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19 Days Since Surgery

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It’s been almost three weeks since the Ventriculoperitoneal Codman shunt was placed, and I still don’t feel normal. I was already told years ago that my truck driving days are over because, well, let’s face it, you can’t drive period if you can’t see. My vision comes and goes throughout the day along with IBS symptoms. The pain is excruciating at times that it hurts just to get out of bed. My only problem is being able to distinguish those pains separate from each other for the conditions that I have. For example, IBS or irritable bowel syndrome has symptoms of gas, abdominal pain, irregular bowel movements, pain during a bowel movement, nausea, vomiting, and many others, but those are the most common. Side effects of a Ventriculoperitoneal shunt or VP shunt have some similarities and some new side effects that I have now been experiencing; nerve pain in the head, on and off blurred vision, loss of balance, abdominal pain, muscle weakness on one side, fatigue, and nausea. Howe...
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Nine Days Post-Op

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It’s January 27 th , 2018, Matthew, my five-foot ten-inch beer bellied stocky built, Monopoly-guy head of a husband, is over at his best friend’s house, sobering up for the last six hours. I can’t help but continue to feel that all of this, the situation we are in, is my fault. Living with my parents isn’t exactly ideal, but we were in trouble and my health has been further deteriorating since the initial diagnoses of my illnesses in 2014. I was diagnosed with Pseudotumor Cerebri, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), major depressive and anxiety disorders. I went from a lifelong driving career as a commercial truck driver over the road to homeless, moved back to Florida, now back to living with my mother. Since October of 2017, I was put out of work, again, gained ninety plus pounds, went from depression to a constant state of paranoia, to not even wanting to do any daily activities because it’s becoming excruciatingly painful to get out of bed...
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The Day of VP Shunt Surgery; Florida South Hospital

I wish had gotten this surgery years ago. This pressure that I’ve had for such a long time, now it’s gone. I’ve had three rounds of antibiotics as a safety precaution so I don’t get an infection. I’m really glad that everyone here has been so nice to me. There are a few things that I would like to go over for anyone have future surgery that is a VP- Shunt and having this procedure done at Orlando South Florida Hospital: Neurology of Orlando Medicine. All of the staff here have been super friendly. The morning of surgery, be at the Hospital Gibson Surgical Services wing, 3 rd  flood by five AM. If arriving an hour or so early, the earlier you will be taken in the back, if your desire. It was a two and a half hour drive to the hospital from the house to Florida South Hospital in Orlando, Florida. Do you wake up in pain? There is some initial pain from the surgery but overall it’s just soreness. This VP Shunt surgery took away my vision and pain problems. Whenever I hav...
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One Week Before VP Shunt Surgery

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I am no doctor or surgeon. I am a patient of many doctors, love doing research, learning more and writing about it. In 2017, I met my now second husband and was introduced to a medical neurosurgeon, Dr. Kenning at Albany Medical Center. He informed me of a surgery that would protect my eyesight and potentially help my migraines and headaches. He educated me about the VP Shunt; the potential risks and positive outcomes the shunt could have. I was referred to Dr. Gandhi at the Neurology Center in Orlando, Florida. Below is a similar VP shunt, all VP shunts are different. Just two weeks ago, I met with his nurse practitioner, Sarah. She reviewed everything that Dr. Kenning had sent down from Albany Medical Center. After some long discussions and debating with the doctor, I decided to go ahead with the VP Shunt surgery. It’s now one week before surgery and I am still nervous about the surgery. The thought of having a hole drilled into my skull is just terrifying. I’ve looke...
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