I have always heard the term IIH from my doctors but im confused.. I was at my pre op yesterday for my shunt, and my surgeons diagnosis is Hydrocephaus... my only thought is hes blaming it on my ventricular system? I had a stent in Nov of 2012 that has made no difference other then i can feel it throbbing now too at times. Im just like WHAH what!?
Also im worried that I will feel the shunt like i feel my stent. Eek I know Ive heard good and bad about the shunt and may have even asked this before but can you feel it always or does it finally feel like a part of you?
eeek my heads been hurting non stop, i havent been to work i really want this all to be over!

As the owner of a VP shunt, I can assure you it just becomes part of your body, and you're only aware of it when you're washing you hair and can feel the valve and bulb. It may feel a little different on the side where the surgery has been because they will cut through nerves, but nothing detrimental.

I asked all the same things as you when I was having my first shunt too, I just wish there had been someone to answer them who had had one. If you have anymore questions please keep asking. Let us know the date you're having your surgery so we can all support you fully and root for you.

hydrocephalus is when there is increased pressure in the ventricles pushing OUT at the brain. it is caused by a blockage within the ventricular system.
IIH is when there is increased pressure all around the outside of the brain, pushing IN. it is generally caused by poor CSF drainage at the arachnoid granulations, due to an abnormal pressure gradient from CSF to the venous system. what causes that may be different in different people, and not always discernable.

Thanks for the explanation, Deb. I have wondered that myself.
How do they determine which way the problem is? In my case, the docs have called in PTC as well as Hydroc.

I would think it's hydro when the ventricles are enlarged. usually ventricles are small in IIH. there might be other ways that I don't know about. I know I had a CSF flow velocity done on my MRIs, and maybe they would see something in particular on that with hydro vs. IIH.

I have a friend (actually we shared an office together about 15 years ago) who was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. His issue was that the ventricles were increasing in size at an alarming rate. He eventually had a VP shunt. So I think you are correct, Deb, in your descriptions of IH vs hydrocephalus.