Does anyone have any experience with intracranial pressure?

[NoWigNoWit]

Hi,

I’ve been having headaches and slight dizziness for around 4 months. This week Ive head a headache on the left had side of my head since Monday - nothing massive but notable when I stand up/lay down/cough/etc.

I managed to get an eye appointment today as I wear glasses and hadn’t had a check up since 2019.

(

The optometrist has said both optic nerves are swollen, my left eye in particular. She’s referred me to hospital for an urgent appointment to get this checked over.

(Bit of a back story - In 2019 I was referred to hospital with the same problem in my left eye but without headaches. A recommendation for a yearly check up was suggested but then covid happened. This is the first check up I’ve had since then)

I’m trying not to shit my pants, but I feel quite worried.

Has anyone had this before? Was it something simple or something more sinister?

I've had very similar things - was referred by my optician too.

I went to the eye clinic who did a few more test similar to what you have done at the opticians and then was referred to neurology. They did a CT Scan to confirm it and then I had a lumbar puncture to drain the fluid. My problems went away after my lumbar puncture.

Hope you can be seen quickly!

Oh ok - so there was nothing there? Just a build up of pressure? Yeah I do to, I HATE the waiting around.

I have had this last year. Try not to worry too much, the raised pressure causes swollen optic nerves and headaches but a lot of the time they are not sure why the raise happens and there is not a detectable cause for it.
In my case I had a lumbar puncture which was a simple enough procedure along with medication and it resolved itself. They should hopefully see you soon about this x

Thank you x

Hi. Sorry to ask, are you overweight? It’s much more common in women who are overweight. They advise weight loss to help to resolve.

They’ll measure your pressure and do a lumbar puncture to relieve some pressure and / or medication.

My sister had this for years! and pappilidema (sorry I can’t spell that) she had been having headaches / dizziness for ages and fluid leaking out of her nose, it was the optician who picked hers up too, she was later told it was was cerebrospinal fluid coming from her nose. She thought she had hay fever / allergies.

They advised her to lose weight. (If I remember rightly her consultant said to lose 15% of her body weight and he said it would likely go into remission) she’s had quite a few lumbar punctures and medications (topirimate and acetazalomide) and it’s now under control and her eyes aren’t deemed a problem anymore, although she still attends the eye clinic yearly.

During her pregnancy she had a flare up which was a nightmare as she couldn’t take the medications so had to have a lumbar puncture monthly then straight back on medication afterwards and now it’s under control again and she’s not taking any meds at all.

Hope you don’t wait too long, if you have any questions I would be more than happy to ask her for you x