Scroll down to the question in Bold if you like, here is the short story:

My dad's entire personality has changed. He slurs his works, sometimes makes no sense. He has a temper now, he feels his feet are glued to the floor, can hardly walk, is paranoid we are all out to put him in a "home", has memory loss, major sleep disruption and has all the symptoms of Dimentia to boot. This all has occurred in the last 9 -11 months. He is 71.

He thinks everything is fine, other than the walking, he feels he is normal. He does not know something is wrong, and again, we are all to to get him.

We're pretty sure he has Hydrocephalus. It was found by an aging specialist while looking at the 2-3 many MRIs he has had. We had a meeting about 3 months ago with the aging specialist, they did all the memory tests and they did not want to do/treat anything until the Neurologist weighed in. She thought for sure it was Hydrocephalus.


Anyway, after a long 45 day wait to see a Neurologist, I could not attend the appointment. So my dad went with my mom. The first thing he told my mom is not to speak because she makes up all this stuff and is a liar. (Paranoia again)

So, the neurologist did an interview with him and finally decided to to a Lumbar Puncture and took out 75 ML or so (about 3 ounces he told my mom).

Within a few hours, my dad could walk and lift his legs (I do not know if this is related but major swelling in his legs went away), he wondered what has happended over the last few months as he does not remember much. He returned to his kind caring self, no longer paranoid, nice to my Mom and was normal again. He even went dancing. I was able to meet them for dinner 5 days after and he was his normal coherant self again. Night and day difference. He looked great.

I was happy to see it worked so well.

But within 8-9 days, the symptoms started to come back and within two weeks back to the same condtions. Difficulty walking (if at all), urinary issues have recently started, paranoia, mean streak etc etc.

The Neurologist called about 12 days after the puncture, and my dad would not let my mom speak with him. My dad told them everything was fine. Again, he just does not know and cannot see the difference.

My question, is it normal for such a fast improvement and will pressure return so rapidly (in weeks) for the symptoms to return. I cannot find any references online to how long a Lumbar Puncture lasts at relieving hydrocephalus.

I wish I could talk with the Neurologist but due to the rules I cannot. He suggested to my mom at the original appointment he did not think my dad had it and his improvement was mind over matter only. Of course 95% of the time of the appointment it was a PA and the doctor was only seen for 5-10 minutes.

If anyone can answer this question it would be so helpful to me.

Today my dad wend to the ER via ambulance. I visited this weekend and could see things getting much worse. I guess, this morning he could not move well, could not get out of bed, he could not urinate and was simply completely "out of it" mentally. They are awaiting a Neurological team to evaulate him. I am hopefull they do another MRI to find that fluid is on the brain and do another lumbar or install a shunt.

But I do not know. Any comment or help is appreciated. For this to go on si long, Why cant it be diagnosed and treated?

Sorry you are having such a hard time right now. I understand the frustration. I believe it takes a long time to get a diagnosis because there are so many other things that can cloud the picture and they want to be sure. That being said, my lumbar puncture only lasted about a week. Dependent on how much fluid they removed and how fast it builds back up is each persons. The lumbar puncture, from all I have read, is rarely the fix... mine was done just to "see" if I could get a relief from symptoms.

Hope this helps!

We got the diagnosis, late this evening and it is hydrocephalus and it has made him unable to urinate, hence the leg swelling. Essentially he is full. As soon as they make sure he can travel and no harm has been done to his heart and legs, the swelling caused loss of blood flow, he will be transferred to a hospital that can do the surgery and install a shunt or what needs to be done.

Finally an answer and maybe by weeks end, a solution. It almost killed him! The state of healthcare today.

Thqnk you for your warm reply, it was good to get my question answered.

We got the diagnosis, late this evening and it is hydrocephalus and it has made him unable to urinate, hence the leg swelling. Essentially he is full. As soon as they make sure he can travel and no harm has been done to his heart and legs, the swelling caused loss of blood flow, he will be transferred to a hospital that can do the surgery and install a shunt or what needs to be done.

Finally an answer and maybe by weeks end, a solution. It almost killed him! The state of healthcare today.

Thqnk you for your warm reply, it was good to get my question answered.

I was able to get to the hospital. I was abe to speak with the doctor. He was amazed to hear about the improvements after the tap, but then came back later and thinks it was all coincidence. Anyway, we may have to wait two weeks for a second opinion.


What a pain. All the symptoms scream hydrocephalus but the neurologist does not beleive it.

I'll keep you posted. Did your shunt work?

My shunt did work. I am not "well" by any means, but much much better! I know that everyday that the fluid is off my brain there is less chance for permenant damage... that's what gives me my peace of mind. I hope you can find someone who will listen to your concerns soon. I have learned through this process that patience is the best tool you can have in your toolbox of doctor choices.... Keep being an advocate for your Dad... he will be thankful someday!