topic Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain in Wellness

Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

lovesallanimals — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 03:31:30 GMT

Did anyone ever had a procedure to remove water on the brain? They put in a shunt to drain the fluid as a build up can impair your mobiity, walking, balance, even eye sight? My DH was diagnosed with this and I have been reading every thing I can get my hands on. Needless to say, the things that can go wrong after this procedure is horrible. My DH is very reluctant, and so am I, to go through with this. He is elderly and does not want to live out the remainder of his years if anything should go wrong. I am so perflexed as to what to do. Of course, the neurosurgeon says it is a simple procedure - not what I have read!

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

On It — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 04:22:14 GMT

@lovesallanimals What a difficult decision! I think you need to listen to your husband's concerns. His decision will be a tough one, but respect his concerns. Whatever he decides, don't look back and second guess yourself. I wish you both the best.

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

Kachina624 — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 04:24:16 GMT

I'd get a second opinion and discuss my concerns with whichever surgeon I liked best.

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

Mindy D — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 06:29:11 GMT

I knew a young lady that was born with hydrocephalus. In order to prevent more damage to her brain, she had a shunt. It had an visible drain down the back of he neck and she had no problems with the shunt.

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

sann — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 10:24:38 GMT

There are risks envolved with any procedure even if its considered simple as you say the surgeon told you .......

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

SeaMaiden — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 10:59:10 GMT

There is alway a risk with any surgery or procedure... you must decide if you want to continue on as you are or that a small risk to improve the quality of your remaining years. Sure, get a second or third opinion.... and then decide the fate of the rest of his life and quality there of.

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

ciao_bella — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 11:18:26 GMT

@lovesallanimals A friend of mine, who is 75 years old, had the shunt procedure done about 6 weeks ago. The procedure took a little less than an hour and was very successful. His balance and walking improved immediately. The other issues, like some memory loss and partial incontenence will improve gradually. On week 5, after the surgery, he was given a prescription from the neurosurgeon to continue with PT for optimal improvement. Both he and his wife are amazed at the results the shunt has made for quality of life.

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

CelticCrafter — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 11:20:06 GMT

@lovesallanimals wrote:
Did anyone ever had a procedure to remove water on the brain? They put in a shunt to drain the fluid as a build up can impair your mobiity, walking, balance, even eye sight? My DH was diagnosed with this and I have been reading every thing I can get my hands on. Needless to say, the things that can go wrong after this procedure is horrible. My DH is very reluctant, and so am I, to go through with this. He is elderly and does not want to live out the remainder of his years if anything should go wrong. I am so perflexed as to what to do. Of course, the neurosurgeon says it is a simple procedure - not what I have read!

When it's a loved one nothing is a simple or routine procedure.

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

ciao_bella — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 11:33:27 GMT

@CelticCrafter wrote:
@lovesallanimals wrote:
Did anyone ever had a procedure to remove water on the brain? They put in a shunt to drain the fluid as a build up can impair your mobiity, walking, balance, even eye sight? My DH was diagnosed with this and I have been reading every thing I can get my hands on. Needless to say, the things that can go wrong after this procedure is horrible. My DH is very reluctant, and so am I, to go through with this. He is elderly and does not want to live out the remainder of his years if anything should go wrong. I am so perflexed as to what to do. Of course, the neurosurgeon says it is a simple procedure - not what I have read!
When it's a loved one nothing is a simple or routine procedure.

@lovesallanimals There are many times, especially when it comes to illness and medical advice, the internet is not always your best friend. My suggestion, if you're still uncertain, would be to seek a second opinion from highly qualified neurosurgeon

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

Marp — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 11:49:27 GMT

@lovesallanimals, not for the same condition but niece has a shunt to drain excess spinal fluid from her brain. Her condition, pseudotumor cerebri/idiopathic intracranial hypertension, causes symptoms very similar to hydrocephalus.

She has had a shunt in place for several years and just this past January had a different type put in place.

As a result of excessive spinal fluid niece is legally blind, suffered nearly daily migraines, loss of balance, weakness and had a very poor quality of life. The shunt allows her to have a nearly normal quality of life.

For me the biggest question in regard to having the procedure done is the experience of the neurosurgeon and how much confidence does your DH have in her/him.

Yes, there are things that can and sometimes do go wrong but overall it is a very safe, minimally invasive procedure that can prevent being incapacitated due to the effects of increased cranial pressure caused by excessive CSF.

Whatever DH ultimately decides I hope he finds relief.

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

Jersey Born — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 11:50:19 GMT

@lovesallanimals - I have no experience in this area to offer you any advice, but I wish you the best in helping your husband make the decision that is optimal for him, whatever it might be. It is so important that you are doing as much reading as you can on the issue, so that you, and he, can be best prepared to determine the proper course.

In the end, it is your husband's decision, of course. I pray that he makes the decision that will help him achieve the best possible state of health for the remainder of his life. Surgical decisions are not to be taken lightly, but sometimes surgery is necessary.

Some questions are: How much fluid is there to remove? Is the fluid continuing to build, and if so, does this water buildup indicate a chronic and dangerous condition? What is the cost of doing nothing-- i.e. will the water ever diminish on its own, or will it continue to accumulate and cause increased health risks in your husband's case? Will the shunt be permanent or only temporary? You and your husband deserve the answers to every single question you have.

All the best to you and to your husband.

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

violann — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 12:04:05 GMT

My precious adorable grandson had a shunt placed by an excellent neurosurgeon, when he was 2 days old. He has not experienced any problems since the surgery, and functions at age 5 as a typical boy.

His shunt is evaluated every 6 months.

Another cherished relative in her early 70s, was diagnosed as having "normal pressure hydrocephalus".
She'd previously received poor advice about her general condition, and undergone treatment that many of us who loved her had felt ill advised.

By the time she saw a qualified neurosurgeon she was too depressed and anxious to make a reasoned decision. She refused the surgery, and although she remained cognitively intact, her overall condition ultimately deteriorated until she became a residential care resident.

A second opinion in such a serious situation is never a mistake. Find someone with the best credentials you can, and discuss recommendations with both of your choices.

Ask around among friends and relatives and see if you can find someone who HAD THIS SURGERY. Speak to people who have had it about HOW THEY feel about their outcomes, if possible.

If you don't have the SPECIFIC SCIENTIFIC DIAGNOSIS of DH's condition, get it, and research EVERYTHING you can find out about it. Tryto get percentages of successful vs. unsuccessful outcomes. My grandson's surgery was very serious, but has a very reassuring success rate.

I'll be thinking about you.

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

lovesallanimals — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 12:05:19 GMT

@ciao_bella wrote:
@lovesallanimals A friend of mine, who is 75 years old, had the shunt procedure done about 6 weeks ago. The procedure took a little less than an hour and was very successful. His balance and walking improved immediately. The other issues, like some memory loss and partial incontenence will improve gradually. On week 5, after the surgery, he was given a prescription from the neurosurgeon to continue with PT for optimal improvement. Both he and his wife are amazed at the results the shunt has made for quality of life.

ciao bella - Thank you for this info. This sounds so encouraging. Our Neurosurgeon is one of the best and I do value his opinion. Just saw his cardiologist is knows about this procedure and also said it is something to seriously consider as the results can make the world of difference.

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

lovesallanimals — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 12:09:33 GMT

Thank you everyone for your feedback. Your responses gave me something to seriously think about. I am going to make an app't. with the neurosurgeon to go over everything. Wish me luck.

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

gardenman — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 12:45:25 GMT

By neurosurgical standards, it is a very simple, safe, and effective procedure. It's done on everyone from infants to seniors with very few negative outcomes. The biggest side effect is the shunt getting clogged or obstructed at some point and needing replacement, but even that's a simple procedure. I like your neurosurgeon for telling you it's a simple procedure. He's right.

When my dad needed a pacemaker put in the surgeon described it as being an incredibly complex and dangerous procedure and had my Mom a nervous wreck. She didn't tell me what the surgeon had told her until after the surgery because she didn't want me to worry. I laughed and buried her alive in reference materials showing her how safe and simple a procedure it truly is and how the surgeon had been lying. She was shocked. "But he said it was so dangerous and high risk." He lied.

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

ciao_bella — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 14:15:22 GMT

@lovesallanimals wrote:
Thank you everyone for your feedback. Your responses gave me something to seriously think about. I am going to make an app't. with the neurosurgeon to go over everything. Wish me luck.

Wishing you all the very best. (Glad you're going to make an appointment with the neurosurgeon too! )

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

skatting44 — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 14:17:51 GMT

@lovesallanimals wrote:
Did anyone ever had a procedure to remove water on the brain? They put in a shunt to drain the fluid as a build up can impair your mobiity, walking, balance, even eye sight? My DH was diagnosed with this and I have been reading every thing I can get my hands on. Needless to say, the things that can go wrong after this procedure is horrible. My DH is very reluctant, and so am I, to go through with this. He is elderly and does not want to live out the remainder of his years if anything should go wrong. I am so perflexed as to what to do. Of course, the neurosurgeon says it is a simple procedure - not what I have read!

@lovesallanimals

If he has doubts and unanswered questions talk with the neurosurgeon again or seek a 2nd opinion. Don't know how many hospitals are in your area or how many neurosurgeons or if he is restricted by his health insurance, he can check as to which hospital the neurosurgeon practices and inquire abt that hospital's nosocomial infection rate .

My experience is that the elderly with balance issues can incur life threatening head injuries from slips, trips and falls . So, I'd take that into account as well.

" Nosocomial infections also referred to as healthcare -associated infections (HAI), are infection(s) aquired during the process of receiving health care that was not present during the time of admission ."

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

Love my grandkids — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 14:33:03 GMT

@lovesallanimals My granddaughter who had cancer had one put in at the age of 9 and had no problems with it at all. She died a year later from the cancer but tolerated the shunt very well.

I agree about a second opinion.

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

Duckncover — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 21:18:43 GMT

I had a VP (ventricular peritoneal) shunt put in 6 years ago due to IH ( intercranial hypertension). IH is not hydrocephalus. There can be various reasons for IH. It was skull-based surgery that took 2 1/2 hours.The valve is inserted onto the skull, not into the brain. A thin catheter is attached under the skin that goes down to the peritoneum where any excess fluid is absorbed into the tissue. I am not a dr but can speak to my own personal experience; the valve is doing its job and I don't even know it's there except for a painless bump on my head that is covered by my hair. I have the contraption checked annually with an MRI. The benefits far outweigh the risks imho. I hope your husband can come to a decision you are both comfortable with. Left unchecked, IH can cause serious problems, so best to get it treated if you have that option. My only restrictions are no horseback riding, bike riding, using straws to drink, or underwater swimming. Nothing where a helmet is required, so I can live with that!

Re: Shunt to Relieve Water on the Brain

Nightowlz — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 03:02:39 GMT

One of my brothers had a Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt almost 3 yrs ago after stroke. He has done fine with it. The only issue he had was it was not draining enough so they had to fix that. It's under the skin on side of his head that goes back down behind his ear down into his stomach to drain. You can see his under the skin?