In the first days after I made it through my craniotomy, I didn’t realize it, but my shunt that had been installed in early May of 1987 was malfunctioning because I hit my growth spurt.
When I shot up, from 5’0″, to 5’5″ or 5’6″, it caused the shunt to cease to function. Due to this, my freshly-rejuvenated brain processed information amazingly slowly…too, I experienced sharp, almost burning sensations at and around my temples.
The pain was constant and made my ability to think, much less concentrate and learn, impossible. Several times, before I sought advice from my family doctor, I’d have to leave class, early, and, soon, lead me to ask my cadre of specialist doctors what could be going on….crickets…and, then, fin- ally, my family doctor figured out what was ailing me.
On May 5, 1987, the date I experienced my 15th stroke, according to my growth chart, I stood 60 inches tall and, in the third week of December of that same year, I required a fourth surgery to replace what had been installed, previously.
This was due to my magically having grown to a height of 5’6″ tall, rendering the shunt in my brain, kaput. Therefore, on or about December 21, 1987, I underwent a my most-recent operation, at The University of Maryland at Baltimore Hospital.
The fact is that it was completely unknown to me that the surgeon at Johns Hopkins hadn’t been smart enough to leave extra tubing such to allow for my potential growth spurt.
Because of this, a few months later, I began to experience amazingly painful headaches, making it necessary for me too leave school, usually, one or two classes, into the day.
Additionally, my fine motor control was hampered and I didn’t know why. I just figured that, having had half of my brain removed in june, this was probably par for the course. however, the headaches intensified and I knew something was amiss.
Then, after it was determined that my shunt had started to fail, I underwent a CAT scan and it was determined that, due to my growth spurt, I had outgrown the little pump that had been installed inside my brain.
Therefore, in the fourth week of december, 1987, I believe it was on December 21st, I underwent a fourth surgery to replace the original shunt. after that, my world brightened.
My ability to recall things, especially in the short term, resurged and all things became enhanced. I was able to walk much more easily and I was able to speak and think much more readily.
In school, I began to really thrive, once again, especially in classes that called upon me too communicate, verbally. however, my resurging fine motor coordination made it possible for me to go from attaining d’s, in art class, to getting b’s and a’s, once again.
Therefore, if you or someone you know has had a ventricular shunt installed in his or her brain, please be aware the fact of the telltale signs that his or her shunt has begun to malfunction. apparently, eventually, if a shunt that is malfunctioning is not replaced, it can have devastating effects on the individual whose brain the shunt is malfunctioning in.
Loss of fine motor control.
Deterioration of grand motor control, eventually.
Deterioration of one’s ability to think, especially in regards to his or her short-term-memory.
I topped out at 5’8″. Also, I figured out, eventually, that my crystal memory was strengthened when my short-term-memory was trashed.
My crystal memory, I have been able to resurge, both, professionally and academically. Please contact me to find out more information about this.
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