I hope after I get this shunt that I can function better then I do now, I miss my old self. I wish I could handle being outside with my daughter for more than a half hour or an hour if I'm lucky. I wish that on the nice days I could just be out there with her while she runs around and plays, and even play with her without feeling horrible. You never know what you may miss until you can't do it or it causes you pain. I hope that i can clean my house and cook food for my family! I'm tired of feeling this way and hope this shunt helps me!

Oh, I so hope so too.

It is so hard, remembering what we once were able to do and now we can't. We grieve for our former selves, which is very common when dealing with a chronic illness. But, we don't have to settle for it either. You keep fighting for yourself. You keep after your docs and insist that being as you are now is not going to cut it. You deserve to feel better. Your daughter needs her Mom back. You keep fighting this mess until you are able to take a deep breathe and say: "AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" And we'll be beside you every step of the way. ;)

((((Big Hug))))) I think Wylee hit the nail on the head - its like dealing with grief. It's like a grieving process for the old you - but in a way you can't let it go completely because there is always the glimmer of hope you might get that 'old you' back some day.
I hope today is a better day. Its so hard when you have kids. I miss those long days out bike riding and stuff like that. Today I have a teddy bears picnic on the lounge floor planned for after tea - not quite the same but I can flop on the sofa if I feel terrible and smile and watch the kids have fun.
I have my fingers crossed for you that the shunt is the answer and you will be running round before long.