Nicole...

Hey, Nicole.

I'm sorry you have to be here, but I'm also glad you found this site. You'll get a lot of help here.

The first thing you should do is get another opinion. Anytime you have symptoms that get in the way of your quality of life, and a nsg says you don't need surgery, you need another opinion. There's a good chance they'll worsen over time, too, so you should have a nsg who will answer questions about surgery, what you can expecty from it, how you'll continue to fare without it, etc. I suspect the nsg you saw doesn't know a lot about hydro. Nsgs have their specializations within neurosurgery, too. Some are much more experienced with cysts and tumors, some with spinal surgery, some with hydro, and some with malformations and the problems they can cause (which can include hydro). The chance is also good that if you saw a nsg who treats adults, he is unfamiliar with hydro. Still others are more experienced with adult-onset types of hydro, which is probably what you'll need. In any case, another opinion is a good idea, especially if your symptoms are getting in the way of your living your life.

As far as driving and flying, it'll depend on you and what you feel. I have always had shunted hydro (got my first shunt at a month old; I'm 41 now), and this shunt has worked wonderfully for narly 28 years.

It's allowed me to live a completely full and (mostly) normal life, with occasional extra effort. I am college-educated, happily married nearly 18 years, and mom to two terrific teenagers, and truthfully, my son's autism is the much bigger burden. Even that isn't anywhere near as bad as it could be.

I have no problems with driving, although I try to drive in low traffic times, and I get lost easily in unfamilar places, so I generally don't go far from home. I just flew to and from Salt Lake City for a hydro conference and will leave for Chicago next weekend. (I live in New England.)

I hope this helps you at least some.

Please keep asking your questions, and pick up the book Joy mentioned. It'll help a lot, too.

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrocephalus-Guide-Patients-Families-Friends/dp/156592410X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215381702&sr=1-1

LIZARD

Posted on Jul 6, 2008, 3:03 PM

Respond to this message

Goto Forum HomeResponses

thanks liz. , Jul 6, 2008

In that case.... , Jul 6, 2008

tie breaker. , Jul 6, 2008

Hydro "too big" for shunting. , Jul 6, 2008

?. nicole, Jul 7, 2008

Just curious.... , Jul 7, 2008

Create your own forum at Network54