Hi all,

Still getting used to this shunt which was implanted on 11/15/16. Recently I have been experiencing scalp itching at the site of the shunt. I'm wondering if this is common, will eventually go away and if anyone has experienced this. Thanks for any advice.

you are almost past the point where infections show up so that's probably unlikely. before you call your surgeon's office have someone look at the area. is there build up because rinsing routines might have changed to not rinse there as well (we use t-sal shampoo for scalp skin plaques that build up, happens with stress, but it would help remove other build ups). if it is red or at all puffy around the surgical scar or shunt bump, get in right away! if nothing is visible, keep an eye on it as you may be having a reaction to the implant materials or something from the surgery, that should be unlikely but rare stuff happens. I can't think of other stuff we look for but maybe someone else will have a suggestion.

sorry for being late in getting back to your response, The past two months I was suffering with a bad neck and had to get an epidural. Probably not related but everything that happens to me now makes me suspicious of the shunt. Thanks again and I will try that shampoo. I'm careful shampooing around the shunt but the itchy scalp is throughout and only started with the shunt surgery.

thought of one other consideration - one thing our child did, before she could talk, she would scratch her head (a lot, and her head would sweat like crazy when lying down), her setting was too high and she needed a lower setting to drain. After being adjusted (~20 months) she stopped scratching, started walking a few days later, climbed a ladder a few weeks after that. If there's nothing else, you may want your actual pressure checked. We saw that shunt didn't drain when lying down with shuntogram but that test can be hit or miss; it can really depend on the person doing it.

the stress that causes plaques for our child is probably a form of psoriasis (seems related to how well her shunt is working sometimes) stress of a surgery can trigger such a response in some people.

it can take a while to figure out what is the issue, hope that goes as fast as possible.

YES. itchy scalp is common. Every time they have operated on me (x6)I have the 'itchys'. Initially I thought it was from the shaving of 1/2 my head, but they haven't always needed to shave, but every time I itch.
That 'suspicion of the shunt' is something I am very familiar with and I think it's a normal reaction. But as time goes by you slowly get used to it. Not everything is shunt related, but by the same accord, don't write everything off as insignificant. I ignored symptoms which, in hindsight, I should have followed up on earlier. Now I look for a progression of symptoms. ie headaches are an everyday thing, but a headache with a neck tightness and a visual distortion getting worse is a sign I need to follow up.

It's good to know what to look out for. I'm even having trouble controlling my blood sugar and I'm wondering why this is happening. No change to diet although I haven't been moving as much as I should. I'm also getting not only daily headaches, but head pain, like my head is in a vise. Also neck pain, stiffness. It comes and goes, not constant. I also feel pain right on the top of my head like it is sensitive to the touch. My next appt with my neurosurgeon is in Sept but I may move that up.

Yesterday I had a weird experience feeling off balance while outside, when I came in I had a feeling of dizziness and nausea and I actually did get sick a little. After that I felt better.

Thanks again for your input.

Imagine, discovering kindred souls who know what it's like to have a shunt-shaped bulge in my skull, that is keeping me alive but feels itchy and irritable.
I had an aneurysm last June and another hemorrhage in August.

Hi Antonia

Welcome to NeuroTalk .

I am glad that you have found the community and hope that you will continue to find it helpful.

Best wishes.