Anyone else had/have extreme abdo/chest pain after vp shunt?
 

Since my shunt was put in 4 months ago ive been getting these extreme pains in my abdomen and recently started in my chest also. Ive been to hospital multipule times (im in right now) since it started but docs settle the pain amd send me home. They insist that there is not a relation between this abdo chest pain and the shunt.

Has anyone else experienced this pain? I think its worse than the headache. I just want the shunt removed because im sure that it has to be the cause of my pain!!!

Is the pain specific to one side or the other? Have they done any scans or xrays of your abdomen? The last time I had my shunt replaced the bottom tubing wrapped around my diaphragm causing severe side pain on that side and referred pain near my collarbone on that side. Mine had to be fixed with laprascopic surgery.

I have some abdominal pains on and off but not like that. Are you running a temp? I would call neurosurgeon and have him check it out. sorry your feeling so bad. good luck to you!

There is no infection and they have done ct scans xrays and ultrasounds and still have no idea why? The pain changes spots all the time. For the last few days it has been concerntrated to right under my left breast. The pain is so bad its hurting to breath. There trying to control the pain with morphine, endone, diazapam

I'm glad there is no infection and am so sorry you r in that much pain! I have no idea what could be going on, but I hope they find out soon. maybe you need to have a shuntogram that shows the shunt is working properly. sounds to me like it could be shunt related, with the pain in your chest as well. watch the pain meds they can be constipating! take a stool softner daily.

Yeah mate its great that its not anything of serious concern. Its just a bugger the pain. Im taking regular laxitives to try and prevent constipation. Im still in hospital. My neuro surgeon believes that this pain cannot be related to thw shunt what so ever. He has to be wrong. Ive been doing some research and there are alot of people in my boat. Only a small amount of doctors agree that abdo/chest pain can be related to the shunt. In the documents, articles, blogs and posts ive read the only solution to the pain seems to be either a VA shunt instead of VP shunt or removal of the shunt completely. I live in Tasmania, so there is one neurosurgical team. Im going to Sydney next week to seek advise and hopefully treatment from a different neurosurgeon. My doctor down here has made it quiet clear that he can no longer offer me assistance. He has told me i need to learn to live with the pain as they can find no cause. So until next week when i head up to sudney, ill be remaining in Burnie hospital to maibtain pain relief.
Its absolutely horrible everything im having to go through, im 19 and my life has been conpletely turned upside down. Its already been difficult enough having my fanily live over 4000km away in WA. Im now out of money and struggling to pay all my bills. Who would have thought something as simple as a shunt could turn everything upside dow. I guess is all i can do is keep fighting! I hope and pray that i will be able to get over these obsticles and come out the other end a stronger woman. I just cannot wait for the day when my life will be normal again and i will be pain free. This whole experience has been a great lesson, ive learnt so much about whats really important in life and what we take for granted. I will keep you updated on what happens next on my road to recovory!!

one of the first on the planet
 

Sounds like it is possible that scar tissue has built up around the tube, I am no doctor, however I have had a shunt since 1970. I have not heard of abdominal/chest pain, however the only thing I could think of would be scar tissue, good luck in Australia, even tho6gh I believe the best doctors reside in the U.S., just my opinion.

I hope all goes well for you next week!! Please keep us posted. why not move back with your family until all this is hopefully resolved. They live in the states right? I'm glad your getting a second opinion!! Keep your chin up:)

Chest pain
 

I just spent about three hours in hospital while they investigated my chest pain. After doing all the heart-related tests, the doctor ruled my pain could be due to my vp shunt. Thought that kind of strange, but your explanation of scar tissue building around the shunt has me thinking you may have something there. The doctor has sent me home for the night, but I'm going out of town for a CT scan in the next day or two. I think after reading this I'll ask him about the possibility scar tissue has built up along the shunt. Might explain a few things which have been happening.

no mate, my family all lives in AUS also, there even further away from any good specialists. Im on a small island just of the south east coast of AUS. Sydney is basically Austalia's capital so im going to try my luck there. Ide love to goto the US for treatment as the doctors there are probably much better. But my finances are very tight after having to take so much unexpected time off work.

The doctors have suggested that the pains may be caused because of the tube rubbing over my diaphram, they also said that the tube is far to long in my abdomen. they said it has to much 'freedom' because its so long it may be moving aroung touching my insides causing the pain. Although, because they have already done 4 opperations in2 and a half months, they are refusing to opperate again. I have been told i need to learn to live with the pain. This is why i am seeking treatment in Sydney, becauseit impossible to live with this pain. :(

ive finally been discharged from hospital and been given some very strong pain killers so i can atleast manage the pain until i can get in to see the specialist in sydney.. i just hate to be on medications all the time, thats why i got the shunt in the first place, because i was sick to death of being on diamox everyday 4 times a day :( now im worse of than before i got the shunt :(

ive been doing alot of research, and this is actually alot more common than i thought. alot of people suffer severe abdo/chest pain after VP shunts and doctors continue to deny any relation to the shunt. There are afew doctors who have delt with this issue and found that changing to a VA shunt fixes the problem. (VA shunt goes into the heart instead of abdomen) so hopefully the specialist in sydney is willing to change the shunt. if not im going to have t get it removed and go back on the medication. I just cannot live with this pain any longer. it is ruining my life. I just want things to go back to normal. I want to be able to drive again and work again and go out with friends. At the moment i cant do any of those things because im just in to much pain. Im also sick of having no money. all the money i have saved goes to my medication which is costing me over $100 a week! :(

How did your CT scans go jeff179120 have you got any answers yet?? how long ago did you get your shunt fitted??