In 2009, I went to the dermatologist because there was something on my cheek. The doctor looked at it and quickly decided that I should take an antibiotic (Tetracycline) to make the skin condition go away. I believed him.
Trip to Zion National Park in 2009
I took the antibiotic and the next day, my normally 20/20 vision was a mess. I could no longer see directly in front of me. When I looked at my computer, I could only see the outline, not the actual computer screen. I was scared!
Since I had never been to an eye doctor, I called my husband’s eye doctor and asked for an appointment. They were able to squeeze me in right away. The doctor looked at my eyes closely and then went back to his office to do some research. He came back, looked at my eyes again, and went back to his office for more research. Finally, he came back and said, “It looks like you have a pseudotumor cerebri – a liquid brain tumor. That liquid is putting pressure on the back of your eyes which makes it so your eyes can’t focus.” Wow. I would have never guessed that.
What came in the next few days was awful. I had excruciating pain in my head to the point that it felt like someone was repeatedly slamming a hammer on top of my skull. I remember sobbing on the floor in front of the couch because I couldn't deal with the pain in my head while my kids tried to play quietly around me, but each of them wanted their mom and I wanted to be there for them. Eventually, I took various hard-core medications just to cope with the pressure and the pain, but those gave me new, unwanted, and unpleasant side-effects.
I ended up getting nerve testing done, a spinal tap, and an MRI, among other tests. I saw numerous doctors including a neurologist, and finally I ended up meeting with a neuro-ophthalmologist at the University of Utah (I had no idea that job existed!). She surprised me with her response. She said, “That doctor should have never given you that antibiotic.” I was curious why, and she responded, “That antibiotic is not meant to be given to women who are in the child bearing years who are overweight.” Being an overweight, childbearing woman, all three risks applied to me. How could he have missed that? I was mad at the negligence of my dermatologist. She went on to say that getting a pseudotumor cerebri is a known side effect of Tetracycline, and that my doctor never should have given it to me.
What she said next surprised me the most: “I can give you any number of prescriptions or I can just tell you what works.” I eagerly asked what would work and she said, “Lose five pounds.” I was incredulous. She continued, “Lose five pounds and it will trick your body into thinking everything is okay, and your body will release the fluid."
I went home expecting to prove her wrong. I cut down on food, lost five pounds, and my brain tumor went away. I was STUNNED!! I gained those five pounds back a little too quickly and the liquid brain tumor returned. I lost the five pounds again, and this time I kept it off for several months. After the second time, the tumor never returned and I was finally free.
My husband and me with our youngest, Zack, on a train
I learned a couple of things from this experience:
1. At the end of commercials when they say, "May cause redness, paralysis, suicidal thought..." or whatever, they're not kidding! I used to laugh at that stuff because it sounds so absurd, but I am living proof that medications have side effects. The faster the drug companies work to get their drugs on the market, the greater the risk of potential side effects. I'm very careful about taking medications, but particularly about any medication that just came on the market. The chance of seeing that medication two years after its release on a commercial by a law firm with a lawsuit against that drug is very high!
2. The neuro-ophthalmologist could have given me any number of prescriptions to deal with the pain, or she could have surgically drained the liquid. But she didn't. She chose a natural option because the right kind of natural healing consistently works.
Lots of people have asked if I sued the doctor who prescribed me Tetracycline. I didn’t sue him because at the time, I thought I would have no long-term effects. I felt betrayed, but didn't think this would continue to affect me. If I could sue him now, I would, but legally speaking it's been too long. I've had memory issues (like remembering the names of people I should know) that I’m convinced are a result of the liquid brain tumor, but I just get to live with that now.
I'm super-grateful the neuro-ophthalmologist was able to help me get rid of my pseudotumor. I'm incredibly grateful that the pain is gone, that my vision has returned, and that I had the chance to return to being healthy and raise my kids without that additional hardship.
Bobby, me, and our kids (left to right) Ashley, Zack, and Lindsey
This awful experience didn't destroy my trust in doctors; if I have a heart attack, I’ll definitely still go to the hospital, but this experience has created and fueled my passion for natural healing. After such a simple solution to a pseudotumor, I realized that the answer isn't always drugs or surgery. I look for natural solutions first and seek medical attention only as needed. I wish I could have used what I know now in 2009, before I took that medication. Since I can’t avoid what happened in the past, I choose to pay it forward and help as many people as I can to help them avoid medical complications and enjoy happy, healthy lives.
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