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Diagnosed With Pseudotumor Cerebri. On Diamox, Topamox. Had Lap Band Surgery. Why Do I Have Headaches?
I am a 41 year old female diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri 2.5 yrs ago. I was on diamox and am allergic, and topamax and can longer take that either. I had lap band surgery for weight loss and I am down almost 50 pounds.( I was not overly obese size 12 now size 6). Weight loss helped for a while, now I'm back to headaches, pulsatile tinnitis. I now get complicated migraines. My pressures are not as high as other people's I have seen, but I feel terrible! ( 28,28,25 and last was normal at 17) I wonder of I need a vp shunt? I tired of feeling like this. I take lasix and that's it. Ibuprofen or fioricet for severe headache. What is the criteria for shunt and do I sound like a candidate?
Stacy
Stacy
posted on
Fri, 7 Jun 2013
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 7 Jun 2013
Answered on
Fri, 7 Jun 2013
Last reviewed on
Hi
Pseudotumor cerebri can have many causes like:
Certain medicines can increase your risk for this condition. These medicines include:
• Birth control pills
• Cyclosporine
• Isotretinoin
• Minocycline
• Nalidixic acid
• Nitrofurantoin
• Phenytoin
• Steroids (starting or stopping them)
• Sulfa drugs
• Tamoxifen
• Tetracycline
• Vitamin A
The following factors are also related to this condition:
• Addison's disease
• Chronic kidney failure
• Cushing's disease
• Hypoparathyroidism
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Obesity
• Onset of menstruation (menarche)
• Pregnancy
If you can find a cause and treat it, it may help you.
Medicines are always tried before trying a shunt. The medicines that can be tried are acetazolamide, steroids and furosamide.
Among shunts lumboperitoneal shunts are more advised than ventriculoperitoneal shunts. Usually a shunt works for high pressure headaches, but the headache may be replaced by low-pressure headaches. Papilleda may be relieved. Only 38% showed vision improvement. Complications may be seen due to the shunt. If the headache is uncontrolled with other measures than you may consider shunt.
Dr Vaishalee
Pseudotumor cerebri can have many causes like:
Certain medicines can increase your risk for this condition. These medicines include:
• Birth control pills
• Cyclosporine
• Isotretinoin
• Minocycline
• Nalidixic acid
• Nitrofurantoin
• Phenytoin
• Steroids (starting or stopping them)
• Sulfa drugs
• Tamoxifen
• Tetracycline
• Vitamin A
The following factors are also related to this condition:
• Addison's disease
• Chronic kidney failure
• Cushing's disease
• Hypoparathyroidism
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Obesity
• Onset of menstruation (menarche)
• Pregnancy
If you can find a cause and treat it, it may help you.
Medicines are always tried before trying a shunt. The medicines that can be tried are acetazolamide, steroids and furosamide.
Among shunts lumboperitoneal shunts are more advised than ventriculoperitoneal shunts. Usually a shunt works for high pressure headaches, but the headache may be replaced by low-pressure headaches. Papilleda may be relieved. Only 38% showed vision improvement. Complications may be seen due to the shunt. If the headache is uncontrolled with other measures than you may consider shunt.
Dr Vaishalee
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