Medical Issue

I told everyone a lot about myself but didn't mention my health issue. I was already long enough so I figured I would save it for another post. Back in 1995 I was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerbri (intracranial hypertension). It mimics a tumor but isn't one and is an increase of pressure of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The first time I was diagnosed with it, I had terrible headaches mostly several times a week. I didn't think too much of it because I didn't know how often a headache becomes too much. They caught it through a routine eye exam and noticed I had swelling in my optic nerves. That led to a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) which isn't pleasant. They insert a long needle into the base of your spine and draw the fluid. It's done for testing. After that the headaches were gone.

A few years ago I went to the doctor complaining that I kept hearing this "whishing" noise in my right ear. He looked and said well there is nothing in there. He sent me on my way. I was trying ear wax removal, etc. thinking that would solve it. Nothing. Finally, I was referred to an Ear, Nose, & Throat doctor. With all his testing, he found nothing either. My hearing was also fine. Finally, I went to an opthamologist to get my eyes tested. I had Lasik surgery in 2006 and they told me I had thin retinas. I had begged for a referral before but unless you are holding your eye in your hand or suddenly go blind that is impossible. Well, my retinas were thin and they found a few tears. They didn't affect my vision but they found the swollen optic nerves again. This ultimately led me back to the pseudotumor cerbri condition. I probably never got rid of it but it went undetected due to the health care system. This is why I had the noise in my ear. This time I haven't had any headaches and both times I was told I really need to lose weight. In October 2007, I had the lumbar puncture again. It was the worst. I laid down afterwards which is highly recommended. This time I had a headache that lasted about a week. No medicine can cope with it. I finally found some Excedrin with caffeine that helped but could barely sit up without my head throbbing. At one point it felt like my head was going to roll off my neck from the neck pain. I never felt so helpless in my life. I can't imagine not being able to move so I don't want to take it for granted.

The noise in my ear isn't daily but it is annoying. I'm hoping to shed pounds and shed the noise. I see my specialist in May and he is hoping I will have shed 10 pounds. I'm well on my way with the HCG. I last visited him in February and have lost weight since then.