IIH, vision risks, and what happens when your most powerful business asset—your brain—turns on you.

What I need to write about right now is very significant. I even mentioned it on Stitched Business Solutions this morning. It is enough to have an effect on my business, not just my personal life.

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Diagnostic Mode: Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Remember that inconsequential brain MRI I had done on Wednesday? It wasn’t so inconsequential. It found something.

I’ve spent the last two years going from medical mystery, solution, and reversed answers, while continually feeling worse.

We figured my newest symptoms were a nerve impingement. The brain MRI was to rule out major issues. I don’t have MS or Parkinson’s.

Instead, I show signs of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension. Known as IIH, this causes compression on the optic nerves. It can also affect the pituitary gland, in my case. This condition can lead to blindness if not treated quickly.

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Diagnostic Mode: Living With IIH

Symptoms… oh so many things suddenly clicked into place for me:

• Daily Migraines
• Drug-Like Fatigue
• Grip Weakness (Both Hands)
• Random Shaking of Hands
• Random Muscle Spasms (Whole Body)
• Sporadic Foggy Vision
• Black Spots in Vision During Movement
• Sporadic Blurry/Sleepy-Like Vision
• Sporadic Light Sensitivity
• Lowered O2
• Shortness of Breath
• Frequent Brain Fog
• Hormonal Shifts (previously believed pre-menopausal but now in question)
• Constant Inside Sinus Drainage
• Congested Ears/Ear Drainage
• Sporadic Eardrum Pressure (like a heartbeat of pain)

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Diagnostic Mode: Special Thanks

My PCP had her office help find an optometrist that I could see urgently. I need confirmation from an optometrist, then they can coordinate treatment to reduce Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) and relieve my symptoms. They called first thing this morning, and I’m going in first thing on Monday. The next business day is quite impressive.

Props to Bronson Internal Medicine in Battle Creek, Michigan. Especially Nicole Degraff, PA-C. I followed her when she changed hospitals for a reason. She is not just passionate, she is compassionate in her care. She advocates hard.

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Diagnostic Mode: Chronic Neurological Struggles and Potential Outcomes

Let me just note one thing:

There is a reason they call this a false brain tumor. Keep this in mind and read those symptoms again.

An official diagnosis from an optometrist means I can get medication. Medication will slow the production of CSF and reduce my symptoms. It won’t reverse the problem, but it will reduce flare-ups.

Hello, chronic neurological problems. Take a seat in the back. This meeting will start soon.

It also leads to blindness, untreated, as it continually puts pressure on my optic nerves.

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My emotions are shot, to say the least. If you take the diagnosis that my lumbar has leveled up like a reverse superhero game? It went from Advanced Multilevel Degenerative Disc Disease to include IIH in less than a month.

I wasn’t just “Over the Hill” when I turned 40 last month. Apparently, I tripped and hit every rock on the way down.