Neurosurgeon appointment : Happy New Year to... - Epilepsy Action

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Neurosurgeon appointment

JDQuinn75 profile image
7 Replies

Happy New Year to all. Tomorrow afternoon I have an appointment with a neurosurgeon to figure out what to do with the pain I’ve had numerous times . Each time it’s started where my shunt starts and tracks all the way down the side of my neck. Two years ago I found out that it’s discontinuous down the side of my neck and also has fractures in the part that’s on the side of my head. I’m pretty much convinced this is why I keep having to pain on several different occasions. When it gets bad it’s unbearable and puts me in tears. I’m not one to cry, but what this hurts like it does it’s very painful. It’s sent me home from work twice already do to the pain it’s caused. So I’m convinced it needs to be either replaced or taken out completely. Will update once I find out what the surgeon tells me tomorrow.

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JDQuinn75 profile image
JDQuinn75
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7 Replies
G1na profile image
G1na

Happy New Year to you as well. I’m sorry to hear what you’re experiencing, I hope your appointment goes well. Thanks for reaching out and letting us know. We’ll be waiting to hear your update.

Best wishes,

Gina

JDQuinn75 profile image
JDQuinn75 in reply to G1na

Thanks Gina, I’m not happy about having to do this. In a way it scares the hell out of me. But I know what’s involved, this isn’t my first rodeo.

G1na profile image
G1na in reply to JDQuinn75

I’d feel scared also but if it’ll help your seizure control you’ll be happy, once you recover. Are you talking about a VNS therapy? How did your appointment go?

JDQuinn75 profile image
JDQuinn75 in reply to G1na

Gina if you look on the feed on here I put an update on here after I got back home from it. It pretty much turned out how I thought it might. So no surprise. I have the update with a little bit of detail .

JDQuinn75 profile image
JDQuinn75 in reply to JDQuinn75

Gina I don’t have a clue what VNS therapy is. That not been mentioned to me by any of my doctors. So no I haven’t had it. Just at a loss right now on what to do I’m still experiencing. No I don’t want to have to taken an Aleve or Advil ever time it gets bad. I avoid them as much as I can. I avoid any extra meds as much as possible do to the fact I already take enough as it is now on a daily basis.

G1na profile image
G1na in reply to JDQuinn75

I apologize for not replying sooner. I had not logged on. I did not know what a shunt was. I thought it was related to VNS therapy. I got an implant on my chest that connects to my vagus nerve. When I feel an aura I use a magnet and swipe over my chest where the device is placed. This helps my nerves communicate how they should naturally be doing so. This has somewhat helped me with my seizure control, but not to a place where I can live a normal life. I’m very sorry to hear the sad news. I can only imagine how you’re feeling. I hope that there is are other options for you. I also don’t like taking more medication than needed. The long term effects are starting to show, and I’m only 29. Best wishes.

JDQuinn75 profile image
JDQuinn75 in reply to G1na

Good morning Gina. To learn more about shunts so you’ll know what that is , you can google it. You are a very young lady compared to my age. I’m in my mid 40’s now . But at the age of one month is when I had the shunt put in me after being diagnosed with hydrocephalus after birth. Do to having that it’s what causes me to have seizures occasionally. Mine are controlled with two different meds I take daily twice a day.

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