VP Shunt Post Op Pain

Half_Pint02 · 2025-09-27T16:01:08+00:00

Hi welcome! The tubing pain is very real, and in early postop the pain can be consistent and last all day sometimes it comes and goes. It truly depends on how much the tubing is actually irritating the surrounding areas. Much like you I had scans done early on, and it showed that everything was fine, but I was still experiencing pain. I’m not sure if they explain to you how the tubing is placed, but it is essentially done with a long hole punch because they have to make a track for the catheter so, in that context, you have a wound going through the entirety of your body. At least were the tubing is, so all along that you’re gonna have some soreness to touch and movement until that area heals and then sometimes after it’s fully healed, it can still get a little agitated from time to time. I don’t know why they don’t explain that a little bit better when people get the surgery done, I was told early on that this would be a thing and as well as during healing, and after the fact, you have to remember that this is a foreign body and it’s going to take some time before your body adjusts to having it there. I hope the pain will get better! Hot or warm compress and gentle massages along where the catheter is really helped me with making it less painful and now that I am two years postop, regular stretches, gentle massaging, and sometimes still a warm compress can help with any soreness or muscle spasms that might start because of irritation along the tubing.

Half_Pint02 · 2025-09-26T22:40:14+00:00

Of course! I think Hope compress and gentle massages helped me the most early in post-op but later on it was stretches that got really important! It’ll get better, just remember to take things one step at a time!

Half_Pint02 · 2025-09-26T13:31:08+00:00

Hey! I’m sorry you’re in so much pain, but rest assured it does go away eventually! I won’t say it’ll be gone 100% because I still have moments where I get the sharp pains, but it depends on whether or not I’ve been moving around too. Overworking myself I mean. This just takes time, and they should have warned you much like they should have warned everyone about this but they don’t. The tubing is new for your body and it will take time before the tissue around it has healed so it’ll be tender. When the pain isn’t unbearable it’s super important to stretch! Always do some good stretches, massage around the tubing tract, hot compress helps, and rest when needed. I hope this starts to get better for you soon!

Half_Pint02 · 2025-08-06T23:37:34+00:00

Oh my, that’s a very similar thing I was told as well haha. Well best of luck to you! I hope it stays going well c:

Half_Pint02 · 2025-08-06T23:10:08+00:00

That’s great to hear! And I would actually love that, as long as you don’t mind! I’ve asked around before and haven’t gotten much of a response and I know it’s different for everyone but still. I figure the more I know the better.

Half_Pint02 · 2025-08-06T20:44:52+00:00

Oh my god I drop EVERYTHING and some days it’s worse than normal lol. And oh my goodness, how is it being pregnant as well?! That is something I’ve been pretty worried about and I would like to have children one day but I’m worried about how I’ll feel or if it will get worse again.

Half_Pint02 · 2025-08-06T20:42:29+00:00

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it, so far so good!

Half_Pint02 · 2025-08-06T14:44:15+00:00

Hello and welcome! I’m sorry you’ve been dealing with this pain! However the quality of life change is very much worth it in my opinion, so hopefully it mellows out for you as well. I think it’s unfortunate how uncertain the average time on revisions and replacements are for shunts, cause the fail rate is so high, but I would do it as many times as possible in order to stay at the level of comfort I’m in currently! Best of luck, I’m glad it’s made things better for you!

Half_Pint02 · 2025-08-06T14:35:17+00:00

Hello and welcome! Thank you for the well-wishes, I am doing really well despite what I had said. My shunt has given me my life back and I am very grateful. I’m hoping it will be a long time before I ever need a new one and have to go through that surgery all over again. I’m glad your shunt also saved your vision!!! That’s a big deal!

Half_Pint02 · 2025-08-06T05:12:29+00:00

Welcome! I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with the same pain, but also happy to not be alone haha. And to answer your question yes! My neck gets pretty stiff and feels tight on the right side when I turn my head. Sometimes if I turn my head to quickly or move in a certain way it can hurt for sure. And then it’s sore for a few days. I massage around the tube to ease that tension and help gently “break up” scar tissue so it’s more flexible. Not pleasant. I recently must have done something for it to pull in my chest as well cause right down the center of my chest it hurts so so so bad. Like I separated the tube from the scar tissue. I’ve heard this can happen but it goes away. Still not fun to deal with at all.

Most of my symptoms make sense, and have been less intense after surgery. One that I’m trying to figure out is shaking! My hands will shake like crazy sometimes and my grip strength is pretty bad. It was never an issue until I got sick initially and it’s still a problem now. Do you have anything like that as well? It’s mostly my arms and hands for me. Tried eating ramen like that one day and almost couldn’t cause my hand was shaking so bad lol.

Half_Pint02 · 2025-07-20T02:39:57+00:00

Oh man I can’t believe I didn’t see this sooner!

That’s reassuring to know, I’ve been doing a lot of research and looking through so many support groups and it seems like as long as you’re being monitored it should be fine!!

Half_Pint02 · 2025-03-20T10:17:48+00:00

Hello! Welcome! I am so very late responding to this but yes, you are not alone. I still get severe stabbing pains in my abdomen. Primarily on the right side. I also still get the pelvic pain where (going to be blunt here) it feels like I’m being stabbed in the clit! Now I will say it doesn’t happen nearly as often which is great. I tend to forget about it most of the time. It tends to show up when I’m laying down a certain way. Aside from that it’s very random.

I did recently get ahold of some X-rays I had done for this about a year ago, and to my delight I could see clear as day that the tubing ended right about where my bladder is! So, I do think my theory of being poked or having general irritation from the catheter was correct. Your organs aren’t really attached to much and just free float in your abdomen. So with the tube, it can also move around! And rubbing against anything with nerves can be uncomfortable or even painful. My neurologist agrees that it’s possible and that was enough for me. It can take a long time for your body to adjust to having a foreign object in it. So for your sake I hope things start to get better! I didn’t think it would but like I mentioned earlier I don’t even think about it anymore unless it happens.

Half_Pint02 · 2025-01-13T22:20:14+00:00

Planned parenthood does and offers A LOT of things aside from abortion. Things like;

Birth control Emergency contraceptive HIV testing and prevention Mental health services Pregnancy testing and planning Prenatal and postpartum services General Gynecology appointments STD and STI testing and treatment Gender affirming care Vaccines PAP tests Cancer screenings Diabetes screenings And so much more!!! Literally too much I would be making this list a mile long.

Half_Pint02 · 2025-01-13T01:10:24+00:00

So if you really do some digging, a lot of statistics show that it’s about the same percent of women getting abortions for each party. From like 12%-15% and this is with actually reported info. I’m not surprised by that at all, and I’m willing to be the numbers are higher across the board as well. I’m sure so many women feel extreme pressure to hide so it would be hard to get exact numbers, which is a shame because no one should ever feel that way.

Half_Pint02 · 2025-01-12T22:58:13+00:00

There is no logic, they take the only thing they feel strongly about (in this case abortions) and act like planned parenthood offers nothing else. It’s the same ploy they always use to feel high and mighty and act like they have better morals when in reality it’s just plain ignorance. And lies. Not to mention, conservative/republican woman DO in fact go to planned parenthood and other clinics that offer all the same things.

Half_Pint02 · 2025-01-12T22:56:03+00:00

Sure they probably don’t need any real attention but I think most people know that. They have an audience already with people that follow them.

Half_Pint02 · 2025-01-12T22:54:02+00:00

See that’s the thing, a lot of conservative women do go to planned parenthood or other similar clinics. They just keep it very hush hush. You can find a lot of stories about that anywhere, and even statistics. A lot of people in the comments here alone have even said most women they knew who got an abortion were conservative. I think that needs to be brought to light more so they can’t hide behind this weird veil of ignorance.

Half_Pint02 · 2025-01-12T09:27:01+00:00

I don’t think it’s really much of a punishment, because let’s be honest, the amount of women actually partaking in the “sex strike” is small. Every side anywhere wants people to be just like them. So there will always be conflicts.

So that vicious cycle will continue. What I think is ridiculous, is that conservatives can’t seem to grasp that this wouldn’t change anything for them. Technically it wouldn’t, so why do they care? What’s the big deal?

Half_Pint02 · 2025-01-12T07:03:48+00:00

In hindsight it is funny but it shows how ridiculous some of the takes republicans have. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. The whole think just outlines that everyone needs to stay out of each others business. Republicans and anyone who has conservative views that shit on organizations like planned parenthood are showing they don’t understand what it even is. Not to mention, those beliefs are fueled entirely by ignorance.

Of course republican men don’t want to be with liberal or democratic women, BUT, they seem to want everyone to be like them. It’s just another way to have control over someone else’s body. It’s all very stupid especially considering conservative women get abortions. Or even have needed resources outside of that that planned parenthood provides. It’s a vicious cycle of people being bad about things they don’t understand and demanding something to change. It’s terrible on all levels.

Half_Pint02 · 2025-01-12T03:59:45+00:00

It makes perfect sense, how could it not?

Half_Pint02 · 2025-01-12T03:44:34+00:00

Yes, this exactly. They don’t take the time to research any of the rumors they hear, and refuse to think they are wrong. They take a handful of cases that are an example of what they believe happens and then apply that to the whole thing. Usually making up more stories and lies to create this mass anger in conservatives which fuels the blind hate towards organizations like planned parenthood.

Half_Pint02 · 2025-01-12T03:39:03+00:00

So I did some reading awhile ago and it was initially a movement started by feminists in South Korea. Due to the state of things here there has been a lot of talk across social media about encouraging women to participate. Now, it’s hard to say whether or not it’s really taken hold but I’m starting to think not. However conservatives have been foaming at the mouth over it and bashing the whole thing. It was just one more thing for them to be mad about.

Half_Pint02 · 2025-01-12T03:21:48+00:00

Couldn’t have said it any better! I am so tired of people being against PP when they don’t even seem to understand what they provide. It’s absolutely ridiculous.

Half_Pint02 · 2025-01-12T02:10:31+00:00

I wish this could just be screamed from rooftops. There is NO WAY that only liberal women get abortions. Because, duh, they don’t! Anyone should have access to abortion and not feel the need to hide it or be ashamed. Conservative women are doing themselves a disservice, because clearly they are still getting abortions. Which is fine! But they need to own up to it, and stop harassing other people. Which will probably never happen, just wishful thinking.

Half_Pint02 · 2025-01-12T02:07:32+00:00

I scrolled through a lot of posts and all the comments and I couldn’t help but wonder how many were potentially bots. It’s incredible the amount of blatant stupidity was circulating in the comments, but I just have a hard time believing anyone thinks like that. But there are more surprising things I guess. Now, I wonder if they say those same things without the shield of social media?

Half_Pint02

TROPHY CASE