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Thread: Nph
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20th October 2013, 10:31 PM #1Skwair2rownd
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Nph
This insidious affliction strikes , mostly, when people are in their 60s and 70s.
Sometimes it strikes younger people. Apart from head injuries and/or brain trauma
it has no apparent cause.
NPH stands for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus - excess fluid on the brain.
I have been diagnosed with this and have just spent a week in Greenslopes
getting the lowdown on my current position and, the prognosis and future
treatment.
Some weeks ago I posted in the "Depression" thread about some strange events
I was experiencing along with a visit from the Black Dog. Because all this was strange
to me ( apart from the Black Dog) I carted myself off to my GP and asked for a CT
of the brain and a scan of the carotid arteries in case the problems had anything to do with
blood flow, or lack thereof, to the brain. Carotids OK. CT showed NPH as evidenced by
enlarged ventricles. So a confirmatory MRI of the noggin was ordered. Sure enough, NPH.
Well, at first I was not worried,, Normal is OK, Right? Wrong!!!
This can lead to dementia, Gait problems and urinary and bowel incontinence. It can also lead
vision problems. At first my GP said there was nothing to be done, I was getting old, it had
probably been there a long time blah, blah, blah. How he could tell that it had been there a
long time has me stumped, as well as the neurologist.
Well, to say all this in front of Ana was a red rag to a bull!! She demanded a referral to a neurologist.
The fellow was full of excuses - all the neurologists were away or booked up. Partly true.
Ana emailed our cardiologist who was horrified and had me booked into Greenslopes where he had
a top neurologist have a look at me.
Yes, radiologically I have the problem, a second MRI confirmed this. The Physical symptoms are in
their inchoative stage.The condition is very hard to determine at this stage and is sometimes confused
with other problems.The condition is also frequently confused with Parkinson's.
So, wisely, a wait and see approach has been adopted. My behaviour and gait will be subjectively monitored
by Ana, a physio, and me, with reports to the Neuro. in a month. It may be up to sixth months before any
action needs to be taken.
In the meantime, no driving for at least a fortnight.
I had a spinal tap and 30ml. of CSF was withdrawn for examination and to see if it relieved any pressure or
made any difference to my gait.
Apart from the triggers that sent me to see the GP there were other things that have been bothering me
with increasing frequency over the last few months. Namely: increasing headaches accompanied by blurred vision,
some loss of balance on occasion, difficulty with descending stairs - I have to see where my feet are and this has
do with proprioception (knowing where the body parts are in space ), and not with depth of vision problems.
Ana says I am more easily frustrated and short tempered as well as forgetful also. I was also finding it imperative
that I get to the loo as soon as the first feeling of needing to go arose. A couple of accidents and near misses sorted
that out!!!!
Treatment?? Eventually a shunt may be needed.
The big plus in all of this was early detection and a wife who won't take stupid bloody assessments from one who should know better!!!!
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21st October 2013, 07:40 AM #2
Strewth Ruth.... what a bugger.
Cliff.
If you find a post of mine that is missing a pic that you'd like to see, let me know & I'll see if I can find a copy.
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21st October 2013, 09:23 AM #3GOLD MEMBER
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Geez Art, you don't do things by half hey? Hope it gets sorted mate, take care.
-Scott
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21st October 2013, 02:15 PM #4
Hope all goes well for you Art, maybe some more time in the shed will help keep your mind off it.
Regards Rumnut.
SimplyWoodwork
Qld. Australia.
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21st October 2013, 05:11 PM #5
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21st October 2013, 07:30 PM #6.
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Full sympathies Artme, hope it settles for you soon!
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26th October 2013, 07:25 AM #7Foo
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Jeez Artme, did you run over a Chinamen at some point in the past?
Hope you get a handle on this latest kick in the guts.
Foo
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6th November 2013, 11:51 PM #8Skwair2rownd
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Well things have deteriorated since I went to Greenslopes.
Not drastically, but enough for the Neurologist to want me back in on 18th this month.
My gait has become worse, mostly due to my legs feeling like jelly much of the time.
and I feel generally weak, not something I'm accustomed to or enjoy
Walking down stairs has become a longer process and I suffer from long spells of total
lassitude. I'm not even interested in getting in the pool!
I have left the gas burning on the stove several times and Ana has noticed
other things that are not right.
I won't drive as I'm not game! Guess the faculties are still working!!
Haven't done any WW for months and won't until I feel safe around machines.
Just hope the shunt works well and I can start to do things again.
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7th November 2013, 09:22 AM #9
Bugger
Cliff.
If you find a post of mine that is missing a pic that you'd like to see, let me know & I'll see if I can find a copy.
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7th November 2013, 01:27 PM #10Skwair2rownd
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14th November 2013, 08:39 AM #11
Hi Artme, Not good to here that things are getting worse, I hope that the treatment the doctors propose works for you.
Check my facebook:rhbtimber
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8th December 2013, 09:51 AM #12Skwair2rownd
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I posted in "Nothing to do With Woodwork"about the op. and its success but thought a
follow up here was in order.
Saw the neuro surgeon and Friday and he is amazed at how quickly I have recovered.
So am !!!. I am back home and finally WANTING to do things after months of not
really caring and, at times, total lassitude. That was all part of the condition, along with
general weakness. Yesterday for instance, on the way home, we stopped for lunch and,
for the first time in so long I can't remember, I was able to pick a tray up single handed!
This morning I walked down the steps into the back yard without looking at my feet and
without holding onto the rail!!!
I still get tired and that will last for some time. I am not to drive until at least 24th Feb.,
which is my next visit to the surgeon.
Thanks to everyone for their good wishes over the last couple of months.
I just wish that all who have health problems could be "fixed"as easily as I have been.
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8th December 2013, 09:59 AM #13
Congrats mate. Really good news.
Craig
Expert /Ex-Spurt/ -n. An "Ex" is something that has been or was. A "Spurt" is a drip under pressure.
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8th December 2013, 10:45 PM #14
Hi Art, hope things continue to improve for you.
Pete