Shunt Over-Draining (With a Patent ETV): From Symptoms To Surgery. What You Need To Know.
Learn how shunt over-drainage can cause headaches, nausea and dizziness—even with a patent ETV—and why valve replacement with a SiphonGuard was needed.
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Pressure sensors are a godsend, but getting one isn’t easy
Non-invasive brain sensor to measure intracranial pressure. From reactive to proactive!
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Technology at the heart of an incurable brain condition
One can almost not imagine a world without technology these days. So, it makes sense that advancements in the medtech space moves into the arena of neurological conditions. ICP (Intracranial pressure) monitoring The physical sensor I had placed in 2021 to have ICP monitoring done. What can I say, I like souvenirs. My neurosurgeon was good…
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Hydrocephalus: The silent assassin
Hydrocephalus does NOT discriminate. There’s no single cause and more people are diagnosed with it, than you, or I, could ever know. Globally! It really is a silent assassin. One you can’t see coming. Awareness and education provide the best armour. Saying; “It won’t happen to me”, is no guarantee. Thanks to having viral meningitis,…
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Be the change you wish to see in the world or, at the very least, be part of it.
I didn’t set out to be part of change. I also didn’t aim for a possible improvement to the current state of my injured brain. Regardless, I stay eternally hopeful. I am nevertheless, driven by sheer willpower and determination as I continue to make progress. I know my brain is not (quite) where I want…
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Blocked shunt valve: Why trusting your gut is important!
I didn’t quite spot my treatment failure this time, at least not as I would have liked to. My previous shunt, a Sophysa Polaris (A.K.A. Sophy) was placed on 23 April 2022. If only shunts came with a warranty or refund policy. Given their high failure rate, I suppose that would likely be uneconomical. But,…
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VP shunt obstruction leads to brain surgery #8.
Trusting your gut This is the ONE thing that I‘ve relied on the most. More importantly, I listened to my body. As I told Dr T, I don’t have a medical degree, but it’s the only thing I have to guide me. After having a shunt patency study on Monday, they’ve discovered a blockage at…
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Brain injury: The missing piece you need to think about
If you’ve been diagnosed with Hydrocephalus and had brain surgery to treat it, does any of this resonate with you? If so, have you ever considered and looked into the effects of brain injury? More specifically, the cognitive effects. If you already have, this post might not be for you. Regardless, please feel free to…
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Faking being OK when you’re physically not, is far harder than faking being sick.
As someone diagnosed with Hydrocephalus and living with a brain injury, this is a sore point, obviously. People don’t necessarily have to say they don’t believe your symptoms; their actions (or even inaction) speak loudly and clear enough. Seeing beyond an invisible illness or injury, is a difficult one, I get it. How can you…
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Brain Injury: The invisible disability.
Hydrocephalus and brain injury won’t define my outcome, I reserve that right!
