Pseudotumor Cerebri Support Group

I never had a LP shunt but I have a VP shunt. It really sounds a ton worse than it is. I have actually had 3 brain surgeries in the last year and from what I know they are actually easier to recover from than LP shunts.

Something to remember is that VP shunts are a very common surgery for those with Hydrocephalus and their numbers are much higher than ours. And they need it to survive. I would recommend that you find someone or at least a hospital that does VP shunts on a daily basis.

As for shaving your head, you should ask you Dr as it seams that there are many different approached to this surgery. Some have half their head shaved while others only have a few patches shaved off.. I am a guy with short hair so it is not as tramatic for me but all 3 times if was only a bald spot about 2-3 inches in diameterr on the back of my head. I have heard of as much as half of someones head being shaved.

As I said ask you doc and good luck. I think a VP is much better than LP so I hope you find that works for you too.

TJ

thanks, thats the most honest anyone has ever been about it, i dont feel too bad now. seeing the surgeon on wednesday so shall ask him then. thanks again!

your welcome,

Good luck.

TJ

Heythere. I have a VP shunt and would be only to glad to answer any of your questions.

I do know that a Vp shunt has a higher chance of working , longer, more efficiently.has less long term problems and is not the big deal you would think it is.

Saying that, I have to tell you , that it has not been a great sucess for me.
It is working, and my paps are better than they were, but I seem to produce so much csf that the shunt cant keep up. My opening pressure prior to surgery was 49, its now in the mid 30s.

But, I was willing and all ready to have a second VP shunt fitted awhile back. It was just really bad luck that my ventricles collapsed before I could have the surgery.
But I was nt afraid to have the next surgery, and was all for it.
We are all different, and all react differently to this illness and its aids.

If I can help in any way, drop me a line. Cath.

I know with my first surgery they shaved all of my hair off. But with my second and third they left patches here and patches there. All that I could do was go to the hairdresser and get it all shaved off.