Shunts and altitude
 

I have a shunt placed two months ago. Now I have chest pain, the end of the tube was put in my chest area. A dr. told me that some of his patients couldn't live at certain altitudes because of inside and outside of the head pressures, has anyone ever heard of that and what is your experience?????
Thanks
Matt

Hey, Matt. :)

It is true that some of us have a difficult time with elevation and changes in air pressure. Many people get headaches, balance problems, and even seizures from them. I have a cluster of simple partial seizures with each season change.

If the elevation is an issue, you'll probably acclimate to it eventually, since it's fairly stable. I went to college in the New River Valley (in the Blue Ridge Mountains), and this was a problem for me for some time.

LIZARD :)

Hey Matthew, I'm guessing you have a pleural(in the lining of the lungs) shunt since you mentioned it being in your chest. I've never had a problem with altitudes or anything like that and I have a pleural shunt as well. I think it is just something that varies from person to person. My neurosurgeon didn't really give me restrictions on anything like that with it either.