[msks2u]

I had a VP shunt placed on October 18th and wishing I never had it...I was able to go home the day after the surgery to my surprise...the RN really did not think I should go but my neuro surgeons nurse practioner released me..The day I was released I started vomiting before I even left the hospital...gave me a nausea patch..went on home..I was a little dizzy and had pain in my head and my ear was aching...called the Neuro office...told me it was normal keep taking pain meds and rest..a few days later I felt batter..went to work ( I was released to go back to work for that following Monday..Monday night was a really bad night with pain and I was even afraid of sleeping as I was not sure why the pain meds were not working and cutting any of the pain..again doctor office told me it takes a few days....Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty good days....then today ....was a different story...I woke up fine...no pain...went to work and within about an hour I got SEVERELY dizzy just sitting at my desk...Since I was so dizzy and I was feeling sick I called my Neuro office again and was told prob the meds (which I had not taken any pain meds since last night) and drink some water and it should stop...well it did not stop...I asked a co worker to help me to the bathroom as I was going to get sick and I could not hardly walk...I never felt that dizzy in my life even prior to the shunt!!! My coworker then they drove me home as I thought daughter was off today and could come and stay with me..but she was working..I stayed laying on the couch and everything kept spinning (I have been dizzy before but nothing this severe) I was terrified as I live alone..and everyone I knew was at work..the room would not stop moving and I was having to crawl to bathroom to get sick...I ended up calling 911...Went to ER and they did a CT scan...my ventricles looked fine...ended up diagnosing me with LABYRINTHITIS...inner ear inflammation...My surgery was just a little over a week ago for the VP shunt and the shunt was inserted above and behind my right ear...so I am sure it is it is inflammed...I am aggravated that NO ONE even told me that this might even happen...and to think of the pain I was having in my head and ear at the begginning of the week and being chalked up to..."It is normal"...For me..I would rather they take this shunt out and shove it...I had no clue my life was going to change like this...I thought my life was bad before shunt and was scared of losing my vision..and tired of headaches...and did not feel like I had the quality of life I had before...but this just takes the quality of life away that I did still have...does this get better? Why in the heck did my neuro surgeon advise me of the possible issues I might have after the surgery...Seriously...you should read my discharge papers from the hospital...they are so vague...walk as tolerated..do not lift over 10 pounds..do not drive until Monday (5 days from discharge) or when you have stopped pain meds....that is about it...Sorry venting here...but would like to know if this is all normal when a VP shunt is inserted....are the doctors missing something here? Can I demand to have this removed?

[barbaracoffing]

I can't believe your neuro allowed you to go back to work, was he crazy? You need at least 4 weeks to recoup if not 6! The reason you don't feel right is because you aren't fully healed! I had my VP surgery 2 weeks ago and am still in pain. I've had 4 LP shunt surgeries. I can't imagine going back to work now with the staples still in me. REST is what makes you better. You need recovery time until your shunt adjusts to the CSF fluid and balances out! Take another 2 weeks off AT LEAST so you don't end up back in the hospital You might have a different perspective after that! Think of it as a vacation and pick up a good book and rent some movies!

Originally Posted by msks2u

I had a VP shunt placed on October 18th and wishing I never had it...I was able to go home the day after the surgery to my surprise...the RN really did not think I should go but my neuro surgeons nurse practioner released me..The day I was released I started vomiting before I even left the hospital...gave me a nausea patch..went on home..I was a little dizzy and had pain in my head and my ear was aching...called the Neuro office...told me it was normal keep taking pain meds and rest..a few days later I felt batter..went to work ( I was released to go back to work for that following Monday..Monday night was a really bad night with pain and I was even afraid of sleeping as I was not sure why the pain meds were not working and cutting any of the pain..again doctor office told me it takes a few days....Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty good days....then today ....was a different story...I woke up fine...no pain...went to work and within about an hour I got SEVERELY dizzy just sitting at my desk...Since I was so dizzy and I was feeling sick I called my Neuro office again and was told prob the meds (which I had not taken any pain meds since last night) and drink some water and it should stop...well it did not stop...I asked a co worker to help me to the bathroom as I was going to get sick and I could not hardly walk...I never felt that dizzy in my life even prior to the shunt!!! My coworker then they drove me home as I thought daughter was off today and could come and stay with me..but she was working..I stayed laying on the couch and everything kept spinning (I have been dizzy before but nothing this severe) I was terrified as I live alone..and everyone I knew was at work..the room would not stop moving and I was having to crawl to bathroom to get sick...I ended up calling 911...Went to ER and they did a CT scan...my ventricles looked fine...ended up diagnosing me with LABYRINTHITIS...inner ear inflammation...My surgery was just a little over a week ago for the VP shunt and the shunt was inserted above and behind my right ear...so I am sure it is it is inflammed...I am aggravated that NO ONE even told me that this might even happen...and to think of the pain I was having in my head and ear at the begginning of the week and being chalked up to..."It is normal"...For me..I would rather they take this shunt out and shove it...I had no clue my life was going to change like this...I thought my life was bad before shunt and was scared of losing my vision..and tired of headaches...and did not feel like I had the quality of life I had before...but this just takes the quality of life away that I did still have...does this get better? Why in the heck did my neuro surgeon advise me of the possible issues I might have after the surgery...Seriously...you should read my discharge papers from the hospital...they are so vague...walk as tolerated..do not lift over 10 pounds..do not drive until Monday (5 days from discharge) or when you have stopped pain meds....that is about it...Sorry venting here...but would like to know if this is all normal when a VP shunt is inserted....are the doctors missing something here? Can I demand to have this removed?

[TMOORE]

msks, I just stumbled upon your post from oct. when u had the shunt surgery. I too have a vp shunt and i wonder how u are doing now that its been awhile-approx 6 mo-.
Im curious because I wanted this damn thing removed, my quality of life was greatly diminished after the shunt, and i too was in tremndous pain, dizzy, headaches, etc? Also my ns was also very vague and completely useless to help me afterwards.
Hope ur better!

[annakkro]

Originally Posted by barbaracoffing

I can't believe your neuro allowed you to go back to work, was he crazy? You need at least 4 weeks to recoup if not 6! The reason you don't feel right is because you aren't fully healed! I had my VP surgery 2 weeks ago and am still in pain. I've had 4 LP shunt surgeries. I can't imagine going back to work now with the staples still in me. REST is what makes you better. You need recovery time until your shunt adjusts to the CSF fluid and balances out! Take another 2 weeks off AT LEAST so you don't end up back in the hospital You might have a different perspective after that! Think of it as a vacation and pick up a good book and rent some movies!

I think you bring up a good point here. When should we go back to work after these surgeries? I know all surgeries are different and I was always told I could do anything that I could "tolerate", which usually meant 2-3 days off work at the most. But then I always regret going back so soon because I pay for it the next day. What are average recovery times for a "basic" shunt revision? What do people think or what have people experienced? I think we downplay the recovery time because the procedure has become so routine for NSs and some of us as well. There was rarely times when I wasn't out of the hospital the day after surgery, but i've learned that just because I'm "well enough" to leave the hospital, doesn't mean I'm well enough to resume life at full speed. Recovery has been very variable as well in terms of pain. For instance, usually I have initial soreness at the incision that last maybe a week. My last procedure was done in December and I still have extreme scalp sensitivity and pain at the site of the incision. My doctor just diagnosed me with hyperalgesia (overactive nerves) yesterday. Thoughts?