How often do you see a NSG for a check-up if things are going good?
by Anonymous
After receiving my 1st shunt at age 21, and receiving my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th over the next 6 months, my NSG told be to come in for scans and a check-up every year.
I moved and found another NSG who recommended and continued the yearly checks. After he retired, his partner took over, then he retired.
3 years ago I found another NSG, who once again wanted yearly checks, but he moved out of state shortly after my first check-up.
Now, every NSG I contact has no interest in seeing me unless I need surgery. Since I have not needed surgery for 20 years, that has not been a problem, but when and if that day comes, I'll now end up in the nearest emergency room and have a Dr. who knows nothing about my case operate on me.
What is the standard? Is it normal not to see a NSG unless a revision is needed? Should I be looking for a Neurologist instead? Should I just try to educate the people around me and take my chances on an ER?
I have no major symptoms currently. My primary care physician is a little concerned because I have a shunt coiled up in my abdomen which broke lose several years ago, but it has not caused any problems yet. Long story short, I had two shunts, a standard peritoneal shunt for the Hydro which is still there and a secondary one between the brain and scull to drain fluid due to subdural hematoma. The subdural fluid disipated over time but that shunt was not removed.