Author Topic: anyone have a shunt period?  (Read 3257 times)

ChelseaR

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anyone have a shunt period?
« on: May 07, 2007, 09:42:02 pm »
so i was wondering about flying with a shunt, and no response.

anyone have a shunt period? lol

if so what do you THINK about flying? [even if you havent been on a plane]
Diagnose in June 2006
6+ cm
20-25% still there
Removed after 2 surgeries
went to UCLA in California

Windsong

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Re: anyone have a shunt period?
« Reply #1 on: May 07, 2007, 10:05:10 pm »
Hey HI Chelsea,  :)

Um i don't have a shunt.....

What do I think of flying? I like it lol..... I'd  love to fly somewhere and have a change of scene actually....

So your doctor thinks the shunt would be  ok, fine? He must have had some others who flew with one right?

I only had tubes in my ears when i flew and they were wonderful for me as i didn't have any pressure problems then... never had ears go full or pop or cause pressure while i had the tubes in.... that's the extent of my expercience flying with anything in my body that I wasn't born with   ;D

I hear ya when you said about the mri effect....but flying is different right?

If your surgery doc says it's fine to fly, I'd say heck, go on the holiday and have a wonderful time!!!

Go off and let the wind fly through that lovely hair of yours.... have fun and enjoy.

all the best,
Windsong  :)

Meagan

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Re: anyone have a shunt period?
« Reply #2 on: May 25, 2007, 01:25:06 pm »
I had a shunt put in and you can do anything normal...have kids, fly, you name it.

5 cms, Surgery Jan 3 2007

tony

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Re: anyone have a shunt period?
« Reply #3 on: May 26, 2007, 01:07:18 am »
I still have a shunt in place - its rare that they actually remove them
even after the "cause" or "need" for one has been removed zapped
or whatever.
At the time of fitting (or a day or so after...)  They did
give some warnings - no to deep sea diving (where compression/
decompression can occurr) and no to combat flying
or space training.....(I was gutted...)
So unless your holiday is a bit more exotic
than Sun, Sea, S-- , and Sand.... - you should be OK
Only other tip - if you use the eye gel for dry eye
Take extra overnight meds -  for the DAYTIME in the pool or the sea
The thicker type offers some protection from
salt or chlorine water
Have a good holiday
Tony

Cynaburst

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Re: anyone have a shunt period?
« Reply #4 on: June 28, 2007, 06:43:13 pm »
I have a shunt, and have had it for the last 5 years.  I fly alot with no problems.  You cannot fly in a plane that is not pressurized, and scuba or a submarine might be bad.  I just went to Hawaii and did not go on a submarine trip.

BTW, I am also in L.A.  I had surgery 5.5 years ago at Cedars for a 3 cm. tumor and hydrocephalus - Dr. Keith Black and a shunt implanted in an earlier operation.

Does anyone know if these shunt ever malfunction after the tumor has been removed?


tony

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Re: anyone have a shunt period?
« Reply #5 on: June 29, 2007, 03:55:39 pm »
To some degree if the tumour has gone
- the need for the shunt has gone as well
it may malfunction - but you might never know
- youd never have reason to find out
The UK shunt "life expectancy" - of the shunt (not the patient)
is about ten years - the stateside model is different
UK record for shunt failure is about 2-3 hrs
sounds like a long night...
Best regards
Tony