This week (10th to the 16th of March, 2025) marks the latest edition of Hydrocephalus awareness week, something which isn’t talked about enough within our society.
Having lived with the condition for nearly 29 years I wanted to take the opportunity to shine a light on something that can be potentially fatal if it is left untreated.
I have written a number of pieces since I began blogging in April 2021 on this subject, so feel free to check out a post that I first wrote back in September 2023.
Read: https://just-being-cp.co.uk/2023/09/20/i-have-hydrocephalus-and-im-proud-to-shout-about-it/
In recent years I have spent a lot of my time educating those around me about what the condition is and how those with it are affected.
Many of you who are reading this right now will already be aware of what the condition is, so I apologise in advance for this recap.
Hydrocephalus develops as a result of excess fluid being on the brain with some people having a shunt device fitted to support with the draining of fluid away from of course the brain.
I am one of those people who live with a shunt and have had a total of three fitted since birth with the first being fitted in October 1996, the second in 2005 and the latest in the January of 2008.
Shunts have a typical life of around 15 to 20 years before they require replacement due to a blockage within the tube that runs from the brain into the stomach.
An issue with the device can be detected via the following symptoms , it is vital that hospital treatment is sought immediately if you come across someone with these.
- Redness or tenderness along the line of the shunt
- High temperature
- Headache & vomiting
- Neck stiffness
- stomach pains – only if the shunt drains into the stomach
- irritability
- Sensitivity to light.
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A thank you must go to each and everyone of you, my loyal readers and social media followers who continually take time out of there busy schedules to read my latest post, it doesn’t go unnoticed and is of course very much appreciated.
Cam
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