Hi Chris,

I've had hydrocephalus since I was a born and have had a total of 7
revisions since I had a VP shunt placed at 3 weeks of age. I am 26
years old (with my last 2 revisions being a year and half ago).

I remember not having too many restrictions after my revisions -- but
just a few such as not to lift heavy things or take stairs for a few
weeks. I also remember feeling tired for quite a while afterwards
(especially when I total shunt replacement back in 2003) ... in which
i had to fit "nap time" in my schedule - which was not easy while
being a full time college student.

One other thing I wanted to suggest, is that i also remember having
stomach pain every time I had to cough right after my surgery
(especially when I still had stitches in my stomach). However, a
nurse and one of the doctors at the hospital taught me that if you
should place a soft pillow against you stomach on top of the area
where the shunt is it becomes much easier to let the cough out and is
less painful.

Elana


--- In hydrocephalus@yahoogroups.com, "christine3438"
<chris.taylor68@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Everybody!
>
> I've recently had a VP shunt inserted (4 Sept 07).........and live in
> the UK..........I'm 38, not one of the younger person who get
> shunted!!
>
> I've been discharged from hospital with minimal advice on living with
> a shunt, so any tips you could give on what I should or shouldn't be
> doing would be so much appreciated.
>
> At the moment I'm still not feeling too good, yet have no follow-up
> appointment until February 2008 (our Health system works so
> differently here)...........so in those months I could be doing lots
> of things not advisable to be doing with a shunt.
>
> Thanks for any advice on this and also how long it could be before
> feeling lively once again!
>
> Chris
>
> Female, 38, UK
> Diagnosed with A/C Nov 2002
> Fenestrations Jun 2003, Feb 2005
> VP Shunt surgery Sept 2007 (and hoping for no more
> surgeries.....ever!)
>