Hydrocephalus

[OneIllWife]

Originally Posted by AdamsArmyWife yes it counts! I have some questions is that okay?

Yes, Ma'am of course.

[AdamsArmyWife]

Did you ever need a revision and if so, what do they do? Do you really need a spinal tap because a doctor told me they had to give Keith one if they thought something was wrong.

[SezzySue]

hey did my friend Annie get in touch with you?

[OneIllWife]

Originally Posted by AdamsArmyWife Did you ever need a revision and if so, what do they do? Do you really need a spinal tap because a doctor told me they had to give Keith one if they thought something was wrong.

Well, mind you I've had the shunt for 24.5 years now so when I tell you I've had 2 revisions and one surgery for it being disconnected, in that length of time...That's not bad at all.

I had first shunt installed when I was 6 months old...That malfunctioned (at 2 years old), due to the fact that my brain grew too fast and blocked off the tubing and such. That was replaced with the second shunt at that time. There are also times, depending on how fast a child grows, when tubing has to be lengthened (they can only wind so much reserve up in certain areas). I only had that done the one time. Then, when I was 10, I ended up going in for a surgery because something happened (no one is really sure) to disconnect the tubing in my neck. To be honest, it was just like plumbing. When we noticed it was out (I was pretty ill...Headaches, vomiting, all that...)...CTs and stuff done, found the problem...Surgery was done, I was out of the hospital and going in a week.

As far as the spinal tap is concerned...I'm not sure...I don't remember having heard about that. I'll check into that with my mother though...That's a good question.

P.S. I added you to my AIM buddy list. My ID is on my profile. You can always catch me there if you have questions.

[butt3rcup]

I have Hydrocephalus with a VP shunt. I got my shunt when I was 6 months old. I had 2 revisions, the first when I was pregnant with my second child (I was 22) and the second-- 2 weeks after I gave birth to him. I didn't know that my shunt was malfunctioning at all, I thought I was just having pregnancy symptoms since I had never had any problems before with my shunt. During that month- month and a half I was miserable before I found out my shunt malfunctioned, I went to the ER numerous times and they kept telling my nothing was wrong, it was just pregnancy, one of the many times I went they actually did a spinal tap to see if I had meningitis. A spinal tap is sort of like getting like the procedure of getting anesthesia through the spine, but instead they are taking fluid from there. It is a little uncomfortable but they do numb the area before hand. I have also had a shunt tap the day before my surgery which is the same kind of procedure as the spinal tap but they are taking fluid from the shunt to see if it was there was an infection or the shunt was just blocked.

I am new to this site, I just saw your post while searching hydrocephalus online and decided to respond. Don't worry He will be fine. If you need more info just reply back.

[LissyLyn]

I don't have first hand experience with it, but my nephew was diagnosed with hydrocephalus when he was 3 months old I believe. He had a shunt placed, but it was removed after just under a year. He is perfectly fine now, he has a heart condition that he was born with, but it's also doing well. He hasn't had any other problems from the hydrocephalus, he's at the correct age mentally and physically. I'm not sure if he ever had a spinal tap with his, he was in foster care during the time he had it. (That's a really long story) But he's 4 years old now and perfectly healthy

[treehugger]

My son (7 years old next month) has "massive" hydro, but no shunt b/c since being discovered at 22 weeks in utero the ventricles have not increased in size.

He also has Cerebral Palsy and we are beginning to get a dx for ADD.

Edited to add, he is extremely bright, he learned to read at 4 (on a 2nd grade level)....he has issues with math but I believe it to be linked to the ADD and issues with inattentiveness in school.