What is congenital hydrocephalus?

What is congenital hydrocephalus?
Congenital hydrocephalus is a buildup of excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain at birth. The extra fluid can increase pressure in the baby's brain, causing brain damage and mental and physical problems. Finding the condition early and treating it quickly can help limit any long-term problems. But long-term effects mostly depend on what caused the fluid buildup, how bad it gets, and how the baby responds to treatment.

This condition is rare. About 1 out of 1,000 babies is born with it.1 This means that about 999 babies out of 1,000 are not born with it. When hydrocephalus doesn't occur until later in life, it is called acquired hydrocephalus. This topic focuses on hydrocephalus that is present at birth (congenital).

What causes congenital hydrocephalus?
This condition is caused by an imbalance between how much CSF the brain makes and how well the body is able to process it.

Normally, CSF flows through and out of chambers of the brain called ventricles, and then around the brain and spinal cord. The fluid is then absorbed by the thin tissue around the brain and spinal cord. But with hydrocephalus, the fluid can't move where it needs to or is not absorbed as it should be. And in rare cases, the brain makes too much fluid.

Congenital hydrocephalus may happen because of:

Bleeding in the fetus before birth.
Certain infections in the mother, such as toxoplasmosis or syphilis.
Other birth defects, like spina bifida.
What are the symptoms?
The clearest symptom of hydrocephalus is a head that is larger than normal. You and your doctor may notice it at birth or within the first several months after your baby is born. But keep in mind that babies' heads grow a lot during the first year. It is only when the head size grows faster than the normal rate for a baby's height and weight that your doctor may think that there is a problem.

The condition may cause the soft spot (fontanelle) on your baby’s head to feel firm or bulge out. If pressure builds in the brain, your baby may:

Be irritable.
Sleep too much.
Vomit.
Eat very little.
How is congenital hydrocephalus diagnosed?
Your doctor may suspect that your baby has congenital hydrocephalus if your baby’s head is larger than normal. Your doctor can check for the problem during a physical exam soon after birth.

Your baby may need imaging tests, such as a CT scan, an MRI, or an ultrasound, that can give a picture of the brain with more detail. A fetal ultrasound can sometimes show the problem before birth while the baby is in the uterus.

How is it treated?
Early treatment during the baby’s first 3 or 4 months of life is important to help limit or prevent brain damage. Treatment aims to reduce the amount of CSF in the brain to relieve pressure.

In most cases, the doctor places a flexible tube (shunt) in the brain to drain the fluid. The shunt may stay in the brain forever. But it may have to be fixed or replaced later if there is a problem.

After treatment, watch your child closely to make sure that the fluid is draining. You will need to watch for signs of infection or other problems such as:

Irritability.
Poor appetite.
Sleeping too much.
Vomiting often.
Fever and redness along the shunt tract or valve.
A child with congenital hydrocephalus is at risk for development problems and may need physical or speech therapy.

It can be hard to wait and see if symptoms will return. And if your child has special needs, it can be a challenge to take care of him or her. Try to take good care of yourself. And ask your doctor about support groups and organizations that can help you and your child.

Paris Tassin's daughter was born with congenital hydrocephalus. It damaged her hearing other wise she is a healthy 4 year old little girl. To see her you would never know she had a disability as hydrocephalus is often considered an invisible disability because it is not able to be seen. Many of us look perfectly fine like myself we can hide the scars under our hair and unless we have surgery nobody knows.

Taking Pepper Knows best in a new direction

My best friend Michelle aka supermom got me started blogging not very long ago. She saw that I was trying to share information about support groups and sites I had found about hydrocephalus. I had such a hard time finding help I wanted everyone to have access to it. Plus I was telling my story on Myspace so hopefully others could learn from my experience.

Chell suggested I start a blog that's how pepper knows best was born. I though there is no way I can blog everyday like she does but it would be a better place to keep track of my ups and downs. I had been keeping notes on a calendar of my headaches and their severity.

Recently with American Idol Paris Tassin spoke about here 4 year old daughter having congenital hydrocephalus. Paris got pregnant at 18 and when doctors saw the child had hydrocephalus they suggested she abort her beautiful baby girl.

Paris has inspired me to not only tell my story but other too and compare them to me and explain what the media is not or can not.

Especially when it comes to Gabby Gifford. I am so thankful this day and time doctors know to reduce pressure as soon as there are signs of it.

I may or may not have hydrocephalus if doctors had caught the pressure build up. More than likely not but I feel like I have this condition for a reason and telling my story is part of that reason.

I still want to share my story here. But have been seeing a lot of new interest in readers. I am thankful for your interest. I am looking forward to questions and discussions. I am not an expert but I would love to help others to understand. This is why I started blogging to help.

But now I'm wondering if my blog should no longer be "Just about me" it was my personal story and the updates of me and even I got board of that. But I'm enjoying looking up terms that are in the news then explaining in english what it means.

I had hoof in mouth disease

What is the saying? If you jump the gun; you will get shot in the ass .... Well I'm hanging my head in shame but something good may come out of it.

Today I read a note online from a very dear friend that I thought was directed at me. I thought she was not understanding that I what I was trying to blog about Senator Gifford. I had recently felt like I was really doing good by showing what Gifford was going through and explaining it better than the media. My blog had been showing the results.

Then I read what I thought was to me and it crushed my heart to think I had disappointed her. But there is a silver lining to this in my jumping the gun and us talking about things she has decided to start her own blog and challenged other hydro peeps to start a blog.

Challenger disaster remembered

I remember I was home from school that day I was 10 years old. I watched the shuttle launch and remember the teacher on board. My science teacher Mr. Ward so wanted to be going up with them. Even after the explosion he told he would have taken the chance. Today we remember the 7 lives lost in this disaster.

Idol day 2 from Nashville

Auditions are being held in the Rymen Atrium. Leave it to the 2 men to cave and let a pretty girl making puppy dog eyes through Stormi. Do I need to say anything more?

Wow! Jackie Wilson has a great voice. She can hit some great notes. Finally I saw someone that could sing.

Matt Dillard had an amazing story his family takes care of special needs foster kids. If he makes it this could help his family.

Lauren Alaina 15 did a song with Steven Tyler. She is amazing she told her cousins story about her brain tumor and how scared she was that she would loose her cousin Holly.

There is something telling me its time to speak out with everyone else this year. I'm speaking out in awareness for hydrocephalus and brain tumor awareness.

Go Team Tassin!!!!

What is a tramatic brain injury?

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex injury with a broad spectrum of symptoms and disabilities. The impact on a person and his or her family can be devastating. The purpose of this site is to educate and empower caregivers and survivors of traumatic brain injuries. This site aims to ease the transition from shock and despair at the time of a brain injury to coping and problem solving. Bookmark this site for the latest medical breakthroughs and brain research, the highest quality treatment for brain damage, the symptoms of brain injuries and the nation's best traumatic brain injury rehabilitation centers and resource information.


What is TraumaticBrainInjury.Com?

TraumaticBrainInjury is a project of TraumaticBrainInjury.com, LLC. Our mission is to be the leading internet resource for education, advocacy, research and suport for brain injury surviviors, their families, and medical and rehabilitation professionals. If you are interested in submitting an article, please submit it via email to Karen@traumaticbraininjury.com. Query in advance of article submissions; unsolicited manuscripts may not be returned. All contents copyright © 2004.


Medical Editor
David Lenrow, M.D.

Rehabilitation Editor
Joanne Finegan, MSA, CTRS

Legal Editor
Stewart L. Cohen, Esq.


With Senator Giffords injury it has been stated that she has a TMI or traumatic brain injury to help understand a bit better what this me and I thought I would post it defined for everyone. If anyone wants to comment I am open for discussion. I am not an expert but I would love to share my personal experience.

American Idol

Scotty Mcreery from Garner, NC is 16 an blew the judges away with his amazing country voice. Steven Tyler in a few words thought he was breath taking. Sorry I don't speak Tyler language on my blog.

I'm totally excited to have such a young boy from my state on idol. We already have a guy in Asheville going to Hollywood. But I am still a Paris Tassin fan Go Team Paris!!!!

OMG!!! I can't believe it! An intern for Obama is auditioning for Idol! Molly DeWolf Swensen from Seattle, Washington. She graduated from Harvard. It amazes me who has the dream to sing. She has so much already going for her but she is also on her way to Hollywood.

I totally did not get Jenifer Lopez thinking that Scott Dangerfield was her favorite so far. He is not bad but reminded me of a lounge singer.I thought it was a bit off color for him to be bragging about making out just out in the hall.

Why do they save the best stories for the end of the show. Chris Medina is engaged to a woman who had a major accident and had traumatic brain injury. It takes an amazing man to stay with a woman after she has gone through such a terrible accident.

I just listed the few good mentions for the show. So far I predict paris coming in first place and Scott McReery coming in second in Idol. Does anyone doubt my predictions?

Were we fall with funding

I found this strange of deciding where to spend Government Funding. $996 Million in Diabetes. $200 Million in Parkinson's. $187 Million in Brain tumor. $103 Million in Autism. Traumatic Brain Injury $80 Million. Down Syndrome $19 Million. Yet only $2 Million in Hydrocephalus the most common reason for brain surgery in children.

Senator Gifford

Senator Gifford is improving yesterday she was upgraded from serious condition to good condition. It was reported that she was not draining as much spinal fluid. And had been able to watch CNN for about an hour.

It would truely be a great thing if the senitor didn't have to be shunted. Although she will most likely still have many systems like many hydro peeps because os the severity of her injury.

She will have issues with headaches and nausea. Its likely she will have to have extensive rehab after the pressure build up. Depending on where it pressed on her brain. This is what usually causes us disabilities

To look at me you would never know I had hydrocephalus. When pressure built up in 1983 my eyes were damaged and had to be corrected with eye surgery. I had to learn to walk again at 8 years old. Today I'm still weak on my left side but others can't notice unless I have to type or something using my left hand.

In 1983 it was not understood how pressure could damage and cause so many problems. With Senator Gifford having the manual shunt placed so soon she will not have the complications I did.

I'm really hoping she self adjusts to her spinal fluid over flow and doesn't have to be shunted. It can be really scary entering the hydro world when you don't know anything about it.

Types of hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired at any stage of life. Congenital hydrocephalus is thought to be caused by a complex interaction of environmental and perhaps genetic factors. Two examples of congenital hydrocephalus are aqueductal stenosis and spina bifida. Acquired hydrocephalus can be idiopathic (no known cause) or may result from intraventricular hemorrhage, meningitis, head trauma, tumors, or cysts.

Hydrocephalus is treated surgically by the insertion of a shunt. A shunt is a flexible tube that diverts the flow of CSF from the head into another region of the body where it can be absorbed. Shunts commonly include valves to regulate CSF flow based on pressure and/or body position.

Endoscopic third Ventriculostomy (ETV) is an alternate operation to treat hydrocephalus. The surgery entails making a tiny hole in the floor of the third ventricle to allow free flow of CSF.

Hydrocephalus is believed to:

■Occur in about 2 of every 1,000 live births
■Impact hundreds of thousands of adults. An estimated 350,000 older Americans are living with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH)
■Affect more than 1 million Americans
■Be the most common reason for brain surgery in children
Although it is treatable:

■There is no cure for this chronic condition
■The only known treatment is neurosurgical
■More than 30,000 shunt surgeries are performed annually in the U.S.! That’s more than one every 30 minutes
With more than 20 million viewers, American Idol is a great place for “hydrocephalus” to gain awareness. We recommend that you take advantage of this opportunity to spread the word and share this video with friends, family, co-workers and your congressman. Support Paris by going to her fan page on Facebook. Post a comment or tell your hydrocephalus story on this message about hydrocephalus left on the American Idol community site.

“I [sing] for my daughter, because I want to teach her: Go for your dreams, do everything you want to do in your life and be happy” Paris Tassin

Go Paris!!!

Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

Procedure description

A ventriculoperitoneal shunt is used to take excess fluid from the ventricles (fluid filled cavities) within the brain, and "shunt" or divert it to the abdomen for absorption. Normally, the brain produces about 500 cc (half a liter) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) per day, and it is absorbed back into the blood by filtration into the superior sagittal sinus and other veins in the brain. At times, the filtration process may become partially obstructed, and the fluid may build up, causing pressure on the brain. This is known as hydrocephalus. There may be a number of causes of the build up of fluid. Hemorrhage in the CSF, or meningitis (an infection of the CSF) may cause the drainage channels into the superior sagittal sinus to become "clogged," and the fluid which is produced cannot be easily reabsorbed into the blood. A tumor or other mass lesion may be obstructing the normal circulation patterns of CSF within the brain, and this may lead to hydrocephalus. Or, sometimes in the elderly, CSF builds up in the ventricles within the brain, and the patient may suffer from a condition known as normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Regardless of the reason for the hydrocephalus, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt allows the excess CSF to be channeled into the abdomen, from where it is absorbed back into the blood.

During a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt procedure, a small hole is made in the skull, and a tube is passed into the ventricle within the brain. The tube (known as a ventricular catheter) is connected to a valve, which in turn is connected to another tube which is tunneled beneath the skin, and the end is placed within the abdomen. The valve regulates the pressure at which the shunt will divert fluid from the brain. The valve may be either fixed in its opening pressure (the pressure above which fluid will drain from the brain into the abdomen), or it may be programmable. A programmable valve will give the surgeon the ability to postoperatively adjust the pressure for which fluid will be shunted. Often, a general surgeon will perform the abdominal portion of the procedure. The tube is passed from the head to the abdomen, beneath the skin. There may be one or more incisions along the path of the shunt, to help pass it to the abdomen.



Procedure Risks

Ventriculoperitoneal shunts are placed relatively frequently. Yet, there certainly are risks to the procedure. Risks can be broken down into two categories, 1) those related to the operative site, and 2) those related to the risks of anesthesia.

Risks related to the operative site:

Surgical Exposure: The patient is placed in a supine position (on their back). In this position, there can be pressure sores and pressure injuries to nerves. A hole is made in the skull and a catheter inserted into the brain. There can be bleeding in the area of the tube, in the brain and drill hole, potentially requiring emergent surgery to make a larger opeining in the skull for clot removal. There may be difficulty getting the catheter into the ventricle, and several "passes" of the tube may be needed. If the catheter "irritates" the brain, seizures may occur. The distal (bottom portion) of the catheter is placed within the abdomen. There could be injury to the bowel, and infection may occur. The wounds could have difficulty with proper healing.

General Risks: These include general difficulties, such as bleeding, infection, stroke, paralysis, coma and death. Incisions in the scalp and abdomen generally heal well, but there may be tenderness and numbness, or the wounds may heal in an unpleasant manner. There is also the possibility that the surgery may not relieve the symptoms for which the procedure was performed. The problem for which the surgery was performed may recur, requiring additional surgery in the future. If the shunt drains too much CSF, if is possible that the brain could "collapse" around the shunt tube, with fluid or blood developing around the brain. This may require an operation to remove the fluid or blood around the brain. The abdominal portion of tubing could pull out of the abdomen, or could become walled off in a cystic area, requiring surgery for repositioning. The tubing may deteriorate and break over time. The valve and tubing may malfunction or become clogged, requiring a revision of the shunt. In addition, although every attempt is made to protect all areas of the body from pressure on nerves, skin and bones, injuries to these areas can occur, particularly with prolonged cases.

Risks of Anesthesia
Blood clots in the legs, heart attacks, reaction to the anesthetic, reaction to blood transfusion, if given.



Post-operative care:

There shall be no bending, twisting, or heavy lifting for several weeks after surgery. Your doctor will gradually ease your work restrictions, depending on your progress.

Remember to keep the wound dry and clean. Notify your surgeon of any drainage or temperatures greater than 101 Fahrenheit.

The following is a list of suggestions that should help speed your recovery and give you every possible chance for the best results from your surgery.

Immediately upon discharge, contact our office and set up an appointment for staple removal if one has not already been made.

Take it easy until seen by the physician. This does not mean bed rest, but athletic activities during this period are definitely not recommended. Please give your incisions a chance to heal.

No jogging or running.

No driving until OK with your physician.

You may shower after you go home unless otherwise instructed. Cover the incisions with plastic wrap before the shower and remove it afterward. Change dressing immediately. Tub baths are not advisable. You may shower without covering the incision one week after the staples are out. Follow instructions concerning care of tape strips, stitches or staples. Your surgeon or nurse clinician will explain the techniques used in the closure of your incision.

Sexual activities are permitted.

If you notice swelling, redness or opening of the incision, or if there is any clear fluid draining from it, please contact your surgeon immediately! If you develop a fever, stiff neck or chills, contact the office immediately. Take your temperature at 4:00 PM daily until the clips are removed. Call if greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you have any questions, call our office, and for after hours emergencies, call the after hours number.

Take your medications prescribed on discharge, as directed.
http://www.neurosurgerypa.com

Thank you Ron Kelleher for this link

Fluid build up may delay Giffords rehab

Two days Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was transferred from Tucson to a Houston rehabilitation center, she remains in intensive care because of a buildup of fluid in her brain.

The fluid, doctors said Saturday, doesn't appear to be infected, but the Houston Chronicle's Todd Ackerman reports, it will likely keep her Giffords from entering full-fledged rehabilitation until at least next week.

On Friday, Giffords was flown from Tuscon to the Texas Medical Center in Houston, where she had been scheduled to enter the Institute of Rehabilitation and Research. While the transfer went smoothly, Dr. John Holcomb, one of Giffords' doctors, told reporters that the trip had been medically "stressful" for the congresswoman, who was shot in the head at point blank range two weeks ago.

For now, doctors are draining the fluid in her skull through a catheter but they said Saturday there was a possibility of inserting a permanent shunt.

"We just have to wait and see if the fluid buildup issue solves itself," Holcomb said.

(Photo of Giffords being taken aboard a medical helicopter in Houston: Giffords' office via AP)
Yahoo news

Senator Gifford may need a shunt

After being shot and having half her skull removed to relieve pressure. It seems that with all the progress Gifford is making that she still has a build up of fluid needing what the news is calling a catheter.

I want to explain a bit better about what the news is calling a catheter. I had this myself in 2001 when I had my shunt I had for 20 years taken out because it was thought for many years I did not need the shunt and it did not even work. It is basically a manual shunt (which is what it was referred as when I was in the hospital) that drains and measures fluid being drained off the brain.

It looks like a test tube like device that has tubing to you head and inserted into the ventricle usually much like a shunt. The manual device will also measure the amount of fluid being drained. Over a 4 day period it was determined I was shunt dependent because of constantly having to drain fluid off my brain.
Gifford's doctors reported this morning that she is still having issues with pressure and may require a shunt.

The cause of the additional spinal fluid she is having is a result of her brain trying to cushion itself from the trauma it has been through. The brain is also injured and bruised causing swelling. Which can lead to permanent brain damage if not treated.

I had swelling after my brain tumor surgery in 1983 which crossed both my left and right eyes. Weakened my left side and I had to learn to walk again. So it is very important to stay on top of her swelling to keep from having permanent problems.

I was shunted 9 days after my brain tumor surgery and had to have 3 surgeries to correct my eyes. I also went through nearly 2 year of physical therapy to learn how to walk again.

I still have weakness in my left side and balance and coordination problems that I will have for the rest of my life. But I went 9 days before I was shunted after surgery. Doctors have learned a lot since then and know the signs of pressure building up.

With hydrocephalus and shunting being in the news more hear lately this is one more shout out for hydrocephalus. For those of you that read my blog you know that I was shunted for over 20 years before I ever heard the word hydrocephalus.

Paris Tassin on American Idol

Last night on American Idol a single 23 year old mom. Paris Tassin spoke out publicly on American Idol about her daughter that has hydrocephalus. Besides having the wonderful gift of her voice. She took time to make a difference for hydrocephalus.

This is a major event for hydrocephalus. We have needed someone to publicly announce hydrocephalus to the world. I hope "google" was over loaded with everyone running to there computer and searching to find out about this amazing womans daughter.

I am not a fan of the she show as many others I talked to last night with hydro. But after hearing about Paris we suddenly are having to watch. I was instantly thrown into being a fan of a reality show that normally would irritate me.

Now I'm is a search to see it again because I "was" not a fan of the show I was not watching so I missed this historic event for hydrocephalus

Another morning another headache

I was scared awake this morning I'm sure didn't help with my headache. My humidifier decided to come on full blast at 4:30am. It sounded like a blow torch. I jumped out of bed startled trying to figure out what the sudden blast of cold air was in my bedroom.

I figured Ginger (my cat) had walked across it and turned it on but she was no where around. But the way I jumped out of bed ib don't blame her if she was hiding. This is the strange thing I don't remember if the humidifier was on. I know it wasn't last night. But I don't know if the light was on when I started trying to turn it off this morning. I could not get it off!! I could not even get it out of super turbo blast mode. I turned it off 3 times and it still would not go off. So I left it in the off position I would have to pull my bed out to unplug it.

So my head is starting to hurt in just a few minutes of fighting with the humidifier. I stumbled on into the kitchen with one eye open and got my tea and some crackers so I could take something for my headache. Then suddenly the humidifier turned off. I could hear it all the way in the kitchen. I had left it in the off position and it apparently figured it out.

But now! My eyeballs feel bruised. My forehead and temples feel like I have a vice griping down. I can run my fingers through my hair and my scalp feels bruised.

This is really discouraging for me I was really hoping that my daily headaches had let up. I still hope that maybe this will pass.

Miracle Detectives

On Wednesday, at 10 PM EST there will be a show on the new OWN channel featuring the story of a girl living in N.C. with hydrocephalus. "Miracle Detectives"

Agh!!!! Are my headaches back?

The past 2 or 3 days I've been having a light headache through the day. Since my last surgery they had faded nearly away. I'm really sad that they could be trying to return.

We have had rainy weather the past few days. But I have not even been having issues with the snow storms that have hit this past month.

I've not been able to get over my fatigue since my last surgery. I saw my Dr. Yesterday and she did some additional blood work to check my Thyroid. My brain tumor was in the ceribellium and I had radiation after my surgery. I've always been told to check my Thyroid because of the radiation that hit it may effect me later in life. Plus I both my grandmothers had gorders removed.

I'm watching the morning news right now with my headache starting to bother me. I was really enjoying not having the constant pain. The head rushes when I get up and dizzy spells aren't fun but they pass.

I'm crossing my fingers that these headaches pass soon. I'm needing and wanting to get my energy back to try to get more active. I'm really tired of being tired.

Nursing a sore Pepper

I woke up this morning and rolled out of bed and I suddenly hear a "Thud!!!!" I see my addled 12 year old baby! My Pepper! He fell out of bed. He is not wanting to eat but I got some down him and some pain medicine so I going to watch him today.

Collapsed ventricles

I talked to a facebook friend last night who's son is having systems of having a collapsed ventricle. He is waiting until this morning to have an MRI to confirm the collapse. I'm eager to find out how another neurosurgeon repairs this complication.

Mine was fixed with a shunt assist or an anti-syphen device which regulated the flow of my spinal fluid. It keeps it from dumping spinal fluid when I sit up or stand.

The way our shunt works is it should slow down draining when laying down and will open when we stand or sit up.

When the ventricle collapses the shunt is actually working too well and taking too much fluid from around the brain.

When I had this happen I was positive I was in shunt failure. The pain and nausea was nothing like I had ever experienced.

I learned laying flat helped the pain and spent several months waiting for one last test to confirm the collapsed vents then my Dr had scheduling issues and was super backed up with surgeries.

Since I was not in complete failure and my vents had not slit. I was not in an emergency situation. But I had to be careful to not sit up long and cause undo pressure on my vents.

Since to have surgery would mean going through my local ER trying to explain things to them which is always a challenge with ER doctors. Go through hours of unneeded test to finally be flown to Charlotte. Or to just drive straight through to Charlotte ER.

Fatigue

My fatigue is really getting on my nerves with all these snow days in I could be getting some good days time in on the treadmill. I can't get up the energy to do it. I try to talk myself into just 5 minutes. I know once I get on the treadmill I will get energized and feel like moving.

But I can't make myself just walk in my living room and get on my treadmill for a few minutes. I know for sure if I could get back in the habit of walking I would feel better. It wold help to build up my endurance again and get me started again to loose the pounds that are bugging me.

I find excuses not to exercise especially when I do things around my house and get winded very easily. Or my best excuse is instead of wasting time on the treadmill I need to be cleaning or doing laundry? I will go and pick up a few things or start a load of laundry but still not do or finish either just because I don't feel like it.

I'm trying to add more raw veggies to my diet to see if that helps any. But every time I eat a salad or raw veggies lately with as cold as it has been (don't laugh....too hard) I end up freezing like I've eat ice cream. So now I'm having to make myself eat salads and raw veggies because I hate being cold.

I've even considered winter blues making me feel worse. I have just got to find something to make myself get on the treadmill. I don't want to feel like this in spring. Plus I would like to have a body for summer that I can show off at the pool.

I've also missed swimming for several days due to being snowed in. But swimming does not take the weight off me walking the treadmill takes it off in a flash. I've just got to go in there and do it.

Snow Started Sunday Night

It was kinda wild we had snow already on the ground from a snow Friday. We knew that there was another storm coming in but my mom still wanted to try to go and swim.

Friday there was nothing in Asheville but at home it came a white out. We got a good heavy snow.

My parents and I went out Saturday to do last minute things to get ready for this next storm. The roads were solid ice covered but melted slush in places. I'm sure that all froze back with this new storm.

I would say we have a good 8 inches or more. I'm just hoping to not loose power. We are suppose to get freezing rain behind this snow.

Had a Beautiful White Christmas

I have to say this helped my feeling some this year. We actually got 11 inches of snow and thank goodness didn't loose power.

I had many friends online joking and bantering with me about me doing a snow dance and making it snow. It took my mind off my troubles and made me laugh for a while.

There is snow in the forecast tonight and as I'm complaining about a stuffy nose on facebook my friends are telling me to get up and get to doing my snow dance.

I try to make my friends laugh when they feel bad and last night many of them returned the favor. I know for sure you can't choose your family but you can choose your friends and mine are golden!

Something really unusual. Since my last revision which was to add an anti-syphon device I have not had major headaches with weather changes.

I am glad to be having relieve of my own but I feel bad for so many of my hydro peeps that still suffer day to day. I enjoy this moment for now because I'm sure the headache can reappear at any moment.

Happy New Year

Its been such a long time since I have posted on here. I wonder if anyone miss me? I did not have to have to have surgery but I had the holiday blues like no other. My friends helped a lot by being here for me but I just was going through the motions for a lot of it.

I have decided its a new year and I have too much in life to be happy about and so many wonder people surrounding me everyday I can't let something I can't control, control my life.

Someone else's decision is not going to make me unhappy. Enough about the past.

Something I have noticed since I have had my last shunt revision I am super sensitive to the pool water at the Y when doing aerobics. They use to keep the temp at 87 and recently droped it to 86. It takes me a good 20 minutes to warm up in the water. When the cold hits me its not just cold to me it physically hurts. A nurse I swim with tells me I have nerve damage is the reason I feel the pain so bad.

Sorry I've been gone so long. I'm feeling better now. I love my friends they have adopted me or I have adopted them.... Not sure how it happened but I love them all.