Breathe April.....
I know you are nervous, so write down your questions before you go. If you can, have someone go with you to be your second set of ears. Can't tell you about shunts but I know of a few that have asked for a drain test first, where they will put an external temporary drain in and monitor it over a few days to see how it works and if they're a candidate for a shunt....Hope your appt goes smoothly. Nancy

Hi April, I have an programable LP shunt. I stayed in the hospital for 2 days (day of surgery and the next day). I was recovering pretty well after surgery so they let me go home early, plus I was the first surgery of the day, so it may differ for you. You should just ask your NS. He/she might want to do ICP monitoring if they are thinking of a VP shunt or an external drain for LP shunt(this test is basically set up so its like you have an LP shunt but instead of the tubing being inside of you its released outside). My neurosurgeon did some exta testing just to eliminate other possibilities and he had another lumbar puncture test to check my pressures.
Take this appointment nice and slow, no need to rush. The NS may see you a couple of times before they decide to do anything or they might want to set up a date right there. Just breathe like Nancy said, everything is gonna be fine, nothing to stress about. Just share your concerns with the NS. :)
Mallory

Hi April. What a long road you have travelled to get to today.
Seeing your NS is the next logical step I think.

Write your questions down, before you go in , the night before. Study them, then cut them back to 2 -3 main questions. If they see a long list , it scares them! try to encompass all you concerns in those questions.

Bring some one with you , if you can. They don't talk, just take notes for you.

Ask which shunt they prefer and why.
What problems can they cause afterwards?
What if, your pressure remains high?
What if your paps don't improve? What if your hds return? Do they have a plan of action for that?
Will you continue with meds?
Where is the position of the VP shunt? ( there are a few different places to put it and each surgeon has their preference)
How much hair will the shave off?
How long does he think you will be in hospital for?
Do they prescribe pain killers before you leave? (Important! What if the chemists are closed by the time you get home?)

The recovery questions, we can help you with.
Stay calm, and remember its his job to explain every thing to you.
Post when you get back ok? Good luck! Cath

All of Cath's questions are great. Ask about the surgeon's success rate... how many patients require revisions... does he prefer LP or VP shunt and why. Also ask about what the procedure is if you get home from surgery and have problems. I dont have kids so I also asked a bunch of questions about possible pregnancy. You have to trust the doctor that cuts into your head. I stayed in the hospital 29 hours for my VP shunt. My insurance company only approved 1 day. I did not have any additional tests done besides what you mentioned (and an LP of course). The surgeon did a CT scan the morning of my surgery as well. I am so happy with my decision to get the shunt.