Occasional Vomiting a sign of shunt failure?

[ave05]

My 2 year old has hyrocephalus due to being born 10 weeks early. She had her last shunt placed Oct. 06. Everything seemed to be going along ok except in the past month she has been vomiting once or twice a week. It usually happens after she drinks a bottle. She seems perfectly fine before and after she vomits. She is exhibiting no other problems. Actually her speech has taken off a lot in the last month. As far as her motor skills go she has spastic diplegia CP, but I haven't noticed any decrease in her motor skills.
She had her most recent episode tonight. She drank a bottle before bed and then proceded to throw up everything in her stomach afterwards. She then looked at me smiled and said "throw up, bath". She knows the routine now. :p
I'm concerned that this could be a sign of her shunt failing and wondered if anyone else has ever had occasional vomiting signaling their shunt had failed?

Niki

[MandaPearce]

Hi Niki,
Vomiting as an adult has almost always indicated a shunt malfunction in me. As a child however there was multiple reason why I may throw up and when it was connected with my Hydrocephalus it was almost constant and presented itself along side my being drowsy and whiny.

Could it be a problem with reflux connected with your daughter's CP?

Hope you find an answer soon
Hugs
Amanda

[LIZARD]

Hey, Niki. :)

Can she drink from a cup? I'm wondering if the air from the bottle may be producing gas, particularly if she drinks quickly. Since I have never been able to burp, I'm thinking she may have a similar problem, and the vomiting may be from the air pushing against her stomach, maybe even resulting in reflux. If she can drink from a cup, she may have less of an issue with this. In the absence of other symptoms--no headache, balance issues, etc--I'm inclined to think this is your culprit. Of course, I could be wrong ;), but it makes sense.


LIZARD :)

[ave05]

Thanks ladies! I don't think she has reflux, but I could be wrong. She also isn't sleeping any more than usual. She can drink from a cup and drinks most of her fluids that way. I only give her a bottle before bed because it relaxes her and she goes to sleep right away. We have a neuro appt in March so I can ask him about it. I feel a little better anyway and a little more confident that it isn't related to her shunt.

Niki

[megansmom]

I agree with Liz but think that you should decrease the amount of fluid you give her at bedtime, I'm thinking the quantity doesn't agree with her at times. Try giving her less in her bottle at bedtime and see how she does.

Good Luck

Tracy

[MegNJaxMom]

I also thought it may be reflux/gas related. Bottles are bad for her teeth too though, so maybe it is time to get rid of it?