[melaniem]

i found this site and hope some one out there can give me some info if they know someone with similar issues. i have a 17 year old stepson. he was born hydrocephalus (1993). he had the front ventricals shunt shortly after birth.(bi lateral vp shunt) the fourth ventrical was inlarged as well but the left that alone, because back then they didnt have the options to corrent that as they do today.through thearpy and special needs class he has turned out to be a great kid. reading writing and even started going on feild trips to the grocery store and "working" stocking shelves with the students in his life skills class. he always went for his 6 month checkups to have his mri and cat scans done. although his fourth ventrical has remained enlarged no changes in size or his behaivor. untill this past october the school called and said something was wrong with him. he wouldn't talk, didnt know any basic personal info like addresss phone number and age. he spent two weeks in the hospital with this catatonic like state the drs called it and sent him home with adivan. well he only got worse. he started to tremor wont speak, cant even brush teeth with out help. so his mother took him back to the hospital thinking that it has to be something with the shunts or fourth ventrical. tests showed no changes in the size of the fourth ventrical and started to talk about parkinsons because if his shaking ,gate, and recently his loss of being able to controll his bladder, and he no longer speaks. im no dumby but you dont wake up one day with parkinsons and have full blown symptoms. and the meds they use to treat it are not working. i happend to find something called low pressure hydrocephalus and it mimics parkinsons. when this was mentioned to the drs they were kind of like "ah ha!" well why didnt they think too look for this before??? treatment options are diffrent for this condition. is there ANTONY out there that knows someone with a similar situation or it being your self?? advice and support would be appreciated. thank you so much.

[TEC49]

Originally Posted by melaniem

i found this site and hope some one out there can give me some info if they know someone with similar issues. i have a 17 year old stepson. he was born hydrocephalus (1993). he had the front ventricals shunt shortly after birth.(bi lateral vp shunt) the fourth ventrical was inlarged as well but the left that alone, because back then they didnt have the options to corrent that as they do today.through thearpy and special needs class he has turned out to be a great kid. reading writing and even started going on feild trips to the grocery store and "working" stocking shelves with the students in his life skills class. he always went for his 6 month checkups to have his mri and cat scans done. although his fourth ventrical has remained enlarged no changes in size or his behaivor. untill this past october the school called and said something was wrong with him. he wouldn't talk, didnt know any basic personal info like addresss phone number and age. he spent two weeks in the hospital with this catatonic like state the drs called it and sent him home with adivan. well he only got worse. he started to tremor wont speak, cant even brush teeth with out help. so his mother took him back to the hospital thinking that it has to be something with the shunts or fourth ventrical. tests showed no changes in the size of the fourth ventrical and started to talk about parkinsons because if his shaking ,gate, and recently his loss of being able to controll his bladder, and he no longer speaks. im no dumby but you dont wake up one day with parkinsons and have full blown symptoms. and the meds they use to treat it are not working. i happend to find something called low pressure hydrocephalus and it mimics parkinsons. when this was mentioned to the drs they were kind of like "ah ha!" well why didnt they think too look for this before??? treatment options are diffrent for this condition. is there ANTONY out there that knows someone with a similar situation or it being your self?? advice and support would be appreciated. thank you so much.

Hi,
I agree with you, doesn't sound right. I had a shunt installed 12/2006. I use to have seizures and pass out had problems with vision and severe headaches etc... They did an MRI to confirm the doctor's diagnoses. I would say get him in to see a nero surgent. as soon as possible. I went years not knowing why I had headaches, studdering, forgetting etc... I would like to give my phone number, but I don't think that's allowed.

God Bless You

[Mouse]

Originally Posted by melaniem

i found this site and hope some one out there can give me some info if they know someone with similar issues. i have a 17 year old stepson. he was born hydrocephalus (1993). he had the front ventricals shunt shortly after birth.(bi lateral vp shunt) the fourth ventrical was inlarged as well but the left that alone, because back then they didnt have the options to corrent that as they do today.through thearpy and special needs class he has turned out to be a great kid. reading writing and even started going on feild trips to the grocery store and "working" stocking shelves with the students in his life skills class. he always went for his 6 month checkups to have his mri and cat scans done. although his fourth ventrical has remained enlarged no changes in size or his behaivor. untill this past october the school called and said something was wrong with him. he wouldn't talk, didnt know any basic personal info like addresss phone number and age. he spent two weeks in the hospital with this catatonic like state the drs called it and sent him home with adivan. well he only got worse. he started to tremor wont speak, cant even brush teeth with out help. so his mother took him back to the hospital thinking that it has to be something with the shunts or fourth ventrical. tests showed no changes in the size of the fourth ventrical and started to talk about parkinsons because if his shaking ,gate, and recently his loss of being able to controll his bladder, and he no longer speaks. im no dumby but you dont wake up one day with parkinsons and have full blown symptoms. and the meds they use to treat it are not working. i happend to find something called low pressure hydrocephalus and it mimics parkinsons. when this was mentioned to the drs they were kind of like "ah ha!" well why didnt they think too look for this before??? treatment options are diffrent for this condition. is there ANTONY out there that knows someone with a similar situation or it being your self?? advice and support would be appreciated. thank you so much.

No advice, but support yes! I agree with you, typically a person doesn't wake up with advanced Parkinson's!

[Joecoop]

I've had two surgeries for Hydrocephalus. They put in a shunt during the second surgery and it has made all the difference in the world. Yet they were reluctant to do so because the ventricles were not "enlarged enough".

Luckily my surgeon went ahead with the shunt and it has made all the difference in the world.

Shunts are considered a last resort. Do what I did, press the matter HARD or find a new doctor. I did and it worked for me.

God Bless