Do I Have A Possible Shunt Malfunction?

When you have Hydrocephalus, it is so important to be aware of your body and take note of any new pain that might indicate a possible shunt malfunction because that can be serious and fatal if left untreated. I live with Hydrocephalus, and for those of you who aren’t familiar, it’s a neurological condition that happens when there is an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid deep within your brain. This fluid usually cushions your brain but if there is too much, it puts a lot of pressure on your brain, and without treatment, it will kill you. There is no cure for Hydrocephalus, and the most common treatment is to get a shunt put in your head that will drain the excess fluid to other parts of your body. A shunt saves lives, but because it’s just a device in your head, it can stop working at any time, and it’s important to know the signs of a possible problem. Shunts are very durable, and most people can go their entire lives and have minimal shunt surgeries, but if you don’t know the signs of a possible shunt malfunction, it can be serious. How do you know if you have a possible shunt malfunction? In this post, I am going to share a few things that I have personally experienced that sometimes indicate a shunt problem.

A raging migraine that does not break- People with Hydrocephalus are more likely to develop a headache or migraine disorder and most of the time, a headache is not cause for concern, but it can be a sign that your shunt is not working. A horrible migraine is one of the most common shunt malfunction symptoms and, in my opinion, the most difficult because I live with chronic migraine and it’s not unusual for me to get a weekly migraine that leaves me bed-bound. How do you know if your head pain is something you should be concerned about? In my experience, when I get a migraine caused by a shunt malfunction it feels more like pressure building up and a standard migraine is just pain. How long have you had your migraine? A migraine caused by a headache disorder will eventually break but a migraine caused by a shunt malfunction will not go away until you fix the problem. If you have had a raging migraine for a week and can barely function and there is no sign of relief, it might be a good idea to get your shunt checked because a shunt problem is not something you want to mess around with. A migraine is not always life-threatening, and sometimes it’s just a headache disorder but if you suspect a possible shunt malfunction, visit your doctor immediately because that is not something you want to mess around with.

Shortness of breath- When I have a possible shunt malfunction usually, I will have shortness of breath, and it will be more difficult to breathe because my shunt is in my pleural cavity which is the fluid-filled space that surrounds your lungs and when my shunt is not working it impacts my breathing. Breathing problems are not always a shunt malfunction and they can be signs of other serious health issues such as asthma that also need immediate treatment and should not be ignored. If you are having more difficulty breathing and are shunted, it can never hurt to get your shunt checked because it’s better to be safe than sorry. Some people with Hydrocephalus may not get shortness of breath when they have a shunt malfunction, and it depends on where your tubing is located because not everyone will have it in the same place.

A lump or redness but your shunt site- There are not always visible signs of a shunt malfunction but sometimes you will notice lumps or redness by your shunt site. I am always looking at my neck where my tubing is located for any new redness or lumps because that can be a serious problem that needs to be investigated by a doctor. Lumps are not only possible signs of cancer, but it’s also can be a sign of a shunt malfunction for people with Hydrocephalus, and I think we all can benefit from checking our skin for new redness that wasn’t there yesterday because when you can catch problems early, often they are treatable. If you take a hot shower and you have a little bit of redness, it’s probably not a shunt malfunction and it’s likely that you just had the water too hot which should go away within a few minutes but if it doesn’t go away, it might be a more serious problem that you want to talk to your doctor about. Always look at your shunt site, and if you notice any changes that seem concerning, schedule a doctor’s appointment immediately.

You are having seizures- Some people with Hydrocephalus have never had a seizure, but people with Hydrocephalus are more likely to develop a seizure disorder than someone without the condition. If you have never had a seizure and all of a sudden start having them, it’s a red flag, and you should get your shunt checked to make sure everything is working properly. Everything may come back normal, and you could have a seizure disorder and be advised to follow up with neurology, but it’s always a good idea to get your shunt checked because seizures are not normal.

When you have Hydrocephalus, shunt problems can happen, which is not something that is in your complete control, but I wouldn’t be overly worried about it because shunts can last a very long time, and my first shunt lasted twelve years before I needed a revision. Some people will need more revisions than others, and not all shunt problems will need surgery because nowadays, most people have magnetic shunts that can be reprogrammed by a neurosurgeon without surgery. A shunt malfunction will not kill you immediately because it takes time, but if you have an untreated shunt problem that you never deal with, you can pass out and cause permanent brain damage. You can suspect you have a shunt malfunction but cannot self-diagnose it because you need imaging, and you should never ignore new head pain. These are not all the possible signs of a shunt malfunction, and they are only the ones I have personally experienced, but it’s not a complete list. If you don’t know the signs of shunt malfunction and are experiencing symptoms that were not mentioned, you can always look it up online or ask a doctor. What shunt malfunction signs have you experienced?

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