My Pseudotumor...the continuation!!!

Well I ended up going to the neurologist for what I thought was just a consult to set up the spinal tap....Little did I know what was in store for me. Upon my arrival they escorted me to the exam room which had a table, a sheet, and a "beautiful" hospital gown just for me. I said are you doing the tap today and they were like yeah that is what your opthamologist ordered. I was like oh now, I am so not prepared for this. My other doctor told me that the procedure was simple and that I might get a headache and that I would need someone to drive me home afterwards. Well the Neurologist insisted that I would not get the headache and that I would be able to take care of myself. So I called my friend and told her what was going on and my wishes if I were to die, I know I am a drama princess......Well the doctor started the procedure, I was like are you going to numb me and he said no. I was like you have got to be joking, your joking right? Well he wasnt and I had to endure some of the most excruciating pain of my life. It felt like the he was turning me inside out and pulling it all through that little friggin hole in my back. I screamed and hollered at him and then I said stop. They did not reach the fluid yet, oh god what was I going to do. He stopped and told me that I was going to have to go to a hospital in Jacksonville to have the procedure done under fluroscope. It is sort of like a live, real time x-ray. Well a week later I go in for the procedure, scared still from the pain of the last attempt. The nurse asked me what was wrong and I told her what had happened at the Neurologist's office and she could not believe what he had done and she assured me that they would numb me up real good. I went back for the procedure and I did not feel a thing, I even watched them with the needle on the screen and never felt anything. Thank God for Lidocaine!!! My spinal fluid pressure was high, well borderline high. They drained off some to lower it. All of my test came back normal. But as long as the fluid is high, it will put pressure on my brain, like a tumor, only there is no tumor, hence the name pseudotumor!!!!! I am now on diuretics to pull the fluid off, and the side effects are numb hands, and sensitivity to carbonated drinks. Well I have both!!! It didn't kill me, it only made me stronger in the end. I have to go back to the eye doctor next week so find out if the nerves have gone down. So wish me luck. And there you have it the story of my Pseudotumor!!