Abdo pain and headaches

[beckysoton87]

I had a VP shunt inserted in september for Benign Intracranial Hypertension, my first shunt caused Staph Meningitis and Peritonitis.

Ever since ive had upper left abdo pain and severe headaches, im on co-codamol and topamax and my neurologost won't see me.

Ive now developed B12 anaemia and Iron def. anaemia, i had a gastroscopy but it was normal.

Ive also developed high platelet count, high blood pressure and a fast heart rate.

Could this be related to the shunt???

[beckysoton87]

Hi there,

I recieved no Parental nutrition, i didnt eat for 24hrs but that was all.

After that the hospital staff had me eating even with peritonitis and i was sick after every meal and every drink, i still can only eat one meal a day and i am on cyclizine TDS due to this.

I was due to see my neurologist in April as a routine follow up but he has cut down his clinics and i wont be seeing him now until 10th July.

Any other views?

Thankyou

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

The B12 and iron deficiency and increased platelets (thrombocytosis) are related to the shunting, but not directly.

I guess you were hospitalized for the meningitis and peritonitis. Did you receive total parental nutrition? TPN causes megaloblastic anemia, where you have the B12 deficiency and apparent iron deficiency (due to the increased size of the red blood cells). Thrombocytosis (high platelet count) is also seen in this condition.

Regards