I am 29 years old, and i was just recently diagnosed with obstructive hydrocephalus. I believe this was caused by a gynecological surgery I had done in May 2013. The surgery was a disaster, one of my major arteries were cut and I almost died, I had a full blood transfusion and believe all of the trauma brought on the hydrocephalus. I was in the hospital for three weeks and developed terrible headaches like I've never felt before and double vision. The team of doctors told me this was normal and not to worry. I was released from the hospital only to find my health declining for the next month. I eventually went to a different hospital to get a second opinion. This is when I was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. My neurosurgeon decided that I was a good candidate for etv surgery and I had this procedure done on July 31st of 2013. It seemed to work, I was no longer vomiting, my headaches disappeared, I could walk on my own again, but by the end of the week all of my symptoms returned. I was re admitted to the hospital and had an MRI done immediately, which showed that all of my ventricles increased in size. So a shunt was the next step. My neurosurgeon wanted to place a ventricular atrial shunt since I've had a history of belly surgeries. On August 2nd he put the programmable shunt in with no problems but he couldn't place the drain in my heart because my vein kept collapsing. He decided to put the drain in a temporary place (somewhere above my belly) and he wanted to do a revision in a few days. He thought maybe I was dehydrated and if I bulked up on liquids and salts this would allow him to place the drain in my heart. I ate and drank as much as I could, and on August 5th I had my revision. My neurosurgeon ran into the same problem. At one point the surgical team had me turned completely upside down, they tried everything. In the end he decided it would be best to place the drain in my chest, a ventricular pleural shunt. When I woke up after surgery, my neurosurgeon explained what happened. He said he doesn't like to place the drain in the chest because it is very painful, but he was left with no other choice. And he wasn't kidding, the first few days I was in excruciating pain, I was crying nonstop. It has now been a month since the revision, and I still get shooting pains in my chest that make me stop in my footsteps and yell out in pain. I am thankful for my shunt, and for my neurosurgeon saving my life. But I feel for people with shunts. It has been a painful and emotional process, and something I have to deal with the rest of my life. A few months ago I had no idea what hydrocephalus was or what a shunt was. It's crazy what life can throw at you.

Katrina,

It is great to have you come and be with us. You will fine a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. Please, just let us know how we can help you out. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Looks like you have been through a lot from the beginning last May. Here is a forum for you to check out, there are wonderful people there to help you out.

Hydrocephalus:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum14.html

Please keep us up to date on your situation. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.