Originally Posted by tinae1236 (Post 812061)

Hi all,
I am new to this forum and have a codman programmable shunt. I have had hydrocephalus for 41 years I have had the Codman for 6 and I am having echo headaches everything going on the outside echoes in my head when I get a pressure headache and to boot I have a burr hole that just to today started hurting and made me nauseas I called my neurosurgeon of 30 years and I am waiting for a CT scan script and a Shunt series script. Any help would be appreciated.
Tina

Originally Posted by ian richard (Post 701562)

I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE SUFFER ON GOING PROBLEMS WITH FAULTY SHUNTS I HAD A MEDTRONIC STRATA VALVE ADJUSTMENT BY MAGNET THAT KEPT LOSING ITS SETTING AFTER 13 TIMES. HAVE HAD IT REMOVED NOW NO PROBLEMS WITH HEADACHES NAUSEA ETC SINCE REMOVAL 3 MONTHS AGO, CAN ANYONE SUGGEST HOW I CAN START UP A GROUP TO GET AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM THIS IS. WOULD LOVE TOO HEAR FROM OTHERS OUT THERE. THE MAKERS SAY IT CAN'T HAPPEN I HAVE KEPT CLEAR OF ANY MAGNETIC SOURCES. I HAVE HAD NO HELP FROM MY N.S OR MEDTRONIC REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. CAN ANYONE HELP :grouphug:

Originally Posted by lalahecky (Post 777805)

I have been dealing with horrific headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomitting for nearly 2 weeks. I was told that I have slit ventricle syndrome and now the apparently the ventricle has collapsed on the shunt. My shunt {medtronic strata w/siphon control} cannot depress the resevoir, it's just rock hard. I apparently have very low icp according to the shunt tap, but I had a lp also and they said the pressure was 10.4. I am growing very concerned since everything I read tells me that the shunt not depressing indicates a blockage and now I'm supposed to go in and have the medtronic person reprogram it at a higher pressure. My concerns are two-fold, since my shunt also has an anti siphon device, which clearly did not work, the valve cannot depress indicating blockage, what in the heck would make them think that it could be reprogrammed at this point? I am very concerned, since the possible complications at this point are severe. I do not know what to do??? The neurosurgeon was set to switch out my shunt, but says I'm inoperable since the ventricular collapse...what the heck is going to happen to me? All I can do now is lay down and even at that I still have a headache and nausea. They gave me zofran for nausea, but I'm useless anymore...please any info would help

Originally Posted by Shunted96 (Post 1105418)

Hi, I am dealing with the exact same symptoms except rather than dizziness I have double vision. I am wondering whether you have gotten an answer to what's going on with you that could be of help to me. It would be greatly appreciated xo

Originally Posted by pogo (Post 1105587)

If you have slit ventricles, sometimes programming it higher can help. My daughter has slit ventricles/codman+a low flow valve (replaced the asd, it didn't do enough) and has been over draining as her pressures have been going up over time (went from 3cm on just a codman to equivalent to 21cm, but with the 2 valves think it is 13cm, don't have my notes with me). Going higher did stop some problems with double vision.

But also thought double vision could be transient blockages, it is just weird.

Originally Posted by Shunted96 (Post 1105654)

Hi,

My neurosurgeon tried changing my pressure from 1.0 to 1.5 but that only made my headaches worse. (Metrotonic Strata Valve; I apparently have slit ventricles). Turning up the pressure only made me get unsteady on my feet as well as all my other symptoms. None of them got better or worse except the headaches. My symptoms; vice like headaches that are also pounding and are all over head and 24/7 never go away, double vision, nausea & vomiting, reservoir pain, tubing pain, unsteady on feet, noise sensitivity and headaches don't respond to pain medication.

All suggestions will be considered, I just need answers xo

Thank you