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← Return to NPH is a tough road.
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My husband, 77 years old, is going through the same. He hasn’t had the lumbar puncture test yet, but this coming Tuesday we have a consultation with a neurosurgeon to discuss his treatment plan. We are hopeful his symptoms can be lessened with a shunt, though we were warned the shunt may not relieve them all.
NPH is very difficult for both the patient and the family. My heart goes out to you, and wishing the very best outcomes for our husbands. Please keep me posted as we go down this road.
Replies to "My husband, 77 years old, is going through the same. He hasn’t had the lumbar puncture..."
My husband’s lumbar puncture test didn’t go as we hoped. Three test tubes of fluid were used. The order was for 30cc’s of CSF to be drawn. They stopped the procedure after only 6.5 cc’s due to “frank blood” in the spinal fluid. Samples of the bloody spinal fluid were sent to the lab and we are waiting for the results now.
He has some slight improvement even after only 6.5 cc’s was drained. We are hoping the blood was from a blood vessel being nicked during the needle insertion rather than a more serious cause. And so we wait…
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The LP test is important. If your husband doesn’t show any improvement afterwards they won’t recommend a shunt. My husband had a 51% improvement of one set of tests and 90% of another, 2 hours after the LP. Because he did show improvement, we were told he had an 85% chance the shunt will work. Those are great odds at getting his life back.