Hydro symptoms?

[Jaime_Aus]

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 '06, (after a long battle trying to find answers) 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~

[LIZARD]

Hey, Jaime. :)

Welcome! You are in the right place. :) An MRI will show dilation of the ventricles and, in severe cases, compression of the brain tissue. It should also uncover any blockage.


Good luck...

LIZARD :)

[Jaime_Aus]

Thanks for the information on the MRI. I guess I didn't think that mild pressure would show up at all on an MRI?
Also, my original question about symptoms...are pressure, dizziness and headaches the main symptoms? Are there any other symptoms that might relate to hydro?

~Jaime~
Hey, Jaime. :)

Welcome! You are in the right place. :) An MRI will show dilation of the ventricles and, in severe cases, compression of the brain tissue. It should also uncover any blockage.


Good luck...

LIZARD :)

[LIZARD]

Thanks for the information on the MRI. I guess I didn't think that mild pressure would show up at all on an MRI?
Also, my original question about symptoms...are pressure, dizziness and headaches the main symptoms? Are there any other symptoms that might relate to hydro?

~Jaime~

It might. As for symptoms, they'll depend on severity. All the symptoms you mentioned are worth investigating. If hydro worsens, there'll most likely be nausea, vomiting, lethargy, confusion, vision problems, and balance difficulty, and seizures can result as well.


LIZARD :)

[Jaime_Aus]

I already get nausea with the dizziness, and sometimes vomiting, but mostly diarrhea from the upset stomach. I have fatigue/lethargy all the time, but I just thought it was because of the chronic pain and lack of sleep. I have vision and balance problems, but they are also symptoms of the neuralgia, and the Neuro thinks so too...I don't know...:confused:
Oh well, I just have to wait for these balance tests, and hopefully another MRI soon after...
Thanks,

~Jaime~

It might. As for symptoms, they'll depend on severity. All the symptoms you mentioned are worth investigating. If hydro worsens, there'll most likely be nausea, vomiting, lethargy, confusion, vision problems, and balance difficulty, and seizures can result as well.


LIZARD :)

[LIZARD]

If "neuro" is "neurologist," don't bother asking him. Go to a neurosurgeon. Neurologists (especially those who treat adults) don't know crap about hydro; I found that out first-hand. The problem is that they aren't trained in matters of brain structure, foreign growths, or any physical effect a condition has on the brain. All they can do is treat symptoms. A nsg can tell you if you are developing (or have developed) hydro, and he can actually do something about it. ;)

LIZARD :)

[Jaime_Aus]

I'm seeing a Neurologist at the moment. I did see my Neurosurgeon 2 years ago, but after the MRI didn't show up anything new at the time, he sent me to the Neurologist. So far, I haven't been able to convince the Neurologist to send me back to my Neurosurgeon. I guess I'll just have to have an MRI before I can convince him! (That's if anything shows up there! lol)
:o
~Jaime~

If "neuro" is "neurologist," don't bother asking him. Go to a neurosurgeon. Neurologists (especially those who treat adults) don't know crap about hydro; I found that out first-hand. The problem is that they aren't trained in matters of brain structure, foreign growths, or any physical effect a condition has on the brain. All they can do is treat symptoms. A nsg can tell you if you are developing (or have developed) hydro, and he can actually do something about it. ;)

LIZARD :)

[Jaime_Aus]

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~

[monicad1974]

Many people that develope nph are diagnose with Alzhimers or Parkinsons( I know I dodn't spell those right) But older people besides the systems that Liz decribed you can have shuffling of your feet when you walk balance and coordination problems, memory issues. Normal Pressure hydro has been missdiagnosed for many years. You can also have mild vision issues and tremmors. My hydro is very diff than most I have had all of these systems at one time or another. Most happened when my shunt was not fuctioning or faulty.