Something Strange regarding my (and probably your) CSF

Symptoms Physical
#1

Cerebrospinal Fluid surrounds our heads and spinal cord and protects our brains from hitting our craniums when we make any sudden movements. It also provides necessary nourishment for our neurons.

Cerebrospinal fluid pressure has a tendency to increase in patients who have withdrawn from Corticosteroids (made from the adrenals). This increased pressure can affect the nerves that control your ocular muscles.

My neuropthalmologist saw the vision problems I was having, thought my CSF pressure might be too high, and recommended I get a spinal tap (the only way to find your CSF pressure). It turns out my CSF was double what it should be (28cc instead of 13-17). I was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri, a condition that normally only obese pregnant women get (and less than 1 in 100,000 people get it). Needless to say, there was much confusion as to why a skinny 23 year old guy had it! My theory now (after doing research) is that my adrenals are doing something crazy with my corticosteroid production, and thus causing my CSF pressure to increase. I go in for blood tests tomorrow.

#2

Did you talk about treatment options?

JH

#3

Yeah, I’m currently on a diuretic called Diamox (Acetazolamide) that’s known to be the first treatment for pseudotumor (increased CSF pressure). I’ve been on it for a couple months and haven’t noticed anything, but I think it’s because my funky Cortisol is overpowering it. The Diamox will make you tired, so I only take it at night (as opposed to night and morning).

Also, if you get another spinal tap, be sure they record your pressure measurement while you’re laying on your side. My neuroophthalmologist hates it when they don’t record it on your side (apparently inaccurate). I’d really be interested in knowing what your results are because we seem to have similar visual symptoms.

#4

Would you happen to have blood tests for LH, FSH, IGF-1, TSH and ACTH.
tesosterone, free T4 and T3, cortisol could also be usefull.

I myself are hypopituitary, and it could be interessting to see how your pituitary are affected.

JH

#5

Brainfogged, what are your vision symptoms? I have some vision problems myself. I feel they’ve gotten worse since fin but can’t be sure. Floaters, frequent headaches, wake up feeling hung over, dizziness. The floaters have been there as long as I can remember, also always suffered migraines. I also have an overall graininess (not blurry) to my vision which is worse in low light, makes it impossible to see things clearly in the dark. And a symptom that is definitely since fin - I find it hard to focus really tight, close up, say small type on a bottle. It makes me dizzy and gives me a headache, increases my brainfog. Vison is fine as far as eye doc is concerned. Maybe sitting at a computer all day has fatigued my eye muscles.

#6

RK: sounds like you are in the same boat as far as vision is concerned. I have problems driving at night, tracking the words when I read, and I have monocular diplopia in both eyes.

Test to see if you have the monocular diplopia by turning off all the lights in your house, cover one eye, and look at a single light (a pin light or a digital clock light). Do you see two of the light (or does it smear in one direction)? It does for me. This is usually caused by astigmatism, but I have it even when my astigmatism is corrected for. It’s also known to be caused by cataracts, dry eyes, etc.

#7

Has anybody else tested CSF?

#8

I had my CSF tested. It was normal-- but they didn’t check the pressure…

#9

Gotta wonder what happened to this guy?

Anyway does high csf pressure tie directly in with this?

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=5661

#10

May not tie in with this. None the less could explain the neurological symptoms, will pursue testing of the csf pressure.

#11

I did mri and result were normal, still have tinnitus, night blindness and double vision though. Do you have any advice brainfogged?