Where shall I start. I spent all of last night and a good portion of the morning in the ER. I had my shunt adjusted on Monday from 30 up to 50 and last night I was at my breaking point. Pressure had built up so high, I wasn't very coherent and was very sleepy. Headache that words can't describe and threw up a few times before I decided it was time to go to the ER.

I am now back to my old setting of 30, the lowest the Codman shunt goes and feeling almost back to my old self. I guess this episode tells me that I am totally shunt dependent. I really didn't think going from 30 to 50 would affect me so fast.

Suzie

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Suzie))))))))))))))))) )))))))))))))))))). I'm so sorry, hon'. Feel better soon, sweetie. I'm thinkin' of ya.



LIZARD

You poor thing! I'm glad you're feeling a bit better now. I get so confused over this whole shunt setting business! You're right, most wouldn't think that going from 30 to 50 would make such a huge difference. I'm only at 3 right now on my new shunt (goes from 0-20) but tonight I feel like I've got really high pressure. I used to overdrain like mad so maybe it's a case of my brain trying to adjust to new pressures...have you ever had that problem? Mind you, to me ALL my pressures feel like they're high, even when I'm overdraining, so what would I know? Very confused tonight. But if it gets any worse, like you, I'm going to my local hospital cos this feels nasty. Hope you continue to feel ok. Just don't go up again!

Hi Suzie

I'm sorry to hear about your "episode"! In some respects though, it makes me feel grateful that I DON'T have a programmable shunt. Admittedly, it might mean more operations, but problems with a "normal" shunt are usually more black and white in my experience - either they're blocked, and need fixing, or they're not and don't.

Mind you, I don't know that I would even be a candidate for a programmable shunt now. There are too many bits 'n' pieces in my head, that it probably wouldn't be that easy to change over.

Nat.

Suzie, I am sorry to hear that you had to spend time in the nasty ER. I hate those places! I hope you feel better soon.

If I wasnt so damn stubborn, I could have seen my NS in clinic that day. But me being me, I wanted and was hoping things would get better.

HA HA HA Yeah right.

What a scary nightmare!

I hope your resting soundly tonight.

Hugs,
Kathleen