Hi all, Hope you're well.

It's been a while since I've posted. My visual fields are gradually getting worse and all the medications (diamox, furosemide and topamax) have failed to relieve the pressure and have had serious and adverse side effects on me. I've now been given Amitryptaline for the next few weeks to try and help me to get a good nights sleep and reduce my headaches, but all it seems to do is give me vivid dreams!

I'm due to have a consult with a neurosurgeon finally and will be getting an LP shunt within the next 4-5 weeks. I've tried to avoid having to get a shunt but it looks like it will be necessary after all.

I know a lot of you have LP shunts and I have a few questions if anybody has a spare moment.

1) How long did you spend in hospital after the procedure?
2) Were you admitted to hospital a day before the procedure or on the same day?
3) What is the pre-op like? WIll I need a Lumbar Puncture before surgery?
4) How long did it take you to recover after the surgery (at home)
5) Will I need somebody to help me with daily tasks as I live alone.

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me.

x

Good to see you back. I know having to have a shunt is very overwhelming and scary. but focus on the aim of the shunt because that really helps to keep you positive. If when you're admitted and you feel anxious about your surgery, ask them if you could have a pre med before surgery, it helps you to relax and I have had that myself a few times.

What usually happens is that you will have to go for a pre op assessement first so they can check your bloods, heart, bloodpressure and that kind of thing. They will then run through the procedure with you and give you chance to ask questions, so take someone with you, so they can give you support. They may also ask you to sign a consent form after they have gone through everything.

You will be admitted the day before but they wont be able to tell you where you are on the theatre list till the next day. You wont need a lumbar puncture at this stage. On the day you may be asked to shower and you will be given a gown, surgical stockings which you will have been measured for, and the dreaded paper pants.

After the op you will have a wound on your abdomen and the lumbar part of your spine which will be stapled. You may be in for at least a week, but it depends on your doctors as to when they think you're ready to go home, and this usually happens after you've seen the Physiotherapist or in some hospitals they like you to also see an Ocupational Health Therapist.

When you are sent home you may, or will be given some waterproof dressings and things for the District Nurse, ready for when she comes to see you, she may be the one who removes your staples. Then you just need to make sure you keep them clean and dry till they scar over completely.

You wont be able to do any strenuous activity for a few weeks and bending and lifting are a no no until you're fully healed, which varies from person to person, so keep it to light housework and things. You will be able to do things yourself, it's about being sensible for a while really.

I would take some comfy night things and clothes, such as t-shirts and jogging bottoms or leggings, when you go into hospital, because they wont irritate where your dressings and wounds are. Take a book to read, puzzle books, pens, ipod things like that to keep you occupied, the days are very long in hospital, especially between visitors.

Hope this helps and keep asking questions if you feel you need to, it's why we're here.

Heidi

Boy, I sure am glad I had my lp shunt installed in the US!! I had pre-op on Monday afternoon, went home, showered using the surgical scrub and watched TV that night. The next morning I got up, showered again using the surgical scrub, got dressed, went to the hospital, got checked in, had my surgery, went to recovery then a private room for over night observation and that was it. I too had the no heavy lifting restriction but everything else was "normal".

Regardless, the surgery is not a big deal, you have a bit of pain for a few days from the surgery sights but the shunt starts working right away as does the symptoms getting better!!

My Neurosurgeon said it is dangerous to have a shunt installed within 2 weeks of having an lp due to increase chance of infection.

Just keep thinking about how much better you will soon be feeling!!

Haai
My name is Mariska and i'f been diagnosed with iih since june 2010 after having a viral menigitus. In 2011 they placed a LP shunt... Hope im not 2 late answering you. ( sorry for my english, im dutch and try 2 work on it ;) ) This is how did they it with me in Holland.

1) How long did you spend in hospital after the procedure?
The first time i spend 6 days and 5 nights in the hospital after the shunt was placed, i had 3 other surgery's 2 fix the shunt. all 3 times i left the hospital in two days.

2) Were you admitted to hospital a day before the procedure or on the same day?
the fist time i was admitted to the hospital a day before. But my shunt let me down 3 times i was admitted the same day and in 4 our i was in the O.R.


3) What is the pre-op like? WIll I need a Lumbar Puncture before surgery?
No, Cause the knew the pressure was high.

4) How long did it take you to recover after the surgery (at home)
Im still recovering. Shunt issn't working like the way it need to work. The fist time the shunt wassen't good in my belly, The second the shunt broke in 2 in my back (prob after a lumbal puncture) and on the right side there was a leak so the liqor was building up in my right side underneath the skin. aqnd the 3th time is a leak again! this time in my back..


5) Will I need somebody to help me with daily tasks as I live alone.
Yes, im my case i needed it.


P.s) this was my case and my experiance with an Lp shunt. The dokter told me that this not happen quit often. Hope the Shunt they gonne place on you will help you! Good luck and i wish you the best.

Xx Mariska

i have been suffering with IIH for 10 years and have had well over 20 LPs i had a spinal shunt surgury planned for frbuary 2013 but due to my fluid being high and an unsusefull LP due to doctors incompidence. my surgery has been moved to in 2 weeks i iknow the basics of the surgery but i am still panicing about recovry

1.will they take the tube out of my throat b4 i wake up
2. i read some where they give you a frame to help you walk is that true
3. do i keep taking all the frusimide and topromate

excuse the spelling as i am dyslexic

Sammyjo, I think part of what you are asking depends on where you are. And then each doc has there own way of doing things.

I still take Diamox and Furosemide because it seems that their help is needed to keep the fluid levels down enough to help relieve my symptoms.

Never heard of a frame.

The tube is only used to assist breathing during surgery.

thank wylee, i think google is a very dangorous invention lol. after 10 yrs of lps and medication, a shunt has to be better for me in the long run x