Hello. I am new to hydrocephalus. To make a very long story short, my son was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago and he is having his 1st shunt surgery next week. (the friday after christmas). My question is, he has communicating hydro. I have read many things on this site but nothing says anything about communicating? Is this odd? And also, nothing shows that he was born with this. He is 5 years old. We always knew he had a "big" head but nothing real abnormal. We just couldn't find him fun hats when he was a baby. We didn't think it was a big deal. We actually thought he had tourette's syndrome and the neurologist wanted to do an MRI and that is when we found the fluid. They also said it's not tourettes's but instead transient motor tics. But the tics have since stopped. I guess I am very confused. Maybe someone could help me understand more. Thank you in advance. Thanks!!
Gabriel's Life » Living with Hydrocephalus - Children
Communicating Hydro???
(8 posts)
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Posted 2 years ago #
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Hello, I hope that your son's surgery went well. I had mine placed when I was a few weeks old. I don't really know much because my parents don't talk about it. The main reason why most people here don't really talk about the type of hydrocephalus, I think, it doesn't matter what type it is after the shunt is placed but I'm not really sure because now that I think I'm possibly having problems I've started researching a lot about it. I'll be praying for your son.
Posted 2 years ago # -
My son has communicating hydro but was diagnoased at 2 months. I think the majority of hydro is non-communciating (I could be wrong about that.) I agree that most people don't talk about non-communicating versus communicating because they are treated the same (at this point in time) and therefore, the differentiation doesn't really matter. I do know that EVT isn't an option for communicating hydro, whereas it can be for non-communicating.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Dear friends:
I am a 27 yr old male who just found out that his hydro is communicating. What's that mean???? Anybody know? I was diagnosed between birth/18 months, and after a concussion in '06, I had nausea in '07.....(see story). The first one stopped working during childhood....I think I outgrew it. Then I had the second one surgically inserted in May '07. Doing well so far, nearly 9 months post-op, but financially ruined. Thanks for reading.
Casey
Posted 1 year ago # -
What I understand about communicating vs. non-communicating is that communicating mean that the fluid build up is not caused by any kind of blockage (like a tumor). My son has communicating hydrocephalus too. He is 2 1/2 years old.
Check out the Hydrocephalus Association---lot's of info and there is a book they recommend called Hydrocephalus for families? Or something like that. I'm sure it's listed on the site. It's a wonderful book.
Posted 1 year ago # -
i honestly dont know the difference my son has a blockage and is shunted. i know other children that have several shunts but not sure if from communicating or non communicating. maybe flow is from vent to vent.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I've had a very strange experience. I've onky had three replacements. I have had some issues but not too severe. To keep in mind, when your son does grow up he is at a higher risk for depression. We really didn't know much with myself. I am thirteen years of age and have been shunted since the first week of life. If you have any further questions feel free to ask.
Posted 8 months ago # -
From what I understand communicating hydro means that CSF are able to flow through the ventricles like normal, however the absorption of CSF by the brain is what the problem is, in communicating hydro there is nothing causing blockage
Posted 7 months ago #
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