I was in college on the dean's list, working part-time and pursuing a degree in nursing when I began having uncontrollable headaches. For years prior to college I had unexplained dizziness and vertigo but doctors always told me it was my ears. After being suspended from college because of an extreme reaction to an incident, I decided that I needed to see a doctor. I believed I needed glasses and was possibly straining my eyes so I set up an optometry appointment that lead to my diagnosis of bilateral papilledema. This prompted My doctor to send me to an emergency room to confirm what he suspected to be pseudotumor cerebri. Once in the ER I was quickly told I would be admitted and that I needed an MRI to rule out any masses in my brain. They explained that I would most likely be getting a lumbar puncture the next day for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. My opening pressure was 45 confirming what my optometrist believed. My suspension from college was a blessing in disguise. I would have never had enough time to even go to an eye doctor while in school. It was later on that I learned my intense reaction to being bullied in college could have possibly been a symptom of my illness. Since then I have had 7 lumbar punctures, numerous CT scans, numerous MRIs, MRV, MRA, cerebral angiogram, cerebral venogram, lap band surgery, physical therapy, numerous meds ranging from pain meds, psych meds, seizure meds, diuretics, weight loss of 100 lbs, lp shunt placement and 2 shunt revisions because of valve failure and kinked tubing. So, let's say I have had a full few years and to think I am not even 30 years old yet.