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Papilledema & Intracranial Hypertension
*Note: I am not a medical professional. All information provided is from personal experience and personal research. If you are experiencing a medical condition, please seek a medical professional first and foremost. (Read Full Disclaimer Here) What is Papilledema? Papilledema is a visual condition where there is swelling of the optic nerve(s). While Papilledema can be secondary to a few conditions (brain tumor, brain hemorrhage, etc), I will be primarily speaking of it in relation to Intracranial Hypertension. When spinal fluid levels increase outside of a normal range (Intracranial Hypertension), it can apply a significant amount of pressure to all surrounding areas. This includes the optic nerves of the eyes,…
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What to Expect During Your First Spinal Tap
*** Disclaimers: The following information is based off of my own personal experience and research. I am not a medical professional. If you are experiencing a medical issue, please seek a medical professional first and foremost. Also note that each patient and doctor is different, and experiences can vary. Read full disclaimer page here. *** Expecting your first spinal tap? While the fear and concern can be understandable, we hope this post can shed some light on the subject and provide you with the answers to some of your questions. Our goal is to help make this whole experience much less terrifying. But before getting into the Q&A, let’s break…
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Top Triggers for Intracranial Hypertension
It’s amazing how the slightest change can throw off your body’s natural balance. Sometimes, it isn’t so much what you do but what you don’t do. Everyone will experience different triggers that throw things off and cause symptoms to flare. In this post, we will be going over some of the most common triggers for Intracranial Hypertension. It is important that you do not let this list intimidate you. Even in sharing the same condition, we may not all experience it the same way. We are all unique. Learn your own body and listen to it. You may be pleasantly surprised, or you may discover some boundaries to respect. Either…
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Dietary Triggers for Intracranial Hypertension
I think we have all heard by now that Intracranial Hypertension is most prominent in obese or overweight women. So why is weight loss in itself not the cure? Perhaps it isn’t always so much about the weight but what we are putting into our bodies. In this post, we will be discussing the most common dietary triggers for IH. First, however, I want to make it clear that we are all unique. Some of us may tolerate some foods better than others. This post is not intended to steer you away from any particular food that you may require for your own health needs. (And you can believe I…
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Surgical Options for Intracranial Hypertension
For those of us living with Intracranial Hypertension, it can be frustrating to hear time and time again that there is no cure. And though it is true that nothing has been invented specifically to treat IIH, we do have options in how we can manage this bizarre and painful condition. While many may find relief from medication or even natural remedies, others find hope through surgery. Now before we begin discussing the surgical options for IH, I would like to make it clear that I have only undergone one of these surgeries. Still, I feel it is important to provide all the information I can in regards to managing…
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Stenting for Intracranial Hypertension
*Read Disclaimers Here* While Intracranial Hypertension may not have an official cure, there are still a few treatment options available that have been known to relieve symptoms. One of these options is a surgical procedure known as stenting. Our brains contain large veins called ‘venous sinuses’ which are responsible for draining blood and spinal fluid from our head, through the jugular in our neck, and to our heart. The narrowing of these passageways is known as venous sinus stenosis, stenosis meaning ‘narrowing’. Once these veins narrow, CSF flow becomes impaired, causing intracranial pressure to increase, also known as Intracranial Hypertension. However, the cause of this narrowing can also be a…
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Natural Remedies for Intracranial Hypertension
Intracranial Hypertension is a rare and unusual condition with unfortunately no cure. However, there are many options out there that may help you manage this complex condition, from medication to brain surgery. But sometimes medicine and even surgical intervention can only do so much. In this case, natural remedies may help, either in place of these options or in addition to them. Everyone is different, and like with any treatment method, natural remedies may take just as much trial and error. But in time, relief can come. Before proceeding, it is important to note that I am not a doctor. I do not have a medical degree. The following natural…
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Gravity & Its Bizarre Effect on Spinal Fluid
Did you know that two-thirds of astronauts who are in space for a lengthy amount of time come home only to report vision problems such as papilledema? Why? Because spinal fluid is very positional. And gravity – or lack thereof – plays a crucial role in keeping levels balanced. “On Earth, this spinal fluid system is designed to accommodate changes whether a person is sitting, standing or lying down. But in space, ‘the system is confused by the lack of the posture-related pressure changes,’” ¹ My Experience When I first developed a spinal fluid leak, the tell-tale sign for my doctor was the fact that my pain was relieved when…
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Medication Options for Intracranial Hypertension
Having lived with Intracranial Hypertension for almost four years, I must say learning the ropes comes very slowly – but it does indeed come. Year one was mostly spent being misdiagnosed while trying all forms of relief in the wrong direction (allergies, migraine, etc). Year two was nothing but being a guinea pig for what helped and what didn’t, this included both noninvasive and invasive treatments (medications, weight loss, surgery). Year three was thankfully the beginning of finding successful answers – very, very slowly. Now with year four at its close, I hope to share with you some of what I have learned that has helped me manage this condition,…
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The Auditory Symptoms of Intracranial Hypertension
Did you know that the first sign I experienced of something being wrong was hearing trouble? I was two days post-blood patch from my CSF leak when my hearing became completely muffled. It felt as if they were stopped up entirely. And I only grew increasingly frustrated with having to constantly hear my own breathing and heartbeat louder than the sounds around me. This pressure was only relieved by lowering my head, which obviously I couldn’t do in casual conversation. This symptom seemed to come on in the morning, shortly after waking and starting my day. It would then typically disappear on its own around lunchtime. Meanwhile, work phone calls…
