glasses started it all. The optometrist asked if I had extreme headaches & said that my optic nerves were swollen & he saw papillaedema. Ok, dude...speak English! I was referred to a neurologist & that's where it all started. I've been on Diamox, Topamax & any # of diuretics. Nothing helped much until my first brain surgery in 2004. The neurosurgeon screwed up & had to do another surgery the next day to fix it since he put the shunt in too deep. Come to find out, he put the wrong gauge in & I had to have a 3rd surgery in 2005. It totally destroyed my short term memory as well as my emotional well-being. I am constantly in trouble at work for forgetting things. I've lost jobs for being "dense." No one believes the difficulties I have & I'm constantly being made fun of. This condition sucks!