Hydrocephalus

[Summerstorm]

I'm a 35 yr old woman who had a Vp Shunt as a result of Hydrocephalus. I've had it put in Jan 1991, had 3 revissions, then had a baby, had 5 more revissions between 1995 & 2000. in 2001 I was due for a revission again. I went to another doc, for alternative treatment. She did 3 Lumbar punches in 2 days to lower the flued level. Since then I have had NO problems or side effects.

I have just applied for Life insurance cover for my bond. The insurance company has accepted me for life cover, but excluded me on Dread Disease and Disability due to the fact that i have a shunt.

What i want to know is how on earth has the fact that i have a VP shunt affect the possiblity of becomming disabled in a car accident or getting cervix cancer??

Is there any side affects to living with a VP shunt?

[mp327]

Hi Summerstorm--

Sorry that you have to be one us living with hydrocephalus, but it sounds like you are currently doing very well. As for the insurance question, I too, was told by an insurance expert after I had surgery that I probably would be unable to get additional life insurance due to the disease. I'm sure this all has to do with the risk of insuring someone who could have sudden onset of disabling symptoms, thus, costing the insurance company big money. Of course, we all know, in reality, this could happen to anyone, even if they are completely healthy. It's just that the insurance company sees a bigger risk in individuals who already have some sort of health issue. It's similar to how auto insurance rates are higher, or insurance may even be denied, for someone who has had tickets or arrests for driving related offenses--a bigger risk. Keep in mind that the main goal of an insurance company is to make money, not pay claims!

As for side-effects with a shunt, I'm not sure what you are asking. There are symptoms a person may experience, which could indicate a shunt malfunction--I'm sure you are already aware of these. But I would not call these side-effects because of the shunt. I have had the same shunt since 12/93 and have not had any problems. I do occasionally feel pressure-type headaches, but they always go away with over-the-counter medications and my physician has assured me they are not related to the disease. I have recently undergone treatment for cancer with chemo and radiation, so I am well aware of what side effects are in that area. As for instance, one I have dealth with during and ongoing since my treatment stopped in September is diarrhea, which is directly related to the damage done to my intestines by the chemo & rad. I also experienced partial hair loss, again, a side-effect.

This may all be as "clear as mud," and I'm no expert on any of this--just relaying my thoughts and experiences. I would suggest you ask your neuro doc about the side-effect question, and if you have a friend in the insurance business, perhaps they could shed some light on your other question.

I hope you continue to do well!

mp327

[Summerstorm]

Hi mp327

I'm doing really well thanks, I have just had a baby girl (Summer)4.5 months ago and a boy (Storm) just turned 2. So in total since I've I hardly experience any headaches and if i do get one it usually goes away by itself. Health wise I cant complain. I do Horseriding, waterski and i've even Bundgy jumped. My next wish is to Skydive. I really love life and this Shunt hasn't got the better of me (i'm to fast for it :-) )

I am so sorry to hear bout the cancer and the side affects and pray that it will turn out for the best.

Best wishes

Summerstorm

[mp327]

Hi Summerstorm--

So glad to hear that you are doing well. It sounds like you are living life to the fullest and enjoying every minute. That's the way to do it!

Thanks for your well wishes. I am doing very well and my cancer is in remission. I am scheduled for more follow-up scans and exams the end of January and mid-February to check on my status. I am feeling great and hopefully, everything will come back clear. I, too, am not letting any disease get in my way.

You sound like a very active person, as am I. Since the shunt, I have run several 10K races and volunteered for a few years with Habitat for Humanity building houses. My neurosurgeon might cringe if he had seen me up on a roof, climbing scaffolding or walking around on the rafters 2 stories up, but what he doesn't know won't hurt him!

Enjoy your little ones. It sounds like you have a great family and great life. I wish you the very best and thank you for messaging me back.

Martha

[bglgr13]

Hi Summerstorm, your post caught my attention when you mentioned sky diveing, im 19 years old and a couple of my co workers just went sky diveing and after seeing my friend's video and hearing his experience , i want to try it so bad! but theres a few things in my way
1 my girlfriend ( lol ) is of course worried about me doing this and especially worried since i have hydrocephalus.

which leads me to # 2 are we able to go skyediving although we have hydrocephalus? would the air pressure effect the shunt at all?

hope to hear from you soon
:)

[mp327]

Hi bglgr--

I know you asked this question to Summerstorm, so forgive me for butting in. However, I have to say that one of the things my neurosurgeon told me I should NOT do with a shunt was skydive. I told him that was no problem, as I have never had a desire to do that anyway. I admire your adventurous spirit--yours too, Summerstorm. But I'm not sure skydiving is the best activity for any of us with these valves in our heads! But it's everyone's individual call and I'm just voicing my opinion, based on what my doctor told me. He also told me no mountain climbing or kick boxing. Well, I'm not interested in kick-boxing, but I have done some climbing--that's the extent of my adventurous spirit! :)

Martha

[bglgr13]

Hey mp327, its totally cool with me if you voice your input, i mean we are all here for each other so it only makes sense to be open to all opinions :). I can see wherer your coming from and i was actually jsut curious csue ive seen blogs and things on the internet form people with hydrocephalus who have done that sort of thing. Since my last shunt revision in December of 2007 i got this mindset of going for everything ive ever wanted. Since the spring semester of college in 2008 those thoughts have been pushed aside to focus on school ( as they should). But they have recently been brought to my attention again with the recent passing of my friend. He had a long 10 year battle with cancer and sadly lost at the age of 18. With all that he went through with treatments and surguries he never let anything get in the way of what he wanted to do. before he passed he had been living with one lung, and one leg but that never stoped him from going to colorado and skiing or doing anything a normal 18 year old boy would do.

Ever since the funeral ive wanted to be just like him, not letting anything get in my way and living my life to the fullest. Of course before i do anything i will consult my neurosurgeon before i go and do anything LOL. I recently jsut found this site ( actually looking for information on hydrocephalus/ skydiving ) and i love it! just getting to talk to people with the same condition makes me so happy.

Again thank you for the opinion and i hope we can still chat :)

[mp327]

I totally understand your desire to live life to the fullest, as none of us ever knows when our time is up. That has really hit home with me in the last year, as I was diagnosed with cancer. So, I totally agree wtih you, we should all pursue our dreams. When I was your age, I was much more adventurous than I am now--I'm 55. My dreams have changed as I get older, and yours will too. But if you want to skydive and it's OK with your docs, go for it! Since undergoing my cancer treatment, I am now content with being able to run 4 miles on my treadmill, do 50 push-ups and leg press over twice my body weight! The chemo and radiation really set me back, but I can now do all of these things again. I am hopeful that I will be able to complete a 10K race on July 4th.--that is my goal.

I am sorry to hear you lost a dear friend recently. We all learn a lot when things like that happen. I wish you the best in pursuing all the things in life that make you happy and hope you continue to not let anything stand in your way. Here's wishing you continued good health! Take care.

Martha