GI problems/shunt revision part 2 -- PERFORATED BOWEL??

[KathiDG]

Hi guys - me again. Still battling with the runs/tummy issues. Got really nauseous tonight, like I needed to vomit, but didn't. Thought just crossed my mind tonight about the perforated bowel. If I am still like this on Monday, I'm gonna give my general physician a call. I may just have a touch of something, but in light of the shunt revision, I wanted to know if anyone's ever had their bowel messed up by a revision?

I'm going on the assumption on Monday that my doc will maybe run some tests (I've had just normal GI problems in the past), but if she feels it's possibly surgery related she'll refer me back to my NS. Then again, maybe my neurosurgeon should be the first call I make & go from there? I just don't want to go through another surgery so soon and if it's the bottom end of the shunt aggrivating things, he may have to move it, I'm thinking? That is the only way to fix it if it's because of the catheter, right? I thought I was getting better until tonight....now, with BOTH ends starting to act up, it's a little scary....

[canadianlistener]

I have experienced similar stomach problems as well. My neurosurgeon says it may be the shunt tip tickling the bowel and the tubing can be repositioned a little. I have been through every stomach test in the book with no answers....to the point where I just can handle only digest rice. My story is a long one...suffice to say, doctors will not operate on me anymore.

Good luck and here's hoping you get answers and help.

Rob

[Austinsmom]

Hi,
Sorry you're having troubles, and it seems to me you should see your Neurosurgeon. Austin just after a shunt revision had adhesions of his bowels, his symptoms, were very different then yours, he started vomiting was very sick and they took an x-ray of his stomach and saw nothing, he was getting sicker, while in the hospital, took another x-ray, then the resident NS was very concerned, so he asked for a contrasting CT and that was the only test where you could see from the scar tissue of so many revisions his bowels were adhered with strains of scar tissue. enough of that, what I wanted to say is if they do not see anything in an x-ray ask the neurosurgeon to do a contrasting CT due to you thinking there is something wrong and GI problems maybe missed with a simple x-ray. As to your question if you may need a revision if the bottom end of the shunt aggravating things, yes, you may need to have that done, Austin’s first revision was just the bottom end, it went fast and smooth and fixed the problem. I know how scary and stressful this can all be and I am sure your NS will say wait and see if you adjust, it all could be do to so many things, and boy is that the truth, but keep an eye on it and I would make an appt. with a NS
Wishing you well
Deborah

[KathiDG]

Hi guys...I went to see my doctor Tuesday (the general, not neuro) about the stomach thing...she did some blood work, etc...I AM dehydrated and it looks like I might have some sort of bug attacking my intestines....I'm on a BRAT (Bananas, Rice, Apples, (dry) Toast) diet until they can run a certain lab...after that, I have to go to a liquid diet for 3 days...she said the whole thing could've been caused by the IV antibiotics I had after the shunt revision surgery. Sometimes it takes a while for things to show up...so, it looks like I'll be OK. :)