04/14/2023
Going off my introduction post, I have two medical conditions that have left me disabled. First, let's talk about idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
IIH is a rare condition affecting around 200,000 people a year. Approximately 90% of those diagnosed are obese women in their childbearing years. However, that's going off the BMI we all know is not an accurate measurement. Some people can lose as little as 5 pounds and go back to normal, while others can go blind.
My doctor prescribed me 1500 mg of diamox, which is the most common medication for IIH. The average person takes 500 mg a day. My ophthalmologist was in shock over this and encouraged me to seek a surgeon. After some deliberation, we decided that getting a VP shunt was the best path forward because my quality of life was terrible.
I'm now two years out from the surgery, and while it wasn't the easiest choice, it was the right one for me. I went from sleeping 12 hours a day to being able to create again, leave the house, and be more present with my family. I even gained my vision back. However, I still deal with IIH headaches during bad weather, but it's far better than it was.
Disabilities come in all shapes and sizes, and they can be unpredictable. Just because I was able to leave the house yesterday doesn't mean I can do it today. It's essential to be patient with your friends who deal with these conditions.
