Hypo's lumbar puncture is done and the results are clear of all of the other really scary stuff that they were looking for. Her intracranial pressure wasn't as high as they expected, but it was elevated above normal. She is on Diamox, but apparently it isn't just a diuretic. It is the treatment of choice for pseudotumor cerebri or intracranial hypertension because:
Carbonic anhydrase is a crucial enzyme needed in the production of cerebrospinal fluid. When this enzyme is suppressed, production of CSF decreases, which also lowers intracranial pressure.
The most common carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and the main drug used to treat chronic IH is acetazolamide (Diamox).
http://www.ihrfoundation.org/intracr...nsion/info/C31
The puncture was rough for her. They had a hard time getting it right and had to stick her several times because of that. Her back is very, very sore but she has not gotten a spinal headache yet. The toughest part now is sitting in class for several hours in a row.
I found out, while there, that she has actually lost quite a bit of her peripheral vision. Where I can see things that are even with my shoulders, she can't see things until they are about 35 degrees in from there. I'm really wondering if that led to her accident because she was merging, looking over her left shoulder, and didn't see the car and red light straight ahead until she was too close to stop. If she had full peripheral vision, I think she might have realized that car and traffic light were there.
Only time will tell if any of it will return as the optic nerve inflammation comes down. Her interacranial pressure does seem to be coming down from the Diamox.
She has a follow up appointment with the neuro-ophthalmologist next week. She is going to ask about follow up over the summer here at home and about whether she should be driving. I hope she asks the driving question, but I'm afraid she might not... because she might not want to hear the answer.