VP SHUNT

Can any one tell me what does it feels like to have a VP shunt in ur body. waht are the complications that can come in once u have a shunt done.does the shunt give headace or does it cause irritation at all later in life.are there any other things that has to be taken care of once u are shunted (like tests ).how does the shunt affect the daily life of a person ?

[rumpled]

The brain does not have nerve endings - so the shunt will not be felt as far as I know.
Complications arise from the surgery - general anesthesia (same risks that are given to everyone) as well as infection.
I hope someone who has one who has a child with one comes along to help you.

[hatch_f]

I had a VP shunt placed about 4 weeks after having a menigioma removed from the left ventricle of my brain in 2002.  They had to revise it the next day because it was not placed deep enough into the ventricle to properly drain the fluid.  The tumor had caused enough damage so that the ventricle was hot able to drain the CSF and it was just building up.  I went under anesthisia to have it placed so the placement didn't cause any issues during the placement.  For a couple of weeks afterwards my stomach was very sore.  The drain for my shunt is in the abdominal cavity so they had to make a small incision through my stomach wall and that was painfull for a few days until that healed up.  I needed to splint my stomach with a pillow everytime I sat up.  It has been just over 6 years and I have had to have one more surgery to remove a second tumor but the VP shunt is still working fine.  They told me that it is possible that the shunt might have to be replaced if it stops working in the future but that is a relatively simple surgey compared to what I have been trough to this point.  The shunt is supposed to help keep down the swelling so that there aren't future headaches.  I still occasionally have headaches but they're nothing compared to the headaches that I had when they found my tumors.

[pedsmd]

I hope u could answer some questions fo rme. My dad recently had surgey for Astrocytoma. He was improving initially then his drug levels were high ( dilantin) so they attributed his change in mental status to that. Now he is on keppra but his mental status is still not baseline. They r saying there is mild degree of hydrocephalus and has him on diamox. They r going to monitor him for 1-2 days and then decide whether to put vp shunt or not. How dangerous it is to put the shunt? I know he will have to go through anaesthesia but other than that what is the recovery time after putting the shunt? do u have to be in the ICU afterthe shunt is palced? Thanks so much

[vicky021]

If u have a vp shunt can u still have kids cause me n my husband want kids n my mom keep tell me I can die

[rumpled]

Lots of people get shunts. I can certainly understand that your mom is worried but I don't find her um, support that helpful.  I don't know the reason why you are getting the shunt and that could impact your risk more. All surgery carries some risk - but then again, so does just living day to day! I hope you do well with your shunt, your children and your mom calms down.