Whats next after hydrocephalus surgery?

[mykel]

My mom, 52 years old, suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm that caused bleeding in her brain. It was a frightening and life-threatening situation, but she underwent an endovascular coiling procedure to stop the bleeding, and the procedure was successful.

The days that followed were filled with uncertainty, worry, and hope. As she recovered, our family stayed by her side, praying for her strength and healing. Despite the challenges she faced, she continued to show signs of progress. She can recognize her family, communicate clearly, and interact with the people around her.

Although she is awake most of the day and has shown encouraging improvement, her doctors discovered that she developed hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess fluid builds up in the brain. They initially tried to manage the condition with medication, but the fluid remains a concern. Because of this, her medical team has recommended a Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt procedure to help drain the excess fluid and relieve pressure on her brain.

While there are still obstacles ahead, we are grateful for every step of progress she has made. She has already overcome a ruptured aneurysm and the emergency treatment that followed. Her strength, courage, and determination continue to inspire our family every day.

As she prepares for the VP shunt procedure, we remain hopeful and faithful that this next step will help her continue her recovery and regain her strength. We ask for continued prayers and support as she continues her journey toward healing.

[Moltroub]

Sounds like your mom is doing well and the doctors are on top of her issues. We have many members who’ve required a shunt, so I’ll let them speak to life afterwards. I’ve moved this to our support prayer category from the general category so more may respond to your prayer request.

Hang in there, we realize this is a very stressful time for you and your family. Continued prayers for all.

[FinWhaleFan]

Hi @mykel -

Count me as one of those who had a shunt placed - well, technically twice!

Shunt #1 was installed about 6 months post-rupture; it was the Monday before Thanksgiving to be official. I went home on Wednesday and we celebrated Thanksgiving at my house (not surprisingly we ordered in LOL).

I say all that as I have a distinct memory of me saying something at Thanksgiving dinner, and my sister-in-law just gasped, and said “your voice sounds normal!” That is what my shunt does for me: it brought so much closer to being myself with balance, speech, personality, etc. Suffice it to say, I my shunt!!!

Of course, it is still an artificial thing in me, and there are ramifications of that. Mine is magnetically controlled so I am wary of magnetic things near my head (earbuds, security gates, etc.). Of course whenever I get an MRI/MRA I have to follow-up with the team afterwards to check the setting so they can readjust it to the proper level (called a strata). Small price to pay in my book.

One other issue is that with something artificial in you, it can be prone to infection. Hence why I have #2, as I developed meningitis. That cost me another month in the hospital, as they had to remove the first, treat the infection and then install the second. During this time I was hooked up to an external shunt, so I was not really able to move as I was a fall risk. Of course that meant muscles atrophied, so off to PT afterwards for a couple of weeks to build my strength up again.

Would I do it all over again knowing how much drama was involved?? IN A HEARTBEAT! Because of the shunt, most people have no clue as to what I have been through, and one of those people was an ER doc (I was not the patient, the patient blabbed on me instead of focusing on himself!)

The only other issues is that, of course, there are lumps and bumps. You can feel the tubing running down my head through my neck, but no one sees or is aware …except for my hairdressers. Speaking of which, neurosurgeons are not stylists, so I have had some weird haircuts where they randomly shaved away. In time it all grows back and the scars are all covered up. Depending on what your Mom’s preference is wigs, scarves help when going out in public.

Wishing all the best to you and your Mom! Please let us know what questions you have or how we can support you!!

Fin Whale Fan

[Bordercolliemum]

I hope that your mum continues to make progress. I have a VP shunt for hydrocephalus following a ruptured aneurysm in 2024. The shunt definitely improved my symptoms and I make progress everyday. Some times it feels slow but I have to think I about how things were when I first left the hospital.

I hope that things continue to improve and while there is a lot for your.mum to overcome she can make big improvements over time.

[trismegista]

Hi @mykel,

Good luck to your mom! Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.

I had a ruptured aneurysm in December 2019 at the age of 39, and then I immediately had endovascular coiling, & then was in the hospital until March 2020. After that I had hydrocephalus, and had a VP shunt installed in February 2020. In the summer of 2020, I had a “revision” surgery to reposition the abdominal end of the shunt. It’s been okay since then. A couple of times when I’ve had an MRI, I have needed to make an appointment with neurosurgery before and after to check the magnetic setting on the shunt.

As others in this thread have expressed, I also am super happy I got the shunt. When I was recovering from the subarachnoid hemorrhage and had hydrocephalus, I was in a rehab hospital, and it was uncertain whether I’d be able to get back to my everyday life. A weird thing is that I lost my memory of most of those three months between the rupture and when the shunt was installed. It’s not too much to say that getting the shunt gave me my life back. I can remember the time post-shunt, and according to my family, curing the hydrocephalus basically made my personality, behavior, and ability go back to normal.

Every year on the date that the rupture happened, I think about it - it happened on December 7, so now it’s doubly a “date that will live in infamy” for me.

As @FinWhaleFan notes, “there are lumps and bumps.” I have a permanent bump on my head from where the shunt is. When they put it in, they shaved half my head, which I thought was weird, so my husband shaved my whole head. I secretly always wanted to have a buzz cut - it’s just so much easier (I don’t even own a hairbrush anymore!) - so I’ve kept up with the shaving even though it’s not necessary at this point.

Anyhow, I hope your mother’s surgery goes well! Medical science is amazing and I hope she is able to make a full recovery.

Best,

Katie

[Alice3]

I have a vp shunt too. I did not respond to medication either. Be sure to get a card from her neurosurgeon with the name of the shunt and its settings.