hydrocephalus with overdrainage

Posted by mlzeid @mlzeid, Jul 11, 2016

I have hydrocephalus with a lumbar programmable shunt. I also have slit ventricles. For the past 2 weeks, I have had severe backache, shoulder pain and headache, especially at night. My neurosurgeon recently moved to another state, and his replacement doesn't have any answers.

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Having a shunt o gram this morning. M's doesn't want to do surgery without a reason. Feeling worse and worse

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hi: what are you feeling???? surgeons need a specific reason to do surgery. if there is No reason they can see, they won't. What is i exactly you are feeling???

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Headache which gets worse at night, neck pain and severe back pain

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@cynaburst

I would recommend finding a neurosurgeon that will listen to your concerns. The Hydrocephalus Association has a list on their website. http://www.hydroassoc.org

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hello last year I have LP SHUNT THAT DID WORK FINE KNOW I FEEL DIZZY LIGHT HEADDED FAITED I HAVE SURGERY ON JAN27 FOR VP SHUNT SEE HOW THIS WORK

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@cynaburst

I would recommend finding a neurosurgeon that will listen to your concerns. The Hydrocephalus Association has a list on their website. http://www.hydroassoc.org

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There are specific reasons for an LP shunt. We just had an info seminar by Medtronic. Sounds like you need more info on the cause of your condition shunt settings and reason to replace with VP. Possibly two different surgeons, too. You need to have considerably more examination and info from your MDs. Don't hesitate to get second opinions and have someone with you to help gather and record and question. Good Luck!!

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@cynaburst

I would recommend finding a neurosurgeon that will listen to your concerns. The Hydrocephalus Association has a list on their website. http://www.hydroassoc.org

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Hello @wronnie888, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! Our community will assist you in connecting with other patients who may be going through the same thing you are experiencing.

I'm sorry you are having health complications, any time we are feeling ill is draining but this is an especially tough time of year to be feeling dizzy and faint. I wish you a successful surgical outcome!

I will try and connect you with other patients that may have also gone through having an LP shunt and had to switch to a VP shunt. @cynaburst and @thegoodwife, can you connect with @wronnie888 regarding a VP shunt?

@wronnie888, is there anything that you can do to help you with the dizziness and light headed feeling? When you lay down do you get any relief?

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@cynaburst

I would recommend finding a neurosurgeon that will listen to your concerns. The Hydrocephalus Association has a list on their website. http://www.hydroassoc.org

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I got a VP shunt 15 years ago. They implanted a reservoir outside my skull with tubing that runs into my abdominal cavity where any excess cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) is absorbed into waste. The surgery took less than an hour, and I have not had any complications since. I know that they can sometimes fail and need revision, but hopefully you will be lucky and not need that. Also, the shunt that I have is not programmable, but I think that the ones they use now are. That means that using a magnet, they can change the settings and make it drain more or less without any kind of invasive procedure.

Wishing you the best with your procedure.

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@cynaburst

I would recommend finding a neurosurgeon that will listen to your concerns. The Hydrocephalus Association has a list on their website. http://www.hydroassoc.org

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good luck let us know how it worked out

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@cynaburst

I would recommend finding a neurosurgeon that will listen to your concerns. The Hydrocephalus Association has a list on their website. http://www.hydroassoc.org

Jump to this post

I had been diagnosed with hydrocephalic years ago when I started getting dizziness frequently the doctor recommended a shunt but I declined because of the complications with the shunt that I have heard about. Instead I heard about a supplement that would work on my dizziness and it worked for years. But about 8 years ago it came back and I started up on another supplement that is working. This outcome was due to my situation and I am not saying that it would work on you. But as said before I would get opinions before the surgery

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