I moved back to the U.P. in 2005 and that is when I started to put the weight back on. Now I have always been a yo yo dieter. My lowest weight was 145lb.s, I did not maintain that weight long. My heaviest was prior to surgery when I got up to a whopping 286lbs. That is something that I was extremely embarrassed about.
With the weight gain comes health issues. Roughly a year ago I was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri. I remember driving home from work and had double vision. I couldn't tell what side of the road I was on.
What is Pseudotumor Cerebri?
Pseudotumor cerebri literally means "false brain tumor." It is likely due to high pressure caused by the buildup or poor absorption of cerebrospinal fluid in the subarachnoid space surrounding the brain. The disorder is most common in women between the ages of 20 and 50. Symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri, which include headache, nausea, vomiting, and pulsating intracranial noises, closely mimic symptoms of brain tumors.
Is there any treatment?
Some treatable diseases can cause raised intracranial pressure and symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri. A thorough physical examination is needed to rule out these disorders. If a diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri is confirmed, hyperosmotic drugs may be used to reduce fluid buildup. Diuretics are commonly used to relieve pressure. Weight loss and cessation of certain drugs (including oral contraceptives and a variety of steroids) will lead to improvement. Therapeutic shunting, which involves surgically inserting a draining tube from the spinal fluid space in the lower spine into the abdominal cavity, may be needed to remove excess fluid and relieve pressure. Close, repeated ophthalmologic exams are required to monitor any changes in vision. Surgery may be needed to remove pressure on the optic nerve.
What is the prognosis?
The disorder may cause progressive, permanent visual loss in some patients. In some cases, pseudotumor cerebri recurs.
I tried medication for this with no success. I also had a lumbar puncture where they drain as much spinal fluid as they can to relieve the pressure. My neurologist said weight loss. I at the time didn't think that weight loss was the answer. A year later I through my hands up and said its time!
My steps toward surgery:
First off I called Dr. English's office and made an appointment for an educational class. Now I already had it in my head that this is what I was going to do so after getting a date set I called and had all of my medical records forwarded.
I went with my husband to the class. It is always good to have someone in your support system to attend with you.
Next comes the insurance approval. Check to see if your insurance covers the procedure and what there requirements are. Mine required 12 month weight history. I did not have this so I was thinking I would have a year to go. My neurologist and PCP wrote letters on my behalf requesting that I have the surgery now. One month later I was approved.
Its not always that simple but if you have the requirements in hand you know what you are up against.
Pre op Appointment
My preop consist of psychological evaluation. A lot of people stress over this and it really is fairly simple. I had a few pages of T/F questions and sat for 30 min. and talked about myself, family and so on.
On to the blood work and ekg. This is all scheduled for one day so there is no running back and forth.
After my lab results were back and looked good it was time to set a date. My entire process started in Aug. and surgery was Jan. 07th.
