Swelling along line-VP Shunt
 

I had a vp shunt implanted in May 2013. Since I developed hydrocephalus due to an acoustic neuroma, my neurosurgeon believes that my brain has healed itself and I could probably do without a shunt now. Of course it is too dangerous to have it removed, so it sits there at a 2.5 setting. All was going fine until I noticed about 2-3 weeks ago that the catheter in the area between the bottom of my rib cage to where the tube makes a 90 degree turn toward my navel was swollen. It does not hurt, but it was certainly visually noticeable. At first I did not think anything of it, but finally did some research and learned that swelling along the tract line mandates a visit to the neurosurgeon. I saw my neurosurgeon last week and he determined that there was no infection, no hernia and that the shunt was still working properly. He "guessed" that it was either scar tissue or related to a recent 15lb weight loss (all weight comes off my abdomen). I am not convinced that his opinion is correct, but I am at a loss to come up with an alternative hypothesis. At first I thought it could be clogged, but then realized that the tube would not get bigger with a clog, instead the fluid would just sit there. Plus, the swelling is not extending to my chest or neck area. So, I am out of ideas.

Has anyone had a similar experience?