Aa
bih
I was diagnosed with BIH (Benign Intercranial Hypertension) last Sept/2007. This condition does not seen to want to go away
I have the wooshing sound in my head at night ,Constant headaches,neck pain and alot of pressure behind eyes and nose area, also riging in my ears., very sleepy all the time, I am curently taking diamox 3 times a day 250mg tab, My memory is very bad .I have had 3 lumbar punctures.I have lost weight but it is not helping my condition. Is there anything else i can do . My doctor has told me I can return to work. I don't think he is listening to me. I feel like my head is in the clouds all the time. Can you help me?
I have the wooshing sound in my head at night ,Constant headaches,neck pain and alot of pressure behind eyes and nose area, also riging in my ears., very sleepy all the time, I am curently taking diamox 3 times a day 250mg tab, My memory is very bad .I have had 3 lumbar punctures.I have lost weight but it is not helping my condition. Is there anything else i can do . My doctor has told me I can return to work. I don't think he is listening to me. I feel like my head is in the clouds all the time. Can you help me?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.
Without the ability to obtain a full history from you and examine you, I can not directly recommend treatment for you. However, I will try to provide you with information regarding benign intracranial hypertension (BIH).
BIH, also called pseudotumor cerebri, occurs when the pressure with the skull increases for no apparent reason. It is called pseudotumor because the symptoms can sometimes mimic a tumor, though one is not present. It is more common in women and especially those who are overweight and in those taking tetracycline antibiotics and excess vitamin A or vitamin A analogues, lithium, corticosteroids, and tamoxifen.
The elevated pressure can affect the optic nerves, the nerves from the eyes that function in vision. It is VERY important that you have your vision checked by an opthalmologist.
The exact cause of BIH is unknown, but it may be linked to an excess amount of cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that coats the brain and spine) within the bony confines of your skull.
The treatment of BIH is first and foremost weight loss, which it sounds like you have accomplished. Medications are the first line of therapy. Diamox (generic name acetazolamide) is a medication that works by reducing the amount of cerebrospinal fluid. If it does work, sometimes lasix (the "water pill", a diuretic) is used. For treatment of severe headaches, the same medications used to treat migraine are sometimes useful. Topamax, which both treats migraines and helps with weight loss, is sometimes useful.
When symptoms are severe and most importantly if the vision is affected, surgery is recommended to releave the pressure around the optic nerve. In some cases a shunt is necessary. It can be placed in the brain (or less often the spine) and it removes excess flui. The tubing is often connected to the belly area, where it directs fluid from the brain to the belly where it is absorbed. This is called a ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt. Shunts are effective but not without complications, which can include infection and malfunction.
You would benefit from evaluation by a neurologist, and you may benefit from evaluation by a headache specialist. They can complete any additional investigations and may be able to recommend effective treatment. I have to again reiterate the importance of gettingy our eye sight checked.
I hope you find this information useful, thank you for using the forum, good luck.
Without the ability to obtain a full history from you and examine you, I can not directly recommend treatment for you. However, I will try to provide you with information regarding benign intracranial hypertension (BIH).
BIH, also called pseudotumor cerebri, occurs when the pressure with the skull increases for no apparent reason. It is called pseudotumor because the symptoms can sometimes mimic a tumor, though one is not present. It is more common in women and especially those who are overweight and in those taking tetracycline antibiotics and excess vitamin A or vitamin A analogues, lithium, corticosteroids, and tamoxifen.
The elevated pressure can affect the optic nerves, the nerves from the eyes that function in vision. It is VERY important that you have your vision checked by an opthalmologist.
The exact cause of BIH is unknown, but it may be linked to an excess amount of cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that coats the brain and spine) within the bony confines of your skull.
The treatment of BIH is first and foremost weight loss, which it sounds like you have accomplished. Medications are the first line of therapy. Diamox (generic name acetazolamide) is a medication that works by reducing the amount of cerebrospinal fluid. If it does work, sometimes lasix (the "water pill", a diuretic) is used. For treatment of severe headaches, the same medications used to treat migraine are sometimes useful. Topamax, which both treats migraines and helps with weight loss, is sometimes useful.
When symptoms are severe and most importantly if the vision is affected, surgery is recommended to releave the pressure around the optic nerve. In some cases a shunt is necessary. It can be placed in the brain (or less often the spine) and it removes excess flui. The tubing is often connected to the belly area, where it directs fluid from the brain to the belly where it is absorbed. This is called a ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt. Shunts are effective but not without complications, which can include infection and malfunction.
You would benefit from evaluation by a neurologist, and you may benefit from evaluation by a headache specialist. They can complete any additional investigations and may be able to recommend effective treatment. I have to again reiterate the importance of gettingy our eye sight checked.
I hope you find this information useful, thank you for using the forum, good luck.
A related discussion, have i got benign intracranial hypertension was started.
Hi! . and welcome to Med help. You will be glad you posted here! There are quite a few of us around (IIHor BIH suffers) and we all team together for imformation and support. Im on another mission at the moment! but feel free to look at my profile.I was diagnosed in July this yr after being treated for the wrong illness for a yr but im on the right track now. please ask me any thing you want. So far we have the very same symptoms and I am on Diomax-500mgs daily. My biggest problem is my eye sight.
Just one I will say for now. Are you under the care of a neurologist? If not, you should be. Drs do not know enought about the illness.( but if you are a dr reading this and you do, sorry!) Nothing was being really done for me until i got my neuro and I love her! i will pm you later ok? Dont worry. Yo are not alone with this any m ore.Best wishes to you! Cath278
Just one I will say for now. Are you under the care of a neurologist? If not, you should be. Drs do not know enought about the illness.( but if you are a dr reading this and you do, sorry!) Nothing was being really done for me until i got my neuro and I love her! i will pm you later ok? Dont worry. Yo are not alone with this any m ore.Best wishes to you! Cath278
You are reading content posted in the Neurology Forum
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease
