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A Intracranial Hypertension story

I was diagnosed with pseudo tumor cerebri in October of 2000. It was found by my eye doctor who then sent me to hospital for MRI. Then I had to start seeing a neurologist all the time. He started me on Diamox (Acetazolmide) but I broke out in a horrible rash. So they did lumbar puncture and to no surprise my pressure was extremely high. For years I continued with lumbar punctures, med changes, dieting, & etc... to help with the pain. It finally seemed to get better I lost 130 lbs and was able to come off all my meds my pressure went back to normal and life was good. Several years passed and still at my little skinny weight my vision went completely black and my head was hurting so bad. Went back to the eye doctor and to my dismay it was back. Had to see a neuro-ophthalmologist who then did emergency surgery in my eyes to try and save me from going blind. It did help some.  However the pressure and headaches were still there with me losing my vision, even after the optic nerve sheath decompression. I was sent for a VP shunt placement June 2010. Best decision I ever made. Now it's not a complete miracle worker, but I can get out of bed. I feel better than I did and I'll take that anyway over feeling like my head is being put in a vice and crushed.

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