charty Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 Hi I had a shunt inserted due to hydrocephalus after my SAH in June, does anyone know how long I can expect the shunt to be fault free? are there any other problems I should be be aware of? Thanks Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul99 Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 hi caroline from what i know and i have asked my friend in queens sq a shunt normally functions ok sometimes they do get blocked and have to be either changed sometimes flushed rarely but that normally happens within a few days of being inserted if you have had it since june i would think you will not have any trouble try not to get fixated on it blocking enjoy each day as it comes and be happy best wishs xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Hi Caroline I have a shunt have had for 9years today infact (had the SAH on the 1st Nov) and I hope to god its never going to have a fault.....like with me as time goes by you'll not think of it so much..... if you have any questions PM me...... Take care Louise.x Ps got a drain too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rince Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 I've had mine in for five years now and touch wood I've had no problems. I have found that by avoiding caffeine I've reduced how dizzy I feel as well! Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Scott, I got told in the rehab hospital that coffee stimulates the brain, so I have one cup only a day I dont like de-caff so one cup is enough..... L.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rince Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 I wasn't told anything in hospital (that I can remember) but I spoke to someone who has a shunt in and they were surprised I was still on caffeine. I have noticed an improvement in my symptoms since I came off it so there might be something in it. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul99 Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 caffine is a stimulant to the brain thats why when people want to stay awake all night the one thing they do is drink coffee to keep awake therefore in moderation and not just before you go to bed he he take care Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rince Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 It also has an effect on the amount of CSF (Cerebrospinal fluid) produced as well, which is why it's a no no for those with a shunt. We can take stimulation of the brain but not over production of that! Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charty Posted November 4, 2008 Author Share Posted November 4, 2008 No one has told me not to drink coffee, will ask the consultant today when I go to Nottingham Thanks Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charty Posted November 5, 2008 Author Share Posted November 5, 2008 Hi The consultant said there was no worries about drinking coffee, can do everything as normal. Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rince Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 All I can say is that I have felt far less dizzy since I stopped caffeine intake. Medical advice can vary not only from Doctor to Doctor but from day to day, what I like about this site in particular is that we can give first person experience of many different issues. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 I don't have a shunt, but cut out caffeine about a year or so after the SAH ..... it seemed to help with the headaches (once I got over the initial caffeine withdrawal heads) and I haven't really touched it since. I did have one week where I thought I would try it again, but the headaches seemed to increase, so I cut it out again. I occasionally have the odd cup of tea, as it's only got half the amount of caffeine to coffee, but generally stick to de-caff coffee and tea when I'm at home. Interesting to hear about the effects of caffeine on the CSF produced Scott. I also agree that advice from medics seems to vary greatly, makes you wonder doesn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rince Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 I have been told by others that post lumbar puncture it's quite normal to have a severe headache, and also that a couple of cups of coffee are an equally common treatment! Medical advice should always be sought, but as we all know that advice does seem to vary wildly. Only on the basics do Doctors seem to agree anything. Beyond the normal does seem to be very much a "matter of opinion". One of the main problems I had post SAH was the hugely different "facts" about it that I was given, my GP admitted he didn't know anything about post SAH treatment but that he would learn with me. That was the best thing he could of said, if he had gone the other way and tried to bluff it I wouldn't have one tenth of the amount of respect that I do for him. On something as simple as post shunt living we shouldn't have to be asking about what we can and can't do, we should of been given chapter and verse about it before and after the operation. There are various places you can look for advice, but like everything else the information tends to focus on the extremes. There is a lot out there about shunt failures and how having a shunt needn't be a huge burden BUT there is very little about living day to day with one. It may be boring but I'd much rather read how to cope and what to do rather than having the shunt blockage symptoms rammed down my throat. I'm rambling on again (not a lot to do with my shunt, something to do with the hydrocephalus!) so I'll leave it there. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Scott, I agree with everything that you're saying .... just did an internet trawl on shunts ..... didn't really come up with much. Would suggest that BTG members perhaps look up the effects of caffeine on the brain on the internet and then take it from there and draw their own conclusions. I know that there's a lot people on here, that have excluded caffeine from their diet .... irrespective of having a shunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUTTI Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 HI ALL I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT CAFFEINE DRINKS COFFEE BE VERY BAB FOR MAKING TO MUCH ACID IN THE BODY CREATING AN ENVIROMENT FOR SICKNESS AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AS WELL AS HEART DIESES. LOVE HUGS GOOD HEALTH EVELYN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tennissmithy Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Evening all, Yes i've cut out caffeine and I don't have a shunt. Not sure about cutting out the headaches though cos as most of you know, I still get a lot of headaches! Love and hugs Laura xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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