Hydrocephalus

[jan]

MY MOTHER HAS HAD ALHZIMERS FOR AT LEAST TEN YEARS WHEN SHE FIRST WAS DIAGNOST SHE HAS PROGRESSIVLEY GOTTEN WORSE BUT SHE WENT TO A SURGEON A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND THEY ARE SAYING SHE HAS NORMAL PRESSURE HYDROENCEPHALITIS. WE HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFOR BUT NOW THEY ARE SAYING SHE PROBABLY DOESNT HAVE ALZ. THAT THIS IS HER MEMORY PROBLEM YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW SHOCKED WE ALL ARE AND THAT SHE COULD GET BETTER. SHE IS HAVING SURGERY IN 2 WEEKS TO PUT THE STENT IN, I AM STILL IN SHOCK AND I DONT KNOW VERY MUCH IT JUST SOUNDS ALL TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IM HOPING IT IS TRUE ! DOES ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE A SIMILAR STORY OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO THOUGHT IT WAS ALZ. AND FOUND OUT THEY HAD THIS? I NEED ANY INFORMATION ANYBODY CAN GIVE ME IM VERY CONCERNED.

[curt]

Glad to hear that her doctors found something reversible, I wish you both well and good luck!

[robynpa]

Last year it was discovered that I had 5 aneurysms and had 3coiled, after which I was very disoriented and can't remember much about the next 2 months,(although I seem to be remembering a little more now). The doctors told my family that I would be in a nursing home for the rest of my life. (at 65 that was devastating). It was then discovered I had hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain) and had a shunt inserted. Since then I have sold my large home and bought a smaller house in an Over 50's Resort which I have decorated and landscaped myself and of which I am very proud. This by someone who was not much more than a jibbering idiot only 7 month ago.
I realise that you mother's case is not the same as mine, but if she gets just some of the benefits that I have I promise you will be amazed, as my family are.
Good luck & good health.
Robyn

[manaliraval]

MY MOTHER HAS HAD ALHZIMERS FOR AT LEAST TEN YEARS WHEN SHE FIRST WAS DIAGNOST SHE HAS PROGRESSIVLEY GOTTEN WORSE BUT SHE WENT TO A SURGEON A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND THEY ARE SAYING SHE HAS NORMAL PRESSURE HYDROENCEPHALITIS. WE HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFOR BUT NOW THEY ARE SAYING SHE PROBABLY DOESNT HAVE ALZ. THAT THIS IS HER MEMORY PROBLEM YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW SHOCKED WE ALL ARE AND THAT SHE COULD GET BETTER. SHE IS HAVING SURGERY IN 2 WEEKS TO PUT THE STENT IN, I AM STILL IN SHOCK AND I DONT KNOW VERY MUCH IT JUST SOUNDS ALL TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IM HOPING IT IS TRUE ! DOES ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE A SIMILAR STORY OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO THOUGHT IT WAS ALZ. AND FOUND OUT THEY HAD THIS? I NEED ANY INFORMATION ANYBODY CAN GIVE ME IM VERY CONCERNED.


HELLO JAN,
im genetic counslor student and doing some persentation on "Hydrocephalus". ill provide youwith some information. if tht is helpful to you.

A clear, saltwater-like liquid called cerebrospinal fluid surrounds the brain. This fluid protects and nourishes the brain, carries away wastes from brain cells and contains important chemicals and nutrients. Each day the brain produces about a pint of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which flows in a continuous circuit through the brain cavities (ventricles) and over the surface of the brain and spinal cord until it is absorbed by the body.

A blockage at the base of the brain results in a build-up of fluid in the ventricles of the brain, which then expand and push against brain tissue and the bones of the skull. In an infant the plates of the skull are not yet fused together. This enables the plates to shift and accommodate the excess cerebrospinal fluid and thus lessen the amount of damage to the brain.

hydrocephalus is usually treated by insertion of a shunt. A shunt is a device which is designed to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain and carry it to other parts of the body. A one-way valve is used, which usually sits outside the skull, but beneath the skin, somewhere behind the ear.

Although a shunt generally works well, it may stop working if it disconnects, becomes blocked, or is outgrown. If this happens the cerebrospinal fluid will begin to accumulate again and a number of symptoms will develop.

It is important to get medical attention if any of the following symptoms appear.

Symptoms of a malfunctioning shunt:
Headache.
Vomiting.
Fever.
Irritability and personality changes.
Deterioration in performance of, for example, school work, gait, balance and concentration.
Lethargy and drowsiness.
Dizziness.
In more severe cases, vision disturbances and seizures.
THIS IS JUST GENERAL IDEA ABOUT IT. ITS DOESNT MEAN THAT YOUR MOTHER HAS IT / HAVE TO HAS IT.

TAKE CARE
MANALI

[vbara]

JAN,

YES, WE WERE GOING THREW THE SAME THING WITH MY MOTHER-IN-LAW....SHE WENT FROM BEING INDEPENDENT TO NURSING HOME BOUND IN WITHEN A 90 DAY PERIOD. SHE WAS HAVING ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA....WE TOOK HER TO A NEUROLOGY HE DIAGNOSIS HER AS HAVING MAYOPATHIC DISEASE (MUSCLE PROBLEMS). A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE ....OF A DAUGHTER RELATING HER STORY ABOUT HER MOTHER THAT WAS MISS DIAGNOSIS WITH ALZERMERS...SO A FAMILY MEMBER ASK HIS FAMILY DR. IF HE WOULD BE WILLING TO LOOK AT HER FILE. WHICH HE DID AND HE ORDER A CT SCAN ... HE WAS ABLE TO SEE SOMETHING NOT NORMAL WITH THE CT SCAN, SO HE REFER HER TO ANOTHER NEUROGOLOGIST...HE ORDER A MRI AND IF CONFIRM THAT IT WAS NPH SO HE SET HER UP FOR SURGERY THE NEXT DAY TO INSERT A SHUNT TO DRAIN THE FLUID FROM FROM BRAIN ...SHE CAME OUT OF SURGERY JUST FINE IT TOOK ABOUT 45 MINUTES......HE SAID SHE WOULD PROBABLY GO BACK TO BEING AS CLOSE TO NORMA AS SHE WAS BEFORE...HER SURGERY WAS PROFORM YESTERDAY...AND THIS MORNING SHE WAS ABLE TO SIT UP BY HERSELF AND THAT WAS SOMETHING SHE WAS HAVING TROUBLE DOING SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO SIT, SHE'LL BE STAYING AT THE HOSPITAL FOR REHABILITION ........SO WE'RE PRAYING FOR HER SPEEDY RECOVERY.......AND I'LL PRAY FOR YOUR MOTHER 'S RECOVERY.