is a VP shunt removal possible?

[taylord123]

I am a 14 boy, i received my VP shunt a little over a year ago,. it has affected my life in good and bad ways. I received it for PsuedoTumor Cerebri. I received 3 spinal taps prior to the shunt's placement. Yes, it has majorly helped my PTC, but it has limited me so much. I used to play football, and after a year off due to my surgery, the question has come up, shall i play again? The doctor who did the surgery, said he didnt see any problems with playing, except, all of the other doctors i have had all said no, except a few questionables.

on a side note, me and my friends all joke around about the "tube"/

I really really want to play football again, and i really just want this thing out of my head, the doctors all say a VP shunt can not be removed, but i believe there is still hope for me.

2 questions,
   1. after only about a year and a month or so, can a VP shunt be removed?
    2. If they can not remove the shunt, can i play football?
    

I may be young, but ive been through enough to know a lot about my "System(?)"
any help would be much appreciated.

thanks.

[Nathanbuckley01]

Hi, my name is Nathan Buckley. I have had a shunt in since i was 2 months old. I have had 12 revisions since then. I am now 24 years old. I found growing up hard because I was always causious of that little tube in my body. And to be wary of banging my head or my chest. Just in case the shunt might block. I found that I couldn't play sports. Which was ruff but to taylord, its not the end of the world. You can find something that will replace it. My experience is that I joined the school drama society. And I found that as enjoyful as doing sports. I recently had a scan done. And found that my VP shunt has not been working for 10 years. And that my body has adapted to the normal way of draining the fluid. But I have been told that I cannot get it removed. Just in case it bring's back the meningitis I had. That caused my condition. All I can say is that you will live a very productive life. Don't let the shunt get in your way.  

[JMonkey80]

A couple weeks ago I went for an appointment at Children's Hospital Oakland to see my fellow survivor friend neuro-oncologist and his oncologist colleague about my VP shunt on whether if it can be removed. I was hoping to hear good news but unfortunately they told me according to United States it's too dangerous. They said it's been a long time that it become attached to my skin next to my brain, if they were to remove it, it could cause more serious damage and that they don't take it out only unless it's not working properly. They said if there's no problem with it and the pathway is operating fine then best to leave it alone. I asked them sometimes I get sharp pains in my neck where the tube sits, pains in my right abdominal where the tube drains, and pains in back right side of my head where the shunt is. And the other neuro-oncologist said the reason for that due the tubing can get entangled with scar tissue if I move my head around in certain angles/positions. I haven't had any pains in my neck and abdominal for a while, but it bothers/hurts sometimes whenever I sleep on it probably due to pressure on it and have to rub it to make the pain go away. It really ***** to live with the ongoing sharp pains but I guess it's better than getting seizures, being in a coma, or worse serious damage to my brain. =(

[helfire88]

Update**

I fixed my constipation problem thanks to metamucil, fiber cereal and bread. My poop is still not normal (yellow) so I think I might have malnutrition..I'd still like to have the shunt removed as It's not doing anything (disconnected) and It feels as If part of It is migrating further into my skull..not sure If that's bad

[JMonkey80]

I too have a VP Shunt prior to my Germinoma Brain Tumor diagnosis (02',03'). Due to my bad shunt pains my Kaiser Oncologist will put in a referralappointment for me to see the Kaiser Redwood City Neurosurgeon Dr. Sheridan who put the emergency shunt in the right backside of my head and tube in my right abdominal back in early 02'. It's been bothering me for the past 81/2 yrs that it feels like sharp poking pains that lasts for a few minutes to even a couple days! Now that I'm 30yrs old I don't need it anymore since it's just shunting so I hope the Dr. Sheridan will give the green light to take it out. I know that it's possible to have it taken out because my bone marrow transplant oncologist at UCSF said it's possible. Also I know a fellow Cancer survivor girl around my age that had her shunt removed a year ago and she's been doing okay. Although she said that it might be possible to have her shunt put back in if she experiences any future complications but for now she's fine without it. I just want to live a peaceful life without dealing with the ongoing aches and pains so there is hope for all of you! =)

[Billocoffee]

My son had almost exactly same situation (Geminoma and VP shunt on right side). Tumor is gone now after months of chemo and proton therapy. The shunt has been in since end of august last year (2017). Now tumor is gone it is 'redundant'.. Same aches and pains as you but also has a numbness and tingling on left side of body that hasn't improved and maybe even getting worse. We suspect shunt caused this because after it was placed was when numbness tingling started. It is early days.. only 11 months since diagnosis and treatment to now. But we want the 'quality' of life restored as much as possible and we think the shunt removal would go some considerable distance to doing this. ... Did you ever get your shunt removed? If so did things improve? .. Thanks Billocoffee.

[mandy_z818]

my name is amanda and my son had a vp shunt placed when he was only a few weeks old... i'm happy to say he is doing fine he is almost three and only has a speech delay. I'm sorry you are unable to play football i know as a young man that is very important. actually that is one of the things i fear the most. having to tell my little boy no. and what reason will i give him? This is one question i will have to come up with a great answer for...i'm scared now of how others will treat him at school and for the rest of his life. i hate what happend to him and don't understand why... if only it was me...i too hope that one day this shunt will be removed. and just remember you're very strong to have hope, and VERY!!!! lucky to have experienced even just part of your life as a normal person. even if you never get to play again at least you'll know and will always remeber the feeling you had being out on that football field. my son never will...

[helfire88]

i have vp shunt and its disconnected and i have severe constipation. i've lost 20 pounds, doctor still won't do anything except make me take pills. i'm going to die i know it :(