I’m (probably) getting a stent!

I just had my consult with a neurovascular surgeon at Penn and it went amazing!

I was diagnosed with iih via LP a few weeks ago. I was also diagnosed with bilateral transverse sinus stenosis a week after my LP. My neurologist basically blew me off, started my on topamax and told me to lose weight. I didn’t tolerate topamax at all. I totally understand about the losing weight part and I’m trying, but he told me seeing a neurosurgeon wasn’t necessary even though I’m still having symptoms.

I met with the neurovascular surgeon today and he was great. He talked to me for a good 45 minutes. He told me that while losing weight is important for iih, he understands it’s often hard to do while experiencing symptoms from the iih/stenosis. He said it’s hard to tell for sure if the iih is causing the stenosis but a stent can help alleviate my symptoms which should in turn alleviate the pressure on my brain and make it easier for me to be active. he thinks I’ll be a good candidate for a stent since my stenosis looks severe on my MRV. I’m scheduled for an angiogram in January and if that shows I’m a candidate for the stent, he’ll do it a week later. He thinks I’ll only need one stent, but he does a follow up angiogram in 6 months to check my numbers and assess if i need the other side. Very nervous but hopeful!