Migraine

So something came up at my appointment today that I found interesting. New doctor... who I mentioned IIH/positional issues/CSF questions too, but he kinda brushed it off. He seemed pretty satisfied with a migraine diagnosis, so I let it go. He was being extremely thorough about all of my symptoms, so I thought maybe I had been sniffing up the wrong tree. Towards the end of the appointment he was recording a note for my doctor and noting the start date of my headache when he stopped and asked what happened when it started. I told him I had been working out, doing push ups, and v-ups.

He said that the other thing we needed to consider/look at would be a tear in the meninges... the covering over the brain that holds the CSF fluid. Now, he also said if that was the case, there was nothing we could do, which I've already researched, and that's certainly not the case--however, he wants to try my new meds first.. and then order a new MRI with contrast, which I told him I'd already had... I was told perhaps he means a CINE MRI?? I don't know what that is either... but since he wanted to try the meds first and then revisit this, I thought I'd do my research and then quiz him on it.

It did sound, however, as if he thought I would be experiencing low CSF... so intracranial hypotension... now hypertension.. so not IIH. He told me I could try drinking a lot of caffeine and it should help if that's my problem, as I guess it raises CSF pressure. I mentioned a spinal tap to him, but I guess the fact that it gives people headaches afterwards is a deterrent--which I find amusing, since I already have a constant headache, I'm thinking "Why not?" Anyways--any thoughts, any information is more than welcome! I'm going to be gathering all I can get.

First of all, only about 10% of people who are spinal tapped get a headache from it. It is rare.

I find it interesting that your doctor is trying to get you to drink MORE caffiene!

And this is a specailist, neuro or just your PCP?

Yes, I've heard drinking caffiene after a spinal tap can help with a spinal headache.

From some quick research the way to conservatively "fix" a Meningeal tear is with bed rest and caffiene!

What bothers me is the position. I think laying down for hypo you should feel better not worse.

My sick 13 yr old is calling me. When do they stop being needy? Oh,, he is a boy.. so I will look into this more tomorrow.

Did you get my note about your email coming back to me?

feel better

He was just trying to get out of giving me the spinal tap--but thanks for the number... he actually really liked the fact that I'm a researcher (yay!) so I'll give that one back to him! I just want to get the spinal tap and have the issue of CSF behind me--I don't want to wonder anymore!!

I don't know if he's a headache specialist or not... I need to call and ask. He is a neurologist, he has something to the effect that he specializes in epilepsy and migraines on his card, but I know that doesn't mean much. After being so fed up with my actual headache specialist, I asked my GP for his recommendation for a neuro who could be a real team member with me.

He suggested the caffeine as a "If you have a CSF leak, caffeine would help." type of thing... it didn't occur to me that he's suggesting I flood my system with a potential trigger... ugh. I just want some answers. I have to say caffeine hasn't caused me any problems... it's been kinda neutral for me. I was going to try a lot of it, just to see if it helped.

I had one day where I woke up and felt horrible laying down, and better after I got up and had been sitting for a while.

I generally don't feel that I feel better in any position... so long as I'm not bent over, and not active... at least not radically better. I don't know if that's definitive or not. Do you find you feel worse laying down (it should be that way with high CSF pressure, correct?)

Somehow I posted the last post after you, Nancy, but I didn't see your post... ?? I read that about the tear too... I thought it so odd that he said "there would be nothing we could do about it" He's going to regret he said he was glad that I did reserach if he's gonna be making false statements about things!

I did get your note, and your email, thank you! I've been running around this week like crazy... a million appts, trying to keep everything straight, changing meds, getting ready for my EEG--I have to stay up until 2 tonight!! So I plan to browse the board until I can't read anymore while DH admires his new (old) Harley and then make him play cards with me... I usually can't make it past 11!!