Nauseas after VP Shunt Surgery-- Is it common?
 

Hi dear Forum,

Back here again, reading you and finding strenght from everyone thanks to your stories and experiences.
I know some of you had the VP Shunt installed when you were little, but in case you know, is it normal to have strong nauseas? Mine started like 2-3 days ago, I don't even have a month of the surgery, but worries me that the nauseas have started without any reason... let me know your opinions or any knowledge that you may have. Thanks a lot. Hugs.:grouphug:

Hey,
What kind of shunt did you have put in may i ask?
Fixed pressure (High medium low)
Or an adjustable programmable one?

Reason I ask is that I currently have a fixed pressure one, I went into hospital the other week, feeling headachy (not bad headaches, just little ones) and Nauseous, which had continued for weeks...its now been about a month ongoing.
Well, I was given ICP monitoring over a period of 2 days, which suggested that I was overdraining, meaning the shunt was working too well and was taking too much fluid away from my head.
Therefore Im going into hospital tomorrow to be admitted again and have my shunt changed to a programmable to try and control this problem.

I wasnt aware that headache and nausea was a symptom of overdraining otherwise things would have clicked alot sooner than they did.

I do just hope, its your head adjusting from high pressure to a relatively normal pressure though. But of course, as anyone would say, if your concerned do just ask your neurosurgeon for his prospective of what is causing the nausea, should it be related to whats happening inside your head.
Good luck!! :grouphug:

VP Shunt
 

Did they adjust your shunt? how you feeling after that?

I am 30 yrs old and I have a VP Shunt installed in 2004 due to brain lipoma between the 3rd and 4th ventricles... for the last month I've been having nauseas and presure in top of my head that feels like someone is pushing me down, and I feel dizzy... I hope is not that :(

Nasuea & Brain shunt
 

I am 35 years old and had a brain shunt installed in September. For the first 2 months, I was not nauseous but in January, I started throwing up and getting stomach pains every time I out my head down on a pillow. My surgeon said shunts don't cause stomach pains, etc... He sent me to a stomach specialist. After, sever tests including an endoscopy, blood tests, stomach emptying test, (he even wants to do an MRI) I think it has to do with my shunt. I will see my neuro surgeon again since other specialist found nothing wrong. I will let you all know what he says.

I hope you all have gotten relief from you nausea symptoms and hope their temporary. Let me know if adjusting your shunt, or what has worked for anyone with similar symptoms. I have a chronic stomach ache and if I get up to fast to answer to the phone or turn off the alarm I get sick.

Over draining and nausea
 

I went to several doctors. A resident of all people found out that I am over draining and probably causing the nausea and pressure. My surgeon read the shunt wrong! I was at 0.5 and should have been at 1.5 The resident adjusted to 1 to avoid going to strong. After a week, I was still sick. They just adjusted to 1.5 so hopefully that will work. Always ask to see adjustable shunt reading. I learned the hard way

:o If you had an MRI even a month ago, the setting could be off. That is what happened to me. My neurosugeon read it wrong! It was reset to lowest setting after MRI... I was severely sick and hospitalized. A resident found it was set all wrong. Always read the setting if it is adjustable yourself, when they change it. If it is OVER draining, you will feel sick

vp shunt and adjustments
 

I have a programable shunt. Placed in after it was discovered I have a bilateral CSF leak. As it turns out it was a good thing I did have the programable one since I have had all 5 settings from 1-2.5. As it turns out that right now 1.5 seems perfect for me. If I had not had a programable shunt put in my doctor said he would have had to remove it already (it was put in in oct 2010.) when I was in the hospitial just after its placement I was really sick for days I just vomitted. Once they turned it back down and gave me 2 IVs of caffine my nausea finally subsided. It was definalty overdraining too much and needed to be turned back down. It did get better over time and I am thankful to have a shunt that was able to be programed. In the fall of this year my doctor is thinking of putting in a new one that actually has a shut off valve so I have even more control. Good luck.

One more question about VP shut adjustment
 

Thank you so much for your response. For how long were you sick after they adjusted your shunt down? I was adjusted to 1.5 about 3 weeks ago (the correct setting I was in September 2010 after my surgery) and I am still very sick. I have vomited so much the last 2 days, that I even considered the ER again tonight. Should I give myself a full month to heal again, or is 3 weeks enough time to feel better again. :confused: I am not sure if is enough time or not. I am SO GLAD you are feeling and doing so well!:)