[Loula]

I don't know why I started a new thread, I've looked at most threads and there are some that reflect my worry and some are not related but I can see that there are a lot of people out there having similar problems... five years ago and on my first wedding anniversary and after a series of headaches that I ignored and thought well maybe I overworked my self or something.. maybe its my sight ... what ever but I never really took it seriously until i collapsed that day five years ago -- My husband took me to the hospital and there he was told that I have a cyst on the brain -- they said this is something I was born with but I never really had any problems until then. I was admited to an emergency surgery where they placed a VP shunt... I felt good at the time the recovery was'n't that bad -- the headaches were gone -- the thing that bothered me the most was the shaved head... it was a tough time but my husband was very supportive, he stood by me and I got throught it all with his help --- I recovered and I felt great -- I was told to forget about the shunt and live my life normally which I did -- then three years later -- the shunt got blocked which I did not know could happend at the time --- at the time we had just moved to another country -- and Again I was admitted to the emergency room they unblocked the tube and thank god did not have to operate on my head... again the recovery went well but left me a little shaken ... can this really happen at anytime, anywhere the shunt can get blocked!! it was shocking to me and scary.. very scary again i tried to forget about it and resume my life --- I'm a very practical person by the way and I try to always look at the bright side ... I joke about everything and don't take bad things too serious .. cause I think life is too short so better enjoy it... so to continue my story ... I resume my life .. I was working in a publishing agency at the time -- I was handling a corporate magazine, dealing with publishers, printing and a creative team ... really stressful job .. yeah I forgot to mention for the longest time work was a huge part of my existence... Anyway after that incident with the blockage again i resumed my life normally.. i was very scared most of the time and I was too scared to die.. but i tried to push the thought away and enjoy life which i did actually... i travelled with my husband ..with friends ..and with work .. i went out and really enjoyed my self ... almost five years past on my marriage and we wanted to have kids .. my doctor told me that I shouldn't worry about the shunt and have kids if I want to ..well that's what I thought ... and we were trying to have kids but then found out that we will have to resorte to IVF. I got depressed and worried but decided to go ahead with it .. i said to my self I'll try it once, if I don't have kids then that's it atleast I'll try.. I was too scared to go in the horrible cycle of just trying to have kids. I spent almost 3 months taking the hormons and medications for the IVF then I did the tranfer and yeeeeeeeeeeay I was pregnent, later found out I'm having twins... I enjoyed the first part of the preganacy but was too tired towards the end and on my 7th month .. I gave birth to two premature boys.. they were tiny... but beautiful they stayed for almost two months in ICU then finally they came home .. it was tiring - the song DAY & NIGHT was my theme song ... I woke up everyfour hours ... some times two cause each would wake up on his own time ... GOD it was tough.. I had my family helping though.. my mum came and then my cousins ... they were all very supportive... at the time I was on maternity leave ... I was planning to go back to work... twins no twins I gota work... two month after my pregnancy ... I get admitted to the hospital again !!! the shunt got blocked... the scary part is I can't remeber how or when did I go to the hospital what I remember is that I woke up one day and I was in ICU ..!! I thought I was in a bad dream... I had three brain surgeries .. the first one they tried to unblock the shunt but couldn't ... so they decided to remove the shunt and put a new one.. in the process I got a clot when they removed the old shunt, so they had to drain the blood externaly ...afterwards I got internal bleeding .. they got me out.. then another surgery in between doing more stuff and then finally I got a new shunt with two tubes leading to my stomach ... Now surprisigly enough I'm FINE... I'm walking eating, playing with my kids, talking and even working!!! which I'm grateful for...THANK GOD FOR ALL OF THAT .. writting this thread and putting the sequnce of events in writitng actually made me realize how lucky I am .. I have two beautiful boys... they are amazing thank god and I am working as a producer for a TV programme with a really nice and understanding team and I have my husband who is very supportive and lovely friends...I am realising how lucky I am now... the reason I decided to start a thread .. is because I am very scared... I feel something bad is going to happen and I'm too scared to leave my kids ... I'm hoping for the best, I've suffered a lot and I really don't want to go throught this again... I get headaches occasionaly and everytime I get really worried.. is there something wrong... my surgeon here advised me to remove the cyst and live with our worries ...this is what lead me to this site... I was looking around to get some advice...part of me want to get rid of the shunt and the risks of it but then I'm too scared to go through the surgery again... and I also read that a lot of people get cloting after the removal .. and again insert a shunt!! so is there a point of removing the cyst?? can someone help me...

[Leesa]

Hi dear Loula ~ I'm sorry you haven't gotten any responses yet. I just saw this myself today.

I think if it was me, I'd do as much research on this as I could possibly do as to the benefits and risks of such a surgery. There must be some information out there on this. In fact, look at the very top of this page where it says PubMed, and you could probably find some info there if you know what to look under. It has a search, so just knowing how to word what you're looking for is the problem. LOL.

I think once I found out what I needed to know re: the benefits & risks, then I'd talk to at least 3 doctors and get their feelings on the matter. This isn't something you need done right this minute ~ you have time. I'd definitely get a few opinions and would go with the majoritys' opinion.

You certainly have had your share of troubles and pain! I hope and pray that this is the end of it, and that you won't be bothered any more. I wish I knew more about your condition, but sadly i don't and don't really know how to advise you. Just know that you will be in my prayers. God bless you and please take care of yourself!! hugs, Lee