My husband had a shunt implant seven months ago following a diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus...what an awful disease!
He is 68 and it has really altered his lifestyle. We have no idea why he developed this - as most people - it's an idiopathic disease.
I'm not saying you will have the same result, but the shunt did not help his symptoms much.He's had it checked to see if it's working right, and it is - just doesn't relieve his symptoms or reduce the extra fluid as it's supposed to do.
Sometimes a shunt can get clogged up or you might develop an infection from it, so it may have to be checked periodically.
He suffers with the three "B's" of NPH - Balance problems, Bladder problems, and Brain problems.
He has a difficult time sitting up on the edge of the bed, for instance, without falling backward or to the side and uses a cane when walking in case he loses his balance(has had many falls before and right after the shunt procedure).
His bladder incontinence requires his wearing undergarments during the day and a condom catheter at night so he can get a full night's sleep.
He has some memory problems which have resulted in my suggesting the neurologist give him Aricept and Namenda to hopefully keep it from getting worse.
Last week we went to University of AL Birmingham Medical School for a second opinion, but the neurologist basically did what our neurologist in Mobile has done and ended the appt by saying it's a mysterious disease that can be corrected by the shunt in some cases but not in all .
We may go to Mayo Clinic in FL at some point to get yet another opinion.
The UAB doctor did suggest Parkinson drugs might help with his balance problems; we'll see.
Good luck to you; the shunt might just be what you need to correct your NPH.
Prayer is the only other thing I know to do at this point.
.

Jump to this post