Hey all, back in the hospital again with an IIH flare up.
(CW: description of Lumbar Puncture)
I guess this is also an advice/opinion request because I know what I'm leaning towards but I'm just not sure if I'm jumping the gun a bit?
I had another LP yesterday (6 weeks after my first in March) and my opening pressure was 27 (March it was 32). In March my LP was easy af, like, got it first time, drained easily, recovered quickly (as in I only needed 30 mins of rest and there was no pain/bruising at all after the fact).
This time, however, this time was something I never want to experience ever again. 5 failed attempts on Saturday afternoon, as in, not just five repositioning attempts but five different needles with reposition happening several times with each needle kinda bad. They tried again on Sunday, another failure, then they sent me to theatre to have it done with an anaesthesiologist with an ultrasound guided attempt, which was successful. Thankfully. But they've "tickled the nerves" as they said, and my whole lower back into my legs hurt, and feel weak.
I'm now on a ward waiting for more info from neuro and opthalmology.
I've been told upon admission that we might need to review "next steps", with a shunt, or medicine increase to be the two options.
I'm currently taking diamox 500mg a day, they want to double it to 1000mg. But I genuinely already have bad side effects and struggle with the upkeep of taking so much. I've already made dietary and lifestyle changes - no added salt to try help with the pressure, and controlling portion sizes and snacking to help lose some weight, etc.
All this and I'm still only getting six weeks between LPs, which are physically and emotionally/mentally traumatic.
Which only leaves the shunt. Big surgery. Very scary. Much internal screaming. But could be a good way to fix it.
This leads me to where I need advice, does anyone have any advice regarding shunts, diamox, what they'd do in this situation, how I know I'm making the right choice, drawbacks and positives I may not be thinking about, etc.
Because I am overthinking and I think I need perspective
TIA!