A while back, I wrote a post titled, “When the thought of brain surgery “excites” you“. It would probably seem like a strange thing to write about but the preconceived ideas of a title like this, at first sight, couldn’t be further from the main reason behind it. Walter...
Articles with the Tag ETV Failure
Hydrocephalus: Figuring out the next move…
In my last post, I mentioned that I had something to be grateful for and realised since then, there’s actually quite a few things, given my current situation. Firstly, I’m still breathing. That in itself is reason enough to be grateful. My job has kept my mind occupied and...
Hydrocephalus: Category 1 triage – Not sure how I feel about that…
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the visual disturbances I’ve been experiencing. Something, which at the time, freaked me out (naturally). I went to the eye clinic upon my GPs insistence and walked away with a clean bill of eye health. However, I was told a referral would...
Hydrocephalus: Eye trouble and the stress of not knowing…
When you go from care (practically non-existent) to doctors using words like: “You are high risk”, “This is serious”, “This is important to get checked out, sooner rather than later”, it leaves you feeling unsettled. The only way I can think to best describe it is, being abused –...
Hydrocephalus: It scares the crap out of me
A few times now, I’ve had vision disturbances. Today was much like some of the other times. After initially freaking out, I reminded myself that it may just be a migraine starting. The Ophthalmologist I consulted with last year, helped me recognise the signs. But there’s no real migraine...
Hydrocephalus: The tides we face…
Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love the ocean. A beach house, right next to or on the sand will be my wish come true. With that said, I don’t for one moment take for granted the powerful beauty it possesses. However, as much as I love...
Hydrocephalus: Never give up on yourself…
If there’s one thing I’ve come to learn the hard way in life, it’s to listen to your gut. No matter how many times life teaches me this lesson, I still fall prey, to learning the hard way. You know, that little voice that you hear but can’t quite...
Hydrocephalus: ICP Monitoring results leave me feeling “conflicted”
I’ve waited more than two weeks to hear about my ICP Monitoring results and eventually assumed that “No news, is good news”. And, as it turns out it is indeed the case. I should be relieved and happy, to say the least. But…I have mixed emotions… I requested a...
Hydrocephalus: The pressure test
ICP (Intracranial Pressure) Monitoring, something I’ve heard about before, seen other Hydro warriors go through but, hadn’t experienced for myself until last week. I went through the normal motions and feelings before surgery. Knowing that a piece of fibre optic transducer sensor would be going through my brain and...
Hydrocephalus: What is the right frame of mind?
This question pertains just as much to someone who has recently been diagnosed with Hydrocephalus as it does to someone facing brain surgery, which is never easy. For me personally, it doesn’t matter that people say one procedure is “not as bad” as the next, it doesn’t stop me...