Personal Article Regarding a Rare Neurological Disorder
By: Daniela Silva
The complexity of its name causes enough confusion and headache in itself, so you can call it by its short form IIH. Also known as benign intracranial hypertension or pseudotumor cerebri it is mainly characterized by an increase in pressure around the brain, however this is with the absence of a tumor. If left untreated it can lead to the swelling of the optic disc, which then causes vision loss. Symptoms include dizziness, head pain, double vision, nausea, vomiting, pulsatile tinnitus,
This neurological disorder happens to mainly women in childbearing age but it can and does affect children and men too. To diagnose a patient a lumbar puncture has to be done to measure out the pressure of the fluid followed by a MRI or CT scan to confirm there is no tumor present. with IIH There is no known cure for IIH but it is said that weight loss does help and can help temporarily, but when there is no weight to lose, there is only medicine to help suppress the pain. A shunt can also be surgically implanted to allow excess spinal fluid to drain out either into the heart or to the abdomen or belly.
Being Diagnosed with IIH is indescribable, and the symptoms always differ from person to person. Being diagnosed with such a misunderstood and unknown neurological disorder means I don't get the satisfaction of knowing when it is going to go away. I can be great one day and feel as though my head will burst the next. Many people have no idea how seriously this can affect one's standard of living and there needs to be some sort of action to get people aware.
Spread awareness.
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