Well, this is great..

[laura.xx]

Lately, my vision has been off..
it's become a little more difficult to focus from one thing to the next, and if I look at something too long, it's goes blurry for a second, then re-focuses. Last night, went on a delivery run with mom (for dad). Whole night, I felt like crap, was quite tired, and had pretty bad pain in head, neck & shoulders. It has to mean something when I can't carry my not-really-that-heavy purse around (strap on shoulder)

Went to optometrist today..told him about the hydrocephalus beforehand- no papilledema to report.
He told me that I'm far-sighted and have an astigmatism.
I asked if these could together be causing my headaches, and my feeling of pressure behind my eyes.. was told it shouldn't be the cause, and suggested I see my NS soon.

Was going to go this Friday to see NS, but (ha ha) my work can't accommodate it. There's a product drop (don't ask- don't know yet) on Friday, so apparently my absence really isn't an option.

Here's the real kicker... another girl broke her toe, so she can't come in to work on Friday.
Cool, my hydro is officially insignificant, beaten out by a girl with a broken toe!

So, all of that being said, only option is to wait until Friday, September 4th!

Sorry, it's kind of a vent, but really, I'd like to know if anyone with far-sightedness & an astigmatism has headaches because of it, or if anyone really thinks the two could cause headaches.

Thanks for reading!
Hope everything is going well for everyone!

[nv4phil]

I would be telling your employer "I cannot come to work because I am ill. If you cannot accommodate me, then I will send my lawyer to work, in my stead. Rest assured, he will be taking up lots and lots of your valuable time."

[laura.xx]

Phil,
At the same time, I'm not passing out and I'm not vomiting, so it doesn't matter if I'm technically ill or not. They can't physically SEE it, you know?

It's just an NS appointment. Though I'm sick of the headaches, it's hard to seriously justify my reasoning. Might not be that hard to explain to you guys on here, but to my boss, it is.

For me (and you can ask almost anyone, especially Krissy and Cathy) that "ill" for me is shunt malfunction or on my way to shunt malfunction.
Heck, I went to school and was malfunctioning...

So in this case, I can't just blow off work, especially when I can still walk, talk and stay conscious.

[hope9]

Ugh, Laura! I understand that girl has a broken toe but at the same time seeing your neurosurgeon is VERY significant! Hello, we are dealing with the brain here! I would seriously try and explain that going to this appointment is the best thing for you. Tell your employer about the headaches and how they are getting to the point where your daily life is being affected.

It's like you said.. you went to school and were malfunctioning. You could be malfunctioning right now (or, it could be the astigmatism).. it can't be ignored! I know it's hard to get off work (believe me).. but please try your hardest to!! Just because you are walking and conscious does not mean there isn't something going on with the shunt!

Keep us posted. xoxo

[jadiee-x]

Laura,
sorry about all this happening.
Your employer sounds like a right a**e.

i think its time to get nasty with them, let them know that if you were to have a shunt malfunction in the meantime, THEY will be held responsible for not allowing you to have time off to have a problem seen to and resolved at a sooner time. Im sure they will be quick to hand you the time.

Good luck :) xx

[laura.xx]

You could be malfunctioning right now (or, it could be the astigmatism).. it can't be ignored!


Your employer sounds like a right a**e.
i think its time to get nasty with them, let them know that if you were to have a shunt malfunction in the meantime, THEY will be held responsible for not allowing you to have time off to have a problem seen to and resolved at a sooner time.

While I can understand being persistent (and therefore annoying) might definitely get my way, its not going to happen. I've only been working there a month. It's a good job, everyone there is really nice and talkative...

Remember, this full time job I currently hold is saving my money up for university.

Krissy- Sent you a msg on FB, but will ask here just in case.
Can the astigmatism be causing this as well?
As mentioned in the first post, the optometrist said it shouldn't be causing headaches, hence seeing my NS is suggested.
However, if the astigmatism is causing all this, why am i bothering to see my NS?

Jade- My boss isn't horrible, she's actually quite nice. She didn't tell me anything harshly, so it wasn't rude. I'm chalking this up to the fact she probably doesn't understand my hydro, probably thinks that it's "all better" with the shunt. She's a great boss in fact, so there is nothing that warrants that I be rude or annoying..

[By the way Jade, "sorry about all this happening."... how are YOU doing?! Never mind me having problems, mine are pretty much nothing compared to you. I hope they figure out what's going on soon. Thinking of you always.]

One last thing... I highly doubt I'm starting to malfunction... watch, I'll go down on the 4th, and it will be all perfectly fine, nothing wrong.. like usual.

[slindsay]

Hi Laura. Sorry you're not feeling so well. If you just google "astigmatism headache" there appears to be lots of evidence (including very reputable sources) that it often does result in headache. I'd still consider that pressure feeling a red flag that something may be off though. I've found dealing with a lot of health professionals that they prefer to assume any issue is shunt related until proven otherwise just due to the risk if they are wrong. We had the same issue with Alex's (suspected) migraines. They neurologist told my straight out that in retrospect her episodes definitely sound like migraines but he can't diagnose them as such without proof of a working shunt. Of course no one can tell me what "proof of a working shunt" is exactly. We have a service here in Ontario where you can call a registered nurse to discuss issues before deciding if a hospital visit is required. The moment I mention shunt it doesn't matter what else I say - they want her taken in to check the shunt out. It's actually a bit annoying. I understand being prudent but not to consider the entire picture is a disservice to the patient. Ironically nsgs often assume the opposite (anything but the shunt without proof the shunt isn't working) which often leaves us in this awkward position where no one will diagnose and treat problems as they arise.

As with all things I guess it's better to be safe than sorry and assume it could be shunt related. Get the eye issues treated ASAP anyway just to take that issue off the table.

[slindsay]

Just one more thought - have you had your thyroid hormone levels checked? My wife had similar symptoms a few years back and it turns out her thyroid activity was low. We've had a few friends who have run into the same problem. It appears quite common. It's a bit of a longshot but it's very easy to check and very treatable so you may as well get everything off the list of potential issues that you can. You family doctor (or probably even a walk in clinic) can just run a blood test.

From: http://www.endocrineweb.com/hypo1.html

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

Fatigue
Weakness
Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight
Coarse, dry hair
Dry, rough pale skin
Hair loss
Cold intolerance (you can't tolerate cold temperatures like those around you)
Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches
Constipation
Depression
Irritability
Memory loss
Abnormal menstrual cycles
Decreased libido

[1Lily]

Slindsay...boy am I glad that I just had the weight gain when mine was shot......that list looks awful.

Laura, yes, astigmatism can cause a headache - no matter what your eye does to try to focus, it can't, and this can wear both your eye and your face out. Check in with yourself to see if the headache feels like it is on your forehead, and near the surface - that might indicate that it is facial tension. If it is deep, though, then I don't know what to say, could be anything, or a migraine.
Migraines start at puberty, and can wax and wane throughout your life. Migraines often feel hemispheric, as if it is only on one side, and can feel very deep, like behind the eyeball. If your mother is a migraine sufferer, then there is a likely chance that you could get them too.
Hope this helps, I have astigmatism, and I suffer from migraines.
Lily

[slindsay]

Actually migraines can start as young as 2 (which we just discovered the hard way). Apparently childhood migraine is much more prevalent than once thought but is often written off as something else.

My wife noticed the weight issues as well but it was the lack of energy that was the worst for her.

-stuart

[laura.xx]

Laura, yes, astigmatism can cause a headache - no matter what your eye does to try to focus, it can't, and this can wear both your eye and your face out. Check in with yourself to see if the headache feels like it is on your forehead, and near the surface - that might indicate that it is facial tension. If it is deep, though, then I don't know what to say, could be anything, or a migraine.

Just one more thought - have you had your thyroid hormone levels checked?

Pretty sure that during a blood test back in April or May, thyroid was checked as well as blood count and vitamin levels.

Lily- In regards to your comment, yes part of my headache feels like it is in the front of my head... but again, I'm wondering why the optometrist I saw said an astigmatism wouldn't cause (or shouldn't cause) a headache.

That being said, part of my headache feels near the back at times, more specifically near my shunt reservoirs. (old one on left side, new one on right). It doesn't feel like a migrane though, and when I tried migrane meds, they didn't help either.

The neck and shoulder pain is also quite bothersome. I need to sleep on one pillow because my neck can't take more, but sleeping at such a flat angle does not make my head feel good.

Oh well, I still have to wait until September 4th, there is no other option.

[1Lily]

I have had that face to back of head to neck to shoulders thing before, and it was stress. The shunt also felt rebelious, maybe because it is surrounded by scalp muscle. Have you tried a good long hot bath or shower? Give that a try.
If I had a dollar for every wrong thing a doctor has told me...I was 24 hours away from spinal fusion surgery, a diagnosis that I had been treated for for 6 months, when the spine surgeon and I, the second time that I saw him, for pre-op, figured out that it was a rotator cuff tear. Too close for comfort for me. Now I question everything.
One of the greatest freedoms in life is deciding that you don't care what anyone thinks of you anymore, including doctors.
Lily

[laura.xx]

Lily- long hot baths and showers don't really help.
I find that after a bit in the shower, that unsteady feeling returns.
As for baths.. just not a big bath fan.. i dunno lol.

Funny thing is: I'm not stressed.

I'm trying to find every other possible reason for it not to be the shunt.

But stress pain when I'm not stressed in the least doesn't make sense.

[1Lily]

Laura,
Follow your intuition - it is your best guide. And your condition, when it is not functioning correctly, is far more serious than a broken toe.
I know exactly what you mean by that unsteady feeling - I have a hard time staying upright in the shower when my eyes are closed. I assume that that is from some little bit of damaged gray matter, somewhere.
Follow your gut instinct.
Best wishes,
Lily

[laura.xx]

I shall be following my intuition this time, no second guessing or not doing it "just because"
Might be more serious than a broken toe, however as I said in a much earlier post- I'm not vomiting, not passing out, and can still tolerate it...

Now comes the waiting game.

[1Lily]

Laura,
How many days of headache has it been now?
You are helping me to learn the warning signs - I don't know them, other than what I have read, so this is a real-world lesson for me.
I just hope that all it is is a dumb old run-of-the-mill headache, though.
Lily

[laura.xx]

Oh don't make me count days.
I haven't bothered counting, in all honesty.
My vision being off... thats been for awhile though
As mentioned, doubt its malfunction for me.

Believe me, you'll know when you're in malfunction!
Hope things are going well!

[CathyE]

Laura,
I was thinking back to my pre shunt but symptomatic days.
If I looked up to talk to someone at work (everyone is taller than me !)
the pressure at the base of my head would hurt and make my eyes go out of focus!
My shoulders and arms were VERY sore and I had a very bad case of tenonitis (the Chiropractor told me it was one of the worst cases he had seen!)
Now, part of this was due to having both a chair and desk that were too big for me after the office was refurnished! But I ended up developing Fibromyalgia from what my Fibro Dr. called pressure on the brain stem.
That was horrible and I hope I never have to live through it again. I was in pain 24/7 with no relief when I laid down!

Just sharing my experiences in case someone relates to them.
Cathy

[laura.xx]

If I looked up to talk to someone at work (everyone is taller than me !)the pressure at the base of my head would hurt and make
My shoulders and arms were VERY sore and I had a very bad case of tenonitis (the Chiropractor told me it was one of the worst cases he had seen!)
I was in pain 24/7 with no relief when I laid down!

Cathy- only thing is that this isn't only when I look up... it's more than that.
Also, I've found that if i look down, this odd "whooshing" sound and feeling comes... odd.....

Hope things are going well with you!

[CathyE]

If I looked up to talk to someone at work ...
the pressure at the base of my head would hurt and make my eyes go out of focus!


The rest (sore shoulders, arms, back, legs) I am blaming mostly on high ICP.

I was also intensely noise sensitive - the air system sounded like I was standing in a wind tunnel!
I was just trying to give you more examples of my high pressure symptoms!
And my head felt like it needed a hole drilled in it to let the pressure out! My co-worker who got migraines told me that is how some "migrainers"
describe their head pain.

So, maybe your setting is too high now.
I hope Dr. V. helps figure it out!

[laura.xx]

but as i've been saying all along..
tad too low at 180, too high at 190,
what gives?

[CathyE]

Laura, Is it possible that when you were at 180 last time that your situation was different than it is now, so 180 might work this time?

I'm really asking others, as I hope it is possible ! and I want it (or anything) to work for you :)
Cathy

[hope9]

Is it possible at all that your shunt's been reset? Mine gets reset from the oddest things.