Author Archives: brockettv

Stomach Surgery

5/4/14

Nausea,
catheter pain underneath revision scars starting at 4:36am.  Clogging in catheter at 6:56am with nausea
and pain in lower abdomen underneath revision scars at 6:58am.  No appetite. Burping too much with pain in
middle of stomach at 7am. Pain in middle of stomach on catheter at 8:45am,
9:15am, 9:49am. Nausea all morning and burning underneath revision scars on
stomach. Pain in stomach and abdomen multiple times during the day especially
burning underneath revision scars in mid afternoon around 3pm.  Upset stomach, nausea, pain and cold fluid
underneath revision scars.  Felt stomach
catheter clogging during the day. 
5/5/14
– Pain underneath revision scars starting at 3am. Upset stomach, nausea and
fluid leaking into lower abdomen.  Bad
taste in mouth and no appetite during early morning hours of 7:23am. Pains in
abdomen underneath revision scars and sharp pains in upper part of stomach all
day long. First day ever having continuous pain in stomach and abdomen.
Doesn’t sound like it’s working to me. I had explained to my doctor my suspicions of the shunt not draining properly based on what I’ve read online.   Since it was in the wrong way for four year, it could have extra cerebral spinal fluid that wasn’t reabsorbed properly.  It’s just my opinion and I surprised no one else has thought of this yet. Technology just isn’t there as far as I’m concerned.  I had told him numerous times before I had the revision/brain injuries in March I needed a full shunt revision which means changing out the entire system. He didn’t listen to me. I took a huge risk learning how to walk again with the catheter broken in my stomach for an extra two months. I had complained about having stomach and abdominal pains for months before it was fixed. 


We need to have shunts that at least have the following:
1. Shunts that have expiration dates so you and your doctor know how much time you have left before it expires.
2. Shunts which give off an indication whether it’s a light on your arm, head or something telling you it’s about to malfunction.  
3. Technology advanced like it is was in Star Trek where once you’re scanned with the laser gun you have a reading on the computer of what’s broken and needs to be fixed. 
All these things would make life so much easier for both doctor’s and patients.  There would be no guess work involved. Because as far as I’m concerned what they’re using now ( MRI, CT, shunt tap, shunt series, brain probe, etc.) aren’t really looking at the problem. Those things are only able to look at one area. What would happen in the patient couldn’t speak and express how they were feeling? Now I’m curious to know who makes the decisions on technology and assessments used to treat this condition.

CT Scans and then some…

Correct placement of shunt valve after surgery
March 2014

In three weeks I’m going to have a CT scan done of my neck and abdomen to see why I’m still feeling pain in my stomach catheter, my neck and vibrations inside my head. I suspect it’s because the shunt isn’t draining properly, which I mentioned to my surgeon. I could be having these pain issues ( as I’ve had them for 8-9 months) before I had surgery and it could be because the distal catheter I have is 20 years old. I’ve been having vibrations and pains in my abdomen for 9 months now.

Incorrect placement of shunt. 2009-2014 

For now I’ll continue to have the following (minus the headaches):

4/20/14 – Sharp
pains in lower abdomen near ’93 revision scar, clogging in catheter in stomach
multiple times around 3am-5am. No appetite starting at 5am. Bruising in
stomach, upset stomach and vibrations in head at 8:33am. Pain down right side
of neck on catheter multiple times between 6:35am-8:30am. Felt sharp pain
(vertical) on stomach catheter around 9:13am. Nausea and clogging in stomach
catheter around 9:24am-9:25am and again from 1pm-3pm. Experienced pain on
stomach catheter, throbbing and pain in upper/lower area of stomach/abdomen all
afternoon and into evening at 5:57pm, 6:16pm. No appetite all day. Sharp pains
in stomach and lower abdomen at 7:39pm with nausea, pain on right side of neck
on catheter behind ear and vibrations inside head at 7:40pm, 8:16pm, 9pm. 

4/21/14
– Vibrations inside head at 3am with sharp pain on right side of neck on
catheter. Surface of stomach sensitive to touch. Sharp pains in stomach on
catheter and lower abdomen near ’93 revision scars at 8:05am.  No appetite this morning, nausea all day.
Sharp pain on catheter in stomach at 9:16am with pain in lower part of stomach
near ’93 revision scar and pain on right side of neck on catheter. Pain in
stomach and pain in right side of neck on catheter at 1:12pm. Pain on right
side of neck on catheter multiple times and pain in stomach/abdomen at 2:23pm,
3:04pm, 3: 35pm, 4:11pm, 4:18pm (with bad taste in back of throat) Pain in
abdomen underneath revision scars at 4:21pm. Vibrations inside head at 4:23pm
with pain on right side of neck on catheter behind ear. Pain on stomach
catheter (horizontal) underneath revision scars at 4:35pm, 4:48pm-4:49pm with vibrations
in head at 4:49pm and upset stomach at 4:51pm. Upset stomach, nausea at 4:53pm
with vibrations inside head. 

4/22/14
– Bad taste in back of throat and mouth starting at 5am. Pain on right side of
neck on catheter and sharp pains in stomach/stomach sensitive to touch at
6:16am. Vibrations inside head at 6:23am with pain and upset stomach. Nausea at
6:56am with pain in stomach with burping and heartburn.  Pain on right side of neck behind ear at
1:45pm, 2:11pm, 2:36pm-2:37pm. Upset stomach and nausea around 2:37pm, 2:41pm,
2:44pm. Pain on right side of neck on catheter at 2:45pm. Upset stomach with
sharp pains at 2:54pm, 3pm. Pain behind right ear on catheter multiple times at
3:19pm. Pain/throbbing on stomach catheter at 3:21pm, 3:53pm ( with nausea in
stomach ).