Gabriel's Life Tag: depression

britnae325 on "Wondering if Hydrocephalus has any connection with Chemical Depression"

britnae325 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:28:45 +0000

I don't believe that there is a connection with depression and hydro, well maybe it depends on how severe your hydro is, the cause of my hydro is unknown and is communicating hydro, from what i understand. I never have had a problem with depression, nor do I plan on having a problem with it in the future. I don't necessarily agree with the 80% who are shunted as a child will have clinical depression as they get older, I was diagnosed at 6 weeks. I have no cognitive or mental affects due to hydro.

survior_girl on "Wondering if Hydrocephalus has any connection with Chemical Depression"

survior_girl — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:00:58 +0000

I believe so. I have had some issues with this.

trixtur on "Wondering if Hydrocephalus has any connection with Chemical Depression"

trixtur — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:45:39 +0000

Ah...I guess I meant clinical depression. Thanks aardvark5

aardvark5 on "Wondering if Hydrocephalus has any connection with Chemical Depression"

aardvark5 — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:48:30 +0000

I do not know about chemical depression but I believe about 80% of all patients who have childhood hydrocephalus and have a shunt placed during childhood go on to develop clinical depression by adulthood. The cause of this isn't really known yet. If standard treatment for depression isn't improving your mental health you need to see the physician who handled your birth defect matters as the shunt may need to be removed or replaced.

trixtur on "Wondering if Hydrocephalus has any connection with Chemical Depression"

trixtur — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:13:15 +0000

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone else has noticed a connection between having Hydrocephalus and struggling with a chemical depression. My family doesn't have a history of it and none of my 5 siblings struggle with the problem. I have often started and stopped treatment thinking it would correct itself, and always 2 to 3 months after discontinuing treatment the symptoms start again.

I was born with Hydrocephalus and that is the only issue that sets me apart from the rest of my family. I was wondering if anyone had some insight into this problem.

Thanks,

-Ben

curlyfry on "Husband has Hydro-Anxiety"

curlyfry — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:48:31 +0000

I agree wtih PMBlind there would be no question if the shunt was malfunctioning. When my shunt has malfunctioned in the past I got a horrible headache that wouldn't go away. I couldn't keep anything down. I couldn't stand any lights. my eyes dialate differently (one pupil is smaller than the other) and I feel like I can't hold my head up. It falls straight back. For some reason this makes it feel a little better. So you see there really is no mistaking a true malfunction.

PMBlind on "Husband has Hydro-Anxiety"

PMBlind — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 05:28:54 +0000

My main shunt is still the original. The only part that had to be revised was to have a new tubing replaced and reconnected.

Ever since my surgery, I have started giving my managers and supervisors at work, information about the Hydrocephalus and symptoms to watch for if any problems occur when I am at work.

What information is on your medical bracelet?

krystakitty on "Husband has Hydro-Anxiety"

krystakitty — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 04:49:55 +0000

Hello Nina,

I have had Hydrocephalus since I was born in 1987 and have had 5 revisions. My neurosuergon says shunts usually last about 30 years before they begin to wear out. Trust me, if something is wrong like a shunt malfunction, you and your husband will now right away. The red flags are headaches with sensitivity to light and vomitting probably every 10 minutes. I wear a medical id bracelet and it makes me feel a lot more secure. Your husband can get one at the "American Medical ID" website, just google it. Also, at the place where I work, i trust the knowledge of my condition to my managers in case of an emergency and I am guessing htey are happy I did. God bless your family and good luck.

PMBlind on "Husband has Hydro-Anxiety"

PMBlind — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:13:33 +0000

Nina,

Does your husband experience any of the following symptoms?

Headache
Vision Problems
Irritability
Tiredness
Personality Change
Loss of Coordination or Balance
Difficulty in Waking Up or Staying Awake
Return of Gait Disturbance
Mild Dementia
Incontinence

If he does have more than one, then he probably is having a shunt malfunction.

My shunt lasted 10 yrs before I had my first revision done in 2003. In all I have had my shunt in for 15 yrs now. My tubing needed to be replaced due to a rupture.

Philip W. Myers
braillemonster@hotmail.com

HydroHusband on "Husband has Hydro-Anxiety"

HydroHusband — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:27:54 +0000

Hello

My husband has had a shunt for 15 years. He was diagnosed when he was 28 and had surgery the same year and has had no revisions.

He has constant thoughts that the shunt is failing and he will need another surgery. He has gone to the hospital several times where they do catscans and MRIs and he has a hospital bracelet collection to remind himself that he is ok. He started going much more frequently right before we got married, when I was pregnant, and once our son was born.

He now feels a pinch around the shunt from his upper chest down through his testicles. He has a VP shunt. He spoke to his neurosurgeon about it and he said it was normal.

He is so anxious about something happening. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to deal with the anxiety or depression - for him or any ways I can help him? Is anyone dealing with the pinching?

Thank you
Nina