Self Diagnosis-Pseudotumor cerebri (fake brain tumor)

Of course, I could be wrong, but I'm almost 100% certain I have figured out what is wrong with me. I learned a few things while I was in the ER that allowed me to focus a little differently on my symptoms and google accordingly. The MRI technician told me when my vision goes blurry or into double-vision to close each eye and see if it is one eye or the other. I discovered when I was pain free on morphine that I was still uncomfortable behind my left eye and down my neck. I had thought my pain was over my entire front of head, but when concentrating on it more, it actually centers around my left eye, but pulsates throughout my whole front head when it gets bad. I described the noise I was having in my ears to the doctor, where sounds such as wind, air conditioner, heater that are normally one solid blowing noise, were occuring in my head as pulsating noises that go with my heart beat, and he did not seem to really recognize that as anything.

The next day, I had to run an errand and discovered that my double-vision was only when using both eyes, and mostly when looking to the left. When looking out of either eye by itself, my vision was find.

I came home and googled "double-vision when looking to the side," and the first article that popped up described all my symptoms exactly.

Pseudotumor cerebri is an eye condition that can be confused with a brain tumor due to swelling of the optic nerve. Like a brain tumor, the fluid inside the skull that cushions the brain and flows around the spinal column develops elevated pressure. It is also referred to as Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension or Benign Intracranial Hypertension. It is more prevalent in women between the ages of 20 and 50. Symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri are usually an undiagnosed chronic headache, and in more severe cases there may be visual symptoms such as double vision. Also nausea and vomiting may occur. There is an unusual effect of pulsating sounds within the head that are synchronous with the heart rate referred to as Pulse-synchronous tinnitus.
A routine eye exam is where the initial diagnosis of mild cases of pseudotumor cerebri is often first made. The optic nerve that enters the back of the eye appears elevated in both eyes, a condition referred to as papilledema. Because the nerve is an extension of the brain and enclosed by the same tissues and fluid that cushion the brain, elevation in the pressure inside the brain also cause the nerve to swell. Since most cases occur in young to middle age overweight females, an elevated nerve with a history of chronic headaches and otherwise healthy is often indicative of pseudotumour cerebri. Other visual symptoms include double vision, brief periods of blurred vision or dim vision, and occasionally patient will have temporary episodes of blindness in one or both eyes. Changes in posture such as suddenly standing up or bending over may elicit symptoms, as may coughing or sneezing. (My pain goes from 1-2 over 10 when sitting to 10/10 if I stand, lie down, or cough.)
Double vision may occur when looking to the side. This is caused by a defect in abduction or the ability of an eye to turn out. due to a restriction in the capacity for one or both eyes to turn out. This presents a confusing picture when taken out of context because it is not due to damage to the abducens nerve (6th Cranial Nerve) that controls the eyes outward motion. In this case, the double vision is called a false localizing sign. Pain can occasionally be associated with eye movements.
Rarely, the pressure can become very high and cause severe problems with vision and alterations in levels of awareness. Most of the time truly is benign idiopathic intracranial hypertension and is managed by weight loss and occasionally medications. Sometimes discontinuation of certain medication may resolve the problems. The most severe cases may require a shunt to drain the increased fluid from the ventricles in the brain into the abdominal cavity.

It is so weird to run across something that describes yourself so perfectly. I looked up dozens of articles on Pseudotumor cerebri and it just kept confirming to me this is what I am dealing with. The first steps are to have a CT and MRI, which I did and were both normal, so any other brain pathology is ruled out. The next step for a diagnosis would be a lumbar puncture to check your cerebrospinal fluid pressure. First steps of treatment are to go on a diet, which I have been on for 6 weeks and have already lost 12 pounds. They sometimes use diurectics to help lower fluid levels, and then a lumbar puncture or even shunt to drain the fluid.

I was going to go get a natural diuretic to see if it would help before I got to a doctor. Richard was just taken off his diuretics so he brought me his. I took one yesterday afternoon and actually slept on either side pain free for 11 hours last night (besides getting up to pee every hour or 2). In the past, I could only lie with minimal pain on my back, but I can't sleep on my back. I did take one Percocet before bed, but even with Percocet I really couldn't sleep on my side without pain. I woke up this morning 3.5 pounds lighter (that is a LOT of water) and have felt 75% better so far today.

I have an appt. to establish with a new primary care physician on the 22nd, so I may have to see a neurologist before that, unless things dramatically improve this week. If i do get this diagnosed, I want to go back to Instacare and make sure the doctor, who snickered when I mentioned possible intracranial pressure to him, has a chance to eat his words along with his snicker.