Hydro symptoms?
 

Hi, I was just wondering what the main symptoms of hydrocephalus were for someone who might be developing it later in life? It's a bit confusing trying to find information, when most people developed hydro from birth, or at a young age. I know that many of you here have lived with it all your life, and I'm sure that must be difficult.
Anyway...I had surgery for an Arachnoid Cyst over 10 years ago, (age 30) I had cyst fenestration and not a shunt. I was told the the CSF flow was blocked by the cyst, but when it was removed, they said it was normal again. I had an MRI 2 years ago, and they say the CSF flow was normal then, and the cyst hadn't regrown. But over the last few months, I've felt increased pressure in the back of my head (where the cyst had been), and increased dizziness and some pain. I was diagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia in late '06, and now the pain is mostly controlled by nerve blocks, but the pressure feeling and the constant dizziness has got worse recently. My Neurologist doesn't think it's in the head this time, so he's sending me for balance tests, because he thinks it is inner ear problems now. I asked for an MRI, but he wasn't going to do one until after I've had these balance tests.
So, can CSF flows/build-up show on an MRI? Or are there other tests for that? I hope it's something simple like inner-ear problems, but I don't have all the symptoms for that, just the pressure and dizziness...
:confused:
~Jaime~

csf fluid build up
 

Hi:

The increase in pressure from csf build up can be seen with an mri catscan, spinal tap ad if you had a shunt they could see it in a shunt tap.

Never had a shunt...maybe I might need one this time...hope not!
Have just had balance tests, to see if it's anything else, but still waiting on results. Will see my Neuro next week. The next thing will probably be another MRI...

Went to see my Neurologist yesterday, and got the results of the balance tests, and they were what I thought they might be. There is no middle ear/vestibular problems, no infection or anything like that and my hearing is normal, and the report did say that the vertigo/balance problems are probably in the brain and not the inner ear! (I could have told them that! lol) My neurologist said it could be very mild hydrocephalus! But because I don't have all the symptoms, and they are not severe, (I just have the dizziness, nausea, some head pressure and some pain), he has decided to leave things alone for now, and hopes the cooler weather might help things. But he said if the symptoms get worse, then come back and he'll send me for an MRI. He didn't think I needed an MRI yet, although my last MRI was 15 months ago now. The symptoms aren't as bad as they were a month or 2 ago, but then we have had a very hot summer here in Australia, and the pressure seemed to be worse on a very hot day. Is it possible to have pressure changes that go with changes in the weather?

~Jaime~

Hey, Jaime. :)

You need to see a neuroSURGEON about this. A neurologist can't treat you for hydro, bottom line. He isn't trained to. That's the nsg's job.

It also sounds like your hydro is more than "mild" if you're having these symptoms, and if they're worsening, I think any reputable nsg would tell you surgery will be necessary sooner rather than later. Please get to a nsg right away.


Good luck!

LIZARD :)

My Neurologist is in contact with my original Neurosurgeon (both are at the same hospital), and will consult with him. But for now, they don't seem worried about it, considering I've never had any hydro symptoms for over 10 years after my cyst surgery, and these symptoms I have now are just recent. I can go back anytime if the symptoms worsen, and get an MRI fairly quickly. But for now, they have lessened a bit. Mild symptoms can be treated without surgery, so I'm told, unless they get worse. So, they won't do any surgery unless it's really necessary...and I hope it never comes to that, once is enough!:o
~Jaime~

arachnoid cysts
 

I am new to this, I was wanting to talk to someone who has survived arachnoid cysts, how did you do it, how old are you and what has it been like?

Hi Irisheyes,
Well, my arachnoid cyst was discovered in mid '96. I was 30yo at the time (I am now 42yo.). I had surgery a few months later, and had fenestration of the cyst. For me, removing most of the cyst worked, and it hasn't reoccured since. Many people need shunts, but it seems I didn't need one at the time. I've had other associated problems like occipital neuralgia (nerve pain) from the surgery, and balance problems from having Dandy-Walker Syndrome Variant. But things have been mostly good since the cyst surgery, and I'm so glad I haven't had to have more surgery since.
But it all depends on whether the person gets the right treatment from a good specialist at the right time. Often doctors/neurologists/neurosurgeons don't take symptoms of arachnoid cysts seriously. Luckily I found a great Neurosurgeon the first time who was willing to operate...and all went well with the surgery!
:)
~Jaime~

What were your symptoms and how was it diagnosed? I am searching for an answer to my problems after 6 months of being bounced around. I just found info on Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus on Wikipedia and it sounds really familiar. The thing that seems to hang the Drs up is that my symptoms are all episodic. I just found a description of Episodic Ataxia too. Honestly I am grasping at straws at this point. Anyway, any help would be appreciated.

Hi Lizzy,
My symptoms with the arachnoid cyst were mostly constant headaches, pressure feeling in the head, dizziness, weakness, vision and balance problems, but mostly I had a migraine-like headache that never went away. The arachnoid cyst was eventually diagnosed with an MRI. A recent MRI has seemed to rule out hydrocephalus, thankfully...
I haven't really been much help, but I hope you are able to find some answers soon. I think you need to find the right doctor, preferrably a good neurosurgeon, and to have an MRI.
~Jaime~

Many Drs many tests
 

Jaime,

Thanks for the reply. I have been to see 10 Specialists in all so far, have had 4 MRIs, 6 rounds of blood tests, an EEG, a CT Scan and a sonogram- none of which turned up anything besides some minor herniation in the C4-5 and C5-6 ad silent sinus disease. I've fixed the discs with PT long ago and am heading into surgery for the sinuses even though everyone agrees that there is a slim chance that that will solve all of my problems. Since my first Neuro seems to not know what to do besides ordering the next big expensive test and the 2nd one suggested I try anti-depressants (even though the Psych disagrees), I am doing a lot of research on my own. I have headaches but not constantly. In fact nothing is constant which is part of what seems to confound. My symptoms that come and go are dizziness, generalized muscle weakness, coordination & dexterity problems, memory issues and stabbing headaches in various places on my head (always in one spot at a time). Hopefully the cultures they run on my sinus matter will shed some light. I am starting to get really frustrated. sigh

I am new and have the same poster fossa cyst 5.6 cm. I just found this and wanted to reply. My cysts shifts causing Spinal fluied blockage, When I am walking or cleaning, my symptoms for this is:
Head pressure, dizziness, a feeling of fluid behind my ears while not being able to speak clearly, I become naselly when this happen. its almost like you are talking with your ears under water. spinal pain and lower back pain which is caused by not enough fluid flowing all the way down your spine. after the episode is over you are left with sharp pains in your head because the fluid that built up has gone down and you head has to reajust.
does this sound like you?
Maile

Interesting
 

My symptoms do seem to come and go which is part of what has confused the doctors. Will have to write more later- sorry.

adult hydro
 

I was not diagnosed with hydrocephalus until age 41. I found out when I was driving a company car down a secondary highway and the road started to spin. I was covering a school board meeting out of town as a reporter. I nursed the car to the side of the road and waited. A few minutes later, a trustee from the same meeting came and took me to hospital. I was flown out by air ambulance to Toronto where hydrocephalus was discovered. The symptoms at the time, aside from the vertigo and dizziness, were headaches, balance problems and a general feeling of mailaise. I balked at having a shunt put in the first time, but when I returned from Toronto, I only had to go back a month later. At that time, the situation was so bad, that I passed out at the Lockwood Clinic. I was rushed to Toronto St. Michael's for emergency surgery and I'm still alive to tell about it some 11 years later. The dizziness and vertigo were the first symptoms for me, followed by extreme headaches and mild bladder problems. Hope this helps. Jeff, Kirkland Lake, Ont. Canada

Hi i have an arachnoid cyst, but luckily mine is treated by a shunt.
When ive had symptoms of shunt malfunctions, nothing has veer showed up by scans or shunt series tests or shunt taps.
I have my shunt fully revised twice now and both times the symptoms were the same but no test came back with evidence of malfunction or intercranial pressure.

The only way they have found out was by actually drilling into my head in surgery and that when, on both occassions, fluid has flown across the theatre in a pulsing action.

My symptoms have always consisted of,
A really bad headache which lingers early hours of the morning.
Buzzing in the ears before and during the headache.
Sore eyes.
Vomiting.
Irritability.

&& in my last revision was was 3 months ago, i presented a cough. A cough my mum recognised from when i had my first revision, thats when she knew that something was up.

From my other experiences i didnt have the cough, but on the two occassions where i went into a coma, i had the same cough.

Im not sure whether the symptoms would be the same or not for you, but just giving you an idea form my experiences.

Good luck and hope you find an answer soon =):hug:

my symptoms have been horrible headache vomiting and slight fever and sensitivity to light. Had it for 18 years now. Grantid mines do to a blocked ventricle. They opened it up 2 months ago and been shunt free since.