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The Tapestry of Healing
I spent approximately seven months trying to find a doctor who would believe something was wrong with me. It took ten more months for me to no longer be questioned by the medical community, and still over another year to convince the federal government that I was sick enough to be disabled. After almost three years of fighting for my health, I was finally free to rest, recover, and heal. Except I couldn’t. Not fully at least. You spend almost three years trying to convince the world that something is wrong and see how easy it is to stop. My mind had become used to a constant repeat, reciting my…
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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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Embracing the Thorn in My Flesh
Sunday morning. 9:30 am. My shoulder is hurting so badly that I can’t even touch up the paint on my nails without feeling the pain shoot down my arm. I think to myself that it will be another Sunday where I’m once again just the girl who needs a healing. I wonder when the day will come that I will be able to go to church for the same reason any “normal” person goes. Worship begins. I alternate hands between praising God and holding onto the chair in front of me until I know my balance can be trusted. Focus. Focus on God. It seems I pray that more than…
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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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Count It All Joy
Earlier this month, I had my second brain surgery. I’ll save the details for another post, but overall it went very well. One might even go as far as to say it was successful – I haven’t had any high pressure symptoms since. The recovery process on the other hand was a different story. While on the surface, all is technically going well, there’s still so much more to recovery that never seems to be seen or heard. Take the post-surgery depression for example. In all honesty, I don’t even want to call it that because I know how much worse it could truly be. There is just no doubt…
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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…
