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I have something called hydrocephalus ?

Posted , 3 users are following.

gary09045
gary09045

After taking prednisone for 3 months with what we thought was PMR and it helped the joint pain tremendously, my dr. decided to get me a cat scan for my brain due to balance issues. They found what is a small obstruction on the brain called hydrocephalus.  Any ideas? Suggestions?

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • mark357
    mark357 gary09045

    Posted

    Hi gary09045

    When I saw your message the condition looked familiar. Then I remembered that I had this years ago after I bumped when I tripped up in the street.

    Hydrocephalus is known as fluid on the brain. The one treatment is a small operation to insert a thin tube into the skull to drain of the fluid. It is important that you have the operation because it can cause brain damage, but it is not as scary as it sounds.

    • gary09045
      gary09045 mark357

      Posted

      Thanks for the reply  .My doctor has reffered me to a nuero surgeon to get his view. I hope he will  have good news.  I was in a motorcycle accident 2 years ago with bleeding on the brain and a concussion but we thought all was ok. Just now having problems
  • mark357
    mark357 gary09045

    Posted

    I forgot to mention that all that you will be left with is a scar not much bigger than key hole surgery. I was back to normal after about 3-4 days after.

    But don't be worried about the surgery as I was in theatre for around about an hour.

  • marey
    marey gary09045

    Posted

    hi gary

    you've had a very helpful reply here...and i agree.

    i mostly think of hydrocephulus as being a condition of the new born when cerobro spinal fluid (csf) is produced to excess. in your case if your doctor thinks its hydrocephalus then it would be due to a blockage to the flow of csf...which normally flows through the ventricles of the brain unimpeded. either way you get swelling but in the new born as the skull is still soft and unfused the head continues to swell. in your case as an adult the skull is fused and solid so the head doesn't swell but internal pressure causes symptoms due to the swelling. may i ask what you have been experiencing?

    you say you had a motorbike incident...its possible that you had a small bleed in the brain...often called a sub arachnoid haemorrhage or an intra cranial bleed, which may have been undetectable at the time...both or either can lead to strokes so you've been lucky to be getting a differential diagnosis via the scan and an op will remove the obstruction or minor blood clot.

    they drill through your skull literally with carpentry tools (well ok smaller ones) and clear things out guided by the scan. i have assisted in such ops...they are impressive and you will be ok!

    enjoy your time in hospital...you'll prob be fussed over!

    besy wishes mary

    • gary09045
      gary09045 marey

      Posted

      Thanks Mary   I have had some balance problems , blurry eyesight, walking, legs feel very heavy sometimes, and some urinating problems. My doctor at first was treating me for PMR which has settled due to pregnisone but levels of ESR stayed high so he thought there was something else causing the ESR to be high. I told him I sometimes had a slow speech problem so he ordered a cat scan. Now he is sending me to a nueroligist. I did have bleeding on the brain and it was detected and monitored but they said it was ok. Now after the scan all this comes up.  Gary
    • marey
      marey gary09045

      Posted

      you are in very good hands gary! thank goodness you gave him a complete set of your symptoms....every little detail is vital to a correct diagnosis.

      i'm sorry what does PMR stand for please?

      i'm glad you were monitored at the time...you prob got used to people shining lights in your eyes! were your pupils reacting and equal to light do you know?

    • marey
      marey gary09045

      Posted

      if you're having bladder problems...may i suggest something a little unusual....which is to take pumpkin seeds! enjoy them....as many as you can since they help to firm up the bladder and assist with overcoming control problems...helped my horse no end!!

      just til the op is over try to avoid unnecessary stress and strain. will that be possible for you?

    • gary09045
      gary09045 marey

      Posted

      PMR is polymialga inflamation of the joints. Thats what  started the whole thing Prednisone was prescribed and it worked well but inflamation levels in the blood test showed it went down but next test went up but PMR was gone? So thats when doc thought something  else must be wrong along with polymialga
    • gary09045
      gary09045 marey

      Posted

      will try . bladder  problems come and go. nothing real serious just not fun..  You keep saying OP  do you mean I will have to have a shunt put in?  Maybe the doc will say take 2 tylenol and get good nights rest?
  • marey
    marey gary09045

    Posted

    your raised ESR indicated stickiness of the red blood cells and that something was still up. he seems to be a good doctor. this is a complex situation.
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