I’ve had my shunt since 1991. It’s so old, that it’s not programmable. Last few years, suffering with slit ventricles with headaches and double vision. Now, stroke like symptoms. My point is, you will have to advocate for yourself, because many physicians will see everything as normal, but you will know it’s not; because of how you feel. Trying to explain this to them, falls on deaf ears.
I've had my VP shunt since 1996 , from Dr Chan at USC medical center. He did excellent job. Mine was to treat obstructive hydrocephalus due to a massive infection from Cysticercosis called neurocysticercosis because the brain was involved. Due to 3 years of miss diagnosis by Dr hass at El Monte CHC , the infection was so massive that cysticidal medication were not an option, because the inflammation from the dieing cysts would cause death , I received a VP shunt to treat the hydrocephalus and sent home to wait for the parasites to die in time (I was an out patient). Thanks to the VP shunt I'm still alive today. I'm a medical cannabis patient now, have been since after the shunt placement in 1996 the same year medical cannabis was legalized here in California. Praise God.
My ventricles are slit and my shunt is disconnected but the neurosurgeon I saw said I don’t need it anymore. My vision is “blanking” out sometimes (not going black) and narrows at times, though
Oh i hear ya on that, I have congentital hydrocpehalus and when i was only 8 months old i needed 6 shunt revisions and exactly 3 weeks ago after 17 years of not neeidng any shunt operations, my shunt decided to fail on me and it was deathly is the way to put it, every small movement in my legs caused nausea and constant vomiting and so i had to have an emergency surgery and it was definitely the worst day of my life, i jsut felt like it'd be easier if i was dead seeing how painful it was and how much me and my mum had to and will always have to worry about the shunt blocking or malfunctioning
I've had a shunt since 11 days old in 1968 (55 years ago). I know the symptoms of my shunt going out. When my shunt goes out, I get extremely bad and strong headaches,. The pain is (as I look at it ) like someone who have bad migraine headaches, where u are sensitive to light and sound. The pain is excruciating .
I have/had symptoms of shunt malfunction, but my new neurosurgeon was averse to doing a shunt tap, didn’t do any ct or shunt series, and is relying on many months old imaging, and decided to close my shunt off... I feel like this was a mistake because I feel just as terrible as I did before.. How recent does the imaging and shunt series have to be for a neurosurgeon to rule out malfunction?
Hi I had a question dose stress damage vp shunt because I have a vp shunt and every time I get stress to a situation where I can’t think it’s feels like I’m damaging the inside of my brain and I have a history of headache that was connected to my shunt so I ask this as I do my own research of vp shunts and stress
I’ve had my VP Shunt since March 1991, and now have two slit ventricles. Doctors here say over shunting means the shunt is working and to leave it alone. Meanwhile, I suffer with headaches and periods of double vision. I need your help doc!!!
I see mine like a tire. More miles and wear and tear I will need another one sooner. But I’d think a shunt wouldn’t be one size fits most because we are all different. A malfunction could be really serious if not noticed quickly.
As someone with a VP shunt I can tell you the main challenge is the wide range of contradictory advice these doctors give and that it is imperative to assume that your doctor knows little or nothing about the true manifestations of hydrocephalus symptoms. I have been told that an LP to investigate pressure is irresponsible and dangerous if ICP is high. And I have been told and seen great anatomical explanations that papilledma is not automatically caused by high pressure or a sign that a shunt is defective (nor are slit ventricles). Not sure why a neuro-ophthalmologist would need to know the other testing for shunt problems other than general curiosity. They should be referring to a neurologist and/or neurosurgeon if any eye issues hint at shunt problems. Ideally there should be a team that works together that is truly informed on hydrocephalus. These are rare but are emerging and I have been fortunate enough to find one.
I’ve had 5 revision and it was from the tube breaking in the neck area. Symptoms has always been different. Have a revision a month ago. Ended being three surgeries because the hospital failed to have the proper equipment. I’m 45 and seen the same doctor since I was 12. My question, since I’ve been a full time mail carrier, I’ve had to get revisions two times between 3-4 years in between. Is it possible all the turning in my neck causing the tube to break quicker?
I've had a shunt 25 years with 3 revisions. I haven't had another for the past 15 years. I developed a pain on the right side of neck which is the side the shunt is on. Could it be infected possibly??
I have not had a shunt malfunction in nearly 14 years.
I’ve had my shunt since 1991. It’s so old, that it’s not programmable. Last few years, suffering with slit ventricles with headaches and double vision. Now, stroke like symptoms. My point is, you will have to advocate for yourself, because many physicians will see everything as normal, but you will know it’s not; because of how you feel. Trying to explain this to them, falls on deaf ears.
I've had my VP shunt since 1996 , from Dr Chan at USC medical center. He did excellent job. Mine was to treat obstructive hydrocephalus due to a massive infection from Cysticercosis called neurocysticercosis because the brain was involved. Due to 3 years of miss diagnosis by Dr hass at El Monte CHC , the infection was so massive that cysticidal medication were not an option, because the inflammation from the dieing cysts would cause death , I received a VP shunt to treat the hydrocephalus and sent home to wait for the parasites to die in time (I was an out patient). Thanks to the VP shunt I'm still alive today. I'm a medical cannabis patient now, have been since after the shunt placement in 1996 the same year medical cannabis was legalized here in California. Praise God.
I have a VP shunt as well.
My ventricles are slit and my shunt is disconnected but the neurosurgeon I saw said I don’t need it anymore. My vision is “blanking” out sometimes (not going black) and narrows at times, though
Great info, thank you doctor!
Thank you Dr. for this video.
I have one put in in 2002 and no problems for years then in 2018 I had to have it replaced it almost killed me
Oh i hear ya on that, I have congentital hydrocpehalus and when i was only 8 months old i needed 6 shunt revisions and exactly 3 weeks ago after 17 years of not neeidng any shunt operations, my shunt decided to fail on me and it was deathly is the way to put it, every small movement in my legs caused nausea and constant vomiting and so i had to have an emergency surgery and it was definitely the worst day of my life, i jsut felt like it'd be easier if i was dead seeing how painful it was and how much me and my mum had to and will always have to worry about the shunt blocking or malfunctioning
Excellent teaching. Thank you.
Wow I didn't know of this and I have a VP shunt
I've had a shunt since 11 days old in 1968 (55 years ago). I know the symptoms of my shunt going out. When my shunt goes out, I get extremely bad and strong headaches,. The pain is (as I look at it ) like someone who have bad migraine headaches, where u are sensitive to light and sound. The pain is excruciating .
I have/had symptoms of shunt malfunction, but my new neurosurgeon was averse to doing a shunt tap, didn’t do any ct or shunt series, and is relying on many months old imaging, and decided to close my shunt off... I feel like this was a mistake because I feel just as terrible as I did before.. How recent does the imaging and shunt series have to be for a neurosurgeon to rule out malfunction?
Hi I had a question dose stress damage vp shunt because I have a vp shunt and every time I get stress to a situation where I can’t think it’s feels like I’m damaging the inside of my brain and I have a history of headache that was connected to my shunt so I ask this as I do my own research of vp shunts and stress
I’ve had my VP Shunt since March 1991, and now have two slit ventricles. Doctors here say over shunting means the shunt is working and to leave it alone. Meanwhile, I suffer with headaches and periods of double vision. I need your help doc!!!
I had five surgreys because of a malfunction
I see mine like a tire. More miles and wear and tear I will need another one sooner. But I’d think a shunt wouldn’t be one size fits most because we are all different. A malfunction could be really serious if not noticed quickly.
My last revision was back in 2007 at ETCH.
EAST TENNESSEE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
I didn't either and I also have a shunt
My baby have too
As someone with a VP shunt I can tell you the main challenge is the wide range of contradictory advice these doctors give and that it is imperative to assume that your doctor knows little or nothing about the true manifestations of hydrocephalus symptoms. I have been told that an LP to investigate pressure is irresponsible and dangerous if ICP is high. And I have been told and seen great anatomical explanations that papilledma is not automatically caused by high pressure or a sign that a shunt is defective (nor are slit ventricles). Not sure why a neuro-ophthalmologist would need to know the other testing for shunt problems other than general curiosity. They should be referring to a neurologist and/or neurosurgeon if any eye issues hint at shunt problems. Ideally there should be a team that works together that is truly informed on hydrocephalus. These are rare but are emerging and I have been fortunate enough to find one.
I’ve had 5 revision and it was from the tube breaking in the neck area. Symptoms has always been different. Have a revision a month ago. Ended being three surgeries because the hospital failed to have the proper equipment. I’m 45 and seen the same doctor since I was 12. My question, since I’ve been a full time mail carrier, I’ve had to get revisions two times between 3-4 years in between. Is it possible all the turning in my neck causing the tube to break quicker?
Same
My sister stomach is swollen so bad. It goes down but swells again.
Hey Doc! Wonderful go-through! That's some really good teaching!
i execise and my peoteneum aches
I understand none of this
I've had a shunt 25 years with 3 revisions. I haven't had another for the past 15 years. I developed a pain on the right side of neck which is the side the shunt is on. Could it be infected possibly??
Calcification most likely