Confused about the next steps
Hello! For the past 6 months, I’ve been having horrific head pressure and headaches constantly, pretty much 24/7, along with pulsatile tinnitus. I went to the optometrist because I felt like my prescription could have needed updated, and that’s what was causing the headache. He noticed a bit of swelling in my optic nerves and recommended that I see a neurologist. Passed this info onto my PCP, and she gave me a referral to a neurologist.
Saw the neurologist and she did a bunch of bloodwork, I am deficient in vitamin B12 and D, so I’ve been taking those along with magnesium at night time. She ordered an urgent MRI since I have a family history of aneurysm’s and brain cancer.
My MRI was “normal” but showed stenosis of the bilateral transverse sinuses. She said it sounds like I COULD have IIH, but I need to see a neuro-ophthalmologist to receive a clear diagnosis. What exactly is a neuro-ophthalmologist going to do to diagnose me? Everything I’ve read says that the next step is usually a spinal tap, and then if the pressure is too high, then they medicate you.
My appointment isn’t for another 3 months and I am miserable. The pain is unbearable most days and I don’t know how I am supposed to wait another 3 months to be fully diagnosed and treated.