Hello everyone. I'm in my mid-thirties with congenital hydrocephalus. I am so foggy headed, I feel so frustrated and incompetent. Lately it's really been bothering me, I guess the older I get the more it troubles me that I'm not "normal." Honestly, I feel like such a dummy and it seems like nobody understands. Does anyone else have similar experiences?

Really, just me?

Hey whats up? I'm Brian. I got hydrocephalus at 37 from an arachnoid cyst. Brain surgery always changes people. I get foggy sometimes and it is from the days that i'm bedridden from the severe pain. I'm on social security disability. I still have trouble coming to grips that I have this horrible condition. If it rains or theres a pressure front I have to stay in bed all day. Did you file for ssd?

NY....

I was foggy for some time after the shunt, but I have been improving.
I know what it is like.... a strange, almost drunken state, and poor concentration and memory.

I am fortunate that it has improved though.

My only symptom now is the abdominal discomfort from the CSF re-absorbtion in the olde abdomen.

Thank you for your replies. I was born with hydrocephalus so it sounds like what I'm dealing with may be a little bit different from what you folks are experiencing - for me it's really just cognitive issues/learning disabilities. As much as I struggle, I know in some ways I'm lucky that things aren't worse.

Zubenelgenubi, glad to hear you're improving. Brian, sorry to hear about your pain, I know how hard it must be. You're in my thoughts.

I'm not sure if SSD would be an option for me, it's something I hadn't thought about.

Regards,
NYG

I'm 27 and have had Hydrocephalus since I was 8 weeks old. I had some delays in motor skills but then picked up when I started to school. Since about junior high though (when I started facing things that required a level of complex thinking) I've had some issues. Things that are common sense to others isn't so much to me. I have issues with concentrating and staying focused. I had my shunt replaced this year with from a fixed pressure valve to a programmable valve. It's caused lots of headaches and dizziness. Still not feeling 100% but someone able to function in my daily routine. I have my days. I'm working full time but it's so hard some days. If I get off track of what I'm doing it takes awhile to get back on track. It takes me awhile longer to do things than most people. Also, have problems with anxiety (get stressed in crowded stores, worrying about what people think when I'm trying to complete a task, etc) It's so crazy b/c as a child I never had all these issues. Just in the last few years.

hello, i was diagnsed with hydrocephalus at the begnning of this year (2012) at age 19. it was caused by a benign brain tumour n the pineal gland. this caused alot of different systoms for me. ill attempt to list them but i may forget to include a few (funnily enough memory is one of them!). dizzyness and headaches which seem pretty common, my periods stopped 3 years ago after a very delayed start, poor balance, incontinence (this has got to be one of my least favourite symptoms), poor concentration, lack of focus, awkward movement. i remember once when i was walking to work i had forgotten how to use my legs to walk! i had to sit down for 20 minutes to stragetize how i would get to work on time. my speech often did not flow well and i would forget what i was saying.
i could go on but i wont bore you!

im currently studying very much part-time however im finding studying unbearable 1.because i cannot complete tasks in the required time frames and 2. ive developed depression from the shock of it all! These 2 sysmmptoms are really the only ones remaining apart from light sensitivity, dizzyness and insomnia occasionally however theyre enough to impact my life greatly.

i dont know how to move on and make peace with myself when these symptoms are ongoing. i used to be so capable and now i am constantly pushed down

I definitely know the feeling!!! I also have congenital hydrocephalus due to a ventricular brain aneurysm. I have had it my whole life(45yrs.). My (ex)wife n' my (ex)fiance(even though she has it too, due to being abused) blamed me for having hydrocephalus.

What you are going through, is what I went through in college. I ended up, dropping out twice. While my hydrocephalus is congenital due to a ventricular brain aneurysm when I was born. I always had trouble studying in(and for) school.

I also know the feeling of constantly being pushed down.

I have an online friend, who was just diagnosed in July 2012 who thinks she will have no problem when she goes to nursing school to become an LPN. I know otherwise.

you are normal my friend. Young family member 42 with hydrocephalus following brain surgery at 12 months. I know it is rough out there. You make it a point to let uthers know you are ?"
"ok" he is 42 and maintains the fight. Read, talk, discuss things with others, sing like no one hears, dance when you can and laugh as much as you can. Good luck