mom of many

Note to Self: Buy cotton balls and alcohol!! LOL Glad to hear your are doing well. I'm going soon and a bit nervous as well. Looking forward not back...

If we don't ask, we may never get an answer. My thoughts are with you, I know the headaches, (so does my husband) LOL Keep me posted on the progress. Rule to live by: If you see something you want, ASK FOR IT! If you get it, then you are ahead, and have something you desire. If you don't who cares, it wasnt yours in the first place!

I"m a Legal Assistant and office manager, with several grown kiddo's, The attorney I work for is a Patent Attorney, also does Family Law and Some Criminal. I'm with you Sugar, Stress, Stress, Stress. I am also a Paramedic and had been a Director of Business Development for Auto Dealers in the area. My husband and I own our own business as well, that keeps me busy throughout the weekend most of the time. I have 3 Grandbabies and a new puppy (my menopause baby), named Emmitt. Gotta love being Busy! Just wondering, with all my activity, why the heck don't this fat stuff melt off my body!!! LOL Looking forward not back

For some you may be right, a bothersome condition, however for others like myself, blindness, increased cranial pressure (ie. headaches, backaches, damage to the retnia, optic nerve, just to name a few is a real concern. I'm by no means trying to place fear on anyones plate, just trying to find out if anyone here has dealt with it during the banding surgery. I am wanted to be as informed as everyone or anyone when it comes to the knife. Doctors will need to make the right decissions regarding my health during the surgery, as well as after, to Justify my opinion is not what I am here for. I was asked and I replied to the concerns with the informaiton I have found and have been provided. I can only hope that all is well after the surgery and I will not be having concerns any longer. Therefore no longer search for discovery in this matter. I agree with you Maybe just maybe it may help someone. Looking forward not back...

Pseudotumor Cerebri Signs and Symptoms Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is encountered most frequently in young, overweight women between the ages of 20 and 45. Headache is the most common presenting complaint, occurring in more than 90 percent of cases. Dizziness, nausea, and vomiting may also be encountered, but typically there are no alterations of consciousness or higher cognitive function. Tinnitus, or a "rushing" sound in the ears, is another frequent complaint. Visual symptoms are present in up to 70 percent of all patients with PTC, and include transient visual obscurations, general blurriness, and intermittent horizontal diplopia. These symptoms tend to worsen in association with Valsalva maneuvers and changes in posture. Reports of ocular pain, particularly with extreme eye movements, have also been noted. Funduscopic evaluation of patients with PTC demonstrates bilaterally swollen, edematous optic nerves consistent with true papilledema. Ophthalmoscopy may reveal striations within the nerve fiber layer, blurring of the superior and inferior margins of the neural rim, disc hyperemia, and capillary dilatation. More severe presentations involve engorged and tortuous retinal venules, peripapillary hemorrhages and/or cotton wool spots, and circumferential retinal microfolds (Paton’s lines). Chronic papilledema mayresult in atrophy of the nerve head, with associated pallor and gliosis. Most cases of true papilledema will not present with a relative afferent pupillary defect, although visual field deficits may be present. The most common visual field defect associated with PTC is an enlarged blind spot, followed by a nasal deficit, typically affecting the inferior quadrants. Other field losses seen in PTC include arcuate defects, nasal step, generalized constriction, and least commonly, cecocentral scotoma. Pathophysiology Pseudotumor cerebri is a syndrome disorder defined clinically by four criteria: (1) elevated intracranial pressure as demonstrated by lumbar puncture; (2) normal cerebral anatomy, as demonstrated by neuroradiographic evaluation; (3) normal cerebrospinal fluid composition; and (4) signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, including papilledema. While the mechanism of PTC is not fully understood, most experts agree that the disorder results from poor absorption of cerebrospinal fluid by the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The subsequent increase in extracerebral fluid volume leads to elevated intracranial pressure. However, because the process is slow and insidious, there is ample time for the ventricular system to compensate and this explains why there is no dilation of the cerebral ventricles in PTC. Increased intracranial pressure induces stress on the peripheral aspects of the brain, including the cranial nerves. Stagnation of axoplasmic flow in the optic nerve (CN II) results in papilledema and transient visual obscurations; when the abducens nerve (CN VI) is involved, the result is intermittent nerve palsy and diplopia. Many conditions and factors have been proposed as causative agents of PTC, including excessive dosages of some exogenously administered medications (e.g., vitamin A, tetracycline, minocycline, naladixic acid, corticosteroids), endocrinologic abnormalities, anemias, blood dyscrasias, and chronic respiratory insufficiency. However the majority of cases remain idiopathic in nature. Management All patients presenting with suspected papilledema or other manifestations of intracranial hypertension warrant prompt medical evaluation and neurologic testing. Current protocol dictates that patients presumptively diagnosed with papilledema must undergo neuroimaging via computed tomography or, preferably, magnetic resonance imaging within 24 hours. These tests are meant to rule out space-occupying intracranial mass lesions, and therefore should be ordered with contrast media unless otherwise contraindicated. In cases of PTC, neuroimaging typically displays small to normal-sized cerebral ventricles with otherwise normal brain structure. Patients with unremarkable radiographic studies should be subsequently referred for neurosurgical consultation and lumbar puncture. (Lumbar puncture should not be ordered until neuroimaging is found negative for space-occupying mass due to risk for herniation of brainstem through foramen magnum secondary to mass during lumbar puncture.) Additional medical testing includes serologic and hematologic studies. Therapy for patients with PTC varies, but in most instances initiate systemic medications as a first line treatment. Typically, the drug of choice for the initial management of PTC is oral acetazolamide (Diamox), although other diuretics including chlorthalidone (Hygroton) and furosemide (Lasix) may also be used effectively. Corticosteroid therapy is considered controversial in the management of PTC. While a short-term course of oral or intravenous dexamethasone may be helpful in initially lowering intracranial pressure, it is not considered to be an effective long-term therapy because of the potential for systemic and ocular complications. For patients in whom conventional medical therapy fails to alleviate the symptoms and prevent pathologic decline, surgical intervention is the only definitive treatment. Cerebrospinal fluid shunting procedures are commonly employed in recalcitrant cases of PTC, but are successful in only 70 to 80 percent of cases. Optic nerve sheath decompression has also been advocated as a method to alleviate chronic disc edema, although this technique fails to directly address the issue of elevated intracranial pressure. It also demonstrates a particularly high failure rate. Optometric management of patients diagnosed with PTC includes careful and frequent evaluation, including threshold visual fields, acuity measurement, contrast sensitivity, and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Photodocu-mentation of the nerve heads should also be performed. Clinical Pearls PTC is a diagnosis of exclusion. Past literature refers to PTC as benign idiopathic intracranial hypertension, however this condition is far from benign. Patients may suffer intractable headache, severe nausea, intermittent diplopia and permanent vision loss, if they are not properly managed. Although no single causative agent has been identified, it is clear that one very common factor in patients with PTC appears to be obesity in women of childbearing age. Interestingly, significant weight loss in conjunction with conventional therapy leads to complete remission of this disorder in many instances. Patients with PTC should be enrolled in a formal weight-reduction program as a therapeutic measure. While PTC occurs most commonly in females of childbearing age, a number of cases have been encountered in male children. Other reports in this section Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Optic Disc Edema & Papilledema Cranial Nerve III Palsy Cranial Nerve IV Palsy Cranial Nerve VI Palsy Cranial Nerve VII (Facial Nerve) Palsy Horner's Syndrome Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia Optic Nerve Head Hypoplasia Optic Pit Tonic Pupil Acquired Glaucomatous Changes of the Optic Nerve Head (Pictorial) Optic Nerve Head Drusen Demyelinating Optic Neuropathy (Optic Neuritis, Retrobulbar Optic Neuritis) Amaurosis Fugax and Transient Ischemic Attack Pseudotumor Cerebri Pituitary Adenoma Other links: Google the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke I'll search for others they are on my work computer.

Sherita, Congrads on the 50 lbs. You inspire me to do great things. Looking forward not back

Sherita, Blind is what I was, well almost thats what made me seek a doctor. My lap band is scheduled for 9/14/06 One month away. I'm excited about it and hope that the loss of weight will take me off the meds that I have been on for now almost 5 months. My understanding is that it doesnt go away completely just to remission. I can deal with that! Go to sleep lil demon!! The lap band may be the sleeping pill needed to get this under control. It's wonderful to hear that weight loss could be the key. I"m willing to give it a go and this time for good. Looking forward not back

Olivia, Don't let it go, get regular check ups with the eye doctor. My BP at time of Diagnosis was 185/165 YEA I KNOW I was stroke waiting to happen. The blood pressure was a direct effect of the Fluid build up. I'm so happy that you are not on the MEDS and your not alone ever! Looking forward not back

Boo, The diagnosis is done though eye exams, dialation, and or symptoms, its an exclusionary diagnosis, meaning an MRI must be done to rule out a mass (brain tumor). Then a spinal tap is done to check for pressure. The level of pressure in the spine I was told is around 20 lbs (I think pounds) and Mine was just above 30 lbs. Draining the excess gave instant relief for the time. Now the meds keep it under control. Don't let them waste your time and money on an CT scan, doensnt show whats needed, Have the MRI. Other complication with advanced cases is dialation of the blood vessels in the brain, (which I had) seems to be getting back to normal now. I"m been telling my family for a long time that if they dont stop stressing me out my head would explode. LOL I didnt know how true that was!!!!

Because no one really know whats the cause or the cure they are telling me that some that have lost weight go into remission. I am about 80 lbs over weight and it needs to come off. I'm hoping I'm killing 2 birds with one stone, so to speak. If I can get rid of one demon (the weight) maybe the other will go to sleep cause he wont have no one to play with!

I'm seeing a 2 Neruo's and reg family doctor, Eye doctor (reg and opthomologist, The Edema is in spine, skull and plapiladeama on the optic nerve, and I could go on and on..... lol Noticed that my vision was going (white spots in center vision with all the other junk that goes with it. That was how it was found. Heck! IO though I had a stroke!!! Yikes...... I have been informed by the doc's that the meds will continue as is F O R E V E R unless I 1. lose the fat!! 2. things get worse and other surgery options would be discussed at that time. God I hope not being I have never ever had surgery for a dang thing in my life, or been hospitalized for nothing except this darn thing. Even had all the boys at home. Thanks so much for the replies, maybe this will help other that might not have a clue. Looking forward not back

Had to correct my last post. Obesity has been linked to the condition not a symptom. Good information for those who don't know. Looking forward not back,

Maybe this question is for you? please advise if you have any information regarding Psuedo Tumor Cerebri. Any info would :help:

My doctor too! Chose him for his experience and wonderful stories that I have heard form so many. My State Side doctor of 14 years has suggested his as well! Don't think I can go wrong with that kind of support! No Fears Here Looking forward not back Banding soon 9-14-2006

Just learning how to get around in here. I near Austin, decided to get the band, approved in less than 24 hours, having it done in Mexico with Dr. Rumbaut, Crazy, and my head is still spinning!!:omg: Just wanted to introduce myself, My name is Lisa and yes nervous is the word. Scheduled for 9-14-2006. After deciding to do it and happening so quickly, makes me alittle nervous. Really wanted to hear from some of you about your experiences.

I'm sure I will be talking to you more, thank you so much for your reply. I'm sure many questions will rise as time gets closer.

I'm New as well, Scheduled for 9-14-06. Looking forward to it I think, having Surgery in Mexico with Rumbaut. Lots of question still... approval was very quick and shockingly sudden . Less than 24 hours for the approval, so I'm still getting used to the idea. All of you have done so well :clap2: , I can only hope I too can will do the same. Looking forward not back.