n00b with colloid cyst

[alicat]

Hello everyone,

I am glad this forum exists! I have an ~8mm colloidal cyst in the 3rd ventricle and experience daily headaches, occasional migraines and feeling of squeezing on the head caused by pressure buildup. It is possible the one of my two pathways to the spinal chord (name forgotten) is almost completely blocked which may cause hydrocephalus soon.

So yeah, I want this thing out ASAP but by having an increased risk of clotting due to 'sticky blood' and being on Warfarin, it is deemed too risky to remove unless absolutely necessary. As a result I have an MRI every 6 months to monitor potential increase in size. I just came back from one today but I have no idea how to interpret it, so will wait until the 14/12 for the neurologist to interpret it for me. If it's bigger, surgery will be discussed and probably planned.

That's me in a nutshell. Thanks! :p

[LIZARD]

Hey, Alicat. :)

Welcome to BT! :D This is the coolest place on the planet for all conditions neuro. :) I saw you already found the colloid cyst forum. They should be a great help to you. Please make yourself at home. :)


LIZARD :)

[jpn9736]

Hi Alicat,

I was diagnosed with a small cyst in October 2006 and have been monitoring mine since. I was really freaked out at first, especially with all the stuff on the Internet about sudden death, etc., etc., so I can definitely understand where you're coming from wanting it out.

However, what you really need to be concerned with is whether you have hydrocephalus and/or enlarged ventricles. If you don't have either of those conditions, I would think your "symptoms" might be psychosomatic. I started having all sort of "symptoms" (terrible anxiety, depression, dizziness, headaches, etc.) after being diagnosed, but no longer have any of them as I have come to accept my condition.

I have done a lot of research on colloid cysts and have seen numerous neurosurgeons and have consistenly received the same advice to monitor it for growth, hydrocephalus, enlarged ventricles, etc. While there are many very scary articles and studies on the Internet, I think you may find some comfort in the following study by neurosurgeons from the Mayo Clinic, the #1 rated Neurosurgery hospital in the country. The bottom line is that small asympotomic cysts (i.e., no hydrocephalus, etc.) can be safely monitored for many, many years and few people ever have to have surgery.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=PubMed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=10470808

Discussing your anxiety and fears with your family, a counselor, church pastor, etc., will also greatly help. Good luck and let us know how you're doing.

[jpn9736]

P.S. - In the event you do have to surgery, the success rate is EXTREMELY high nowadays. If you can find a hospital that can perform the procedure endoscopically, the chances for complications are even lower. Try to find a reputable university hospital (I went to the University of Washington Medical Center) where the surgeons aren't motivated as much by money and may not be as biased towards surgical intervention.