How do colds and flu affect hydro?
 

...that may sound like a daft question, as of course it's gonna make it feel worse! :) But I read somewhere (really can't remember where though) that minor illnesses can heighten hydrocephalus symptoms AFTER the person has recovered from the cold/flu/whatever. I've just had a really nasty heavy cold (wasn't flu though) and now my headaches are going through the roof..yet the cold kind of ended two days ago. It's awful weather here, pouring rain and driving winds, so I'm hoping maybe that's affecting the pain. But as I had a new shunt put in 5 weeks ago I'm getting a bit nervous. Headaches have been getting worse over last 48 hrs. Anyone felt their headaches more after a cold? Or was that a complete bit of rubbish that I read?!! Just curious to know! :)

I think having hydro just increases our sensitivity to pressure within the sinuses and brings on more intense headaches than someone who doesn't have hydro would have. Depending on the other issues you have with hydro, you may find other symptoms to be more debilitating (e.g. fever), and they may leave you more wiped out once they start to leave, so recovery can take longer. At least, this has been my experience, especially with fevers, since my "normal" temp is significantly lower than the accepted norm of 98.6f. I am usually 97.5f-ish, so a temp of 99f can make me feel like hell, where someone like my hubby, who is 98.6 normally, would hardly feel it, indeed if at all.


LIZARD :)

I think so too
 

The nearly 20 years I had hydro and did not know. I worked went to school bought a house. But unlike other co-workers I felt like I was constantly over run with just plan tired. Days off I would sleep in til 12 or 1. I never could figure out how people could jump up on there day off and go shopping go on trips... Being single I was the perfect preson to be doing these things. But I had to recover.

Lizard, that is an interesting point you raised about temperatures
 

because when I was sick a couple of weeks ago with something like the flu, I took my temperature when I got to work one day, and found that it was 37.2 degrees C (0.2 degrees above normal), and yet I felt really crook, and had to take a couple of Panamax. While I had this flu (and with the cold a couple of weeks earlier too) and had a couple of doozy headaches, so that might explain why. Taking the Panamax significantly improved the headache, which I found unusual, because it hardly touches the side with me normally.

Nat.

It makes sense that headaches would get worse with the blocked nose thing! I feel a lot better today; last night got so bad I was on the phone to my NS who wanted me to come in but as it's a 2-hour drive and it was 11pm I decided to wait the night out at home and I do feel better today. He did say that it could be the after-effects of a minor illness but I'm due to see him very soon anyway for a pressure increase so hopefully I can wait it out. Am finding that as the years go by, even though I'm very physically fit and at the gym 4 times a week, it's soooooo much harder to recover from minor ailments! Little colds are becoming big deals! Interesting to read all your comments so thankyou.

I have a cold or a flu right now (just hit yesterday afternoon) and I feel pressure in my head near my shunt but nothing too big or important. Just drink a lot of orange juice and use vitamin c a lot. Good luck.

Perfect timing!
 

I've got a cold/sinus problem right now.:rolleyes: I don't have any fever, but my head feels like it's going to explode! Of
course, the fact that I also have slit ventricle syndrome doesn't
help, either. I know you're supposed to drink a lot, but when
I get like this, all I want to do is stay in bed. For some reason,
the pressure is worse when I'm sitting/standing. I'm not sure why, but I've always been like this, so it's nothing new to me.

My namw is Jennifer (Will someone Please be my FRIEND
 

No One Is Writing Me And I Am Lonely I Am On Here Aleast Twice A Day. What Is Going On.

Looking For Friends

Person With Hydrocephalus
Jennifer:

((((((((((((((((Jennifer))))))))))))))))))). :(

Please stick with us, hon'. People are in and out all the time. It may take awhile to feel like "one of us," depending on what's going on. I get a lot of competition for my computer, as my kids are on it a lot, so the only time I can guarantee I can get on is when they're in school. They were off yesterday (primary election), so I wasn't on much.

We are not ignoring you, sweetie. Just hang in, and get comfortable. We're here for you. Just start telling us what you need.


LIZARD :)

I've actually got a terrible cold right now, I've had 36 shunt replacements, not suprisingly Slit Venticles and eppilepsy too. But I spoke to my doctor and explained that I'd been off for the week cus of this pesky head cold (I was always told it jiggered around with the pressure in a similar way to altitude on a plane), I mentioned perhaps it caused a few problems with the pressure n'all....to which my doctor laughed and said "well, it's not meningitus, so nope".

Now, I'm sure I was told this by a neuro consultant before..but hell, she's wrote me off for another week with "synistic problems"...although, she did suggest before my last 2 shunt changes th I was having "synustic problems" oppss.

Daz