Wind and then some

Yesterday, where I live it was very cold outside and windy. My shunt as usual, didn't enjoy the cold weather. I experienced all day pain from the shunt valve, down the side of my neck where the distal catheter and stomach.

I did not like this.

Since I didn't have to go anywhere I stayed home, found some movies to watch. I didn't attempt to do any art, as the pain in my head was really bothering me and made me grumpy.

Today, I'm happy to report my shunt is feeling better. It's not as windy out as it was yesterday even though the temperature continues to drop.  I was tempted to exercise yesterday, although I didn't because the pain was annoying me. Tomorrow, I'll get to walk in a literacy walking event at my local shopping mall.

3.86 Miles

Banner for the walk

Brain Injury facts along the walk

On Saturday, October 7, I walked with at least 100 people for Brain Injury awareness. I walked a total of 10,159 steps in 3.86 miles. I walked with one of my friends.  Great to see so many people impacted by brain injury. When the walk was over, they served sandwiches, snacks and there was live music.

I've been to my local brain injury support group in September. I went again earlier this week. There are other support groups in my area which I plan to attend.

EYE UPDATE: I went to see my eye surgeon for a yearly visit and was told my eyes are in good working condition. No double vision except when my head is positioned differently like when I'm lying down. I do have some double vision when I look above my glasses, the doctor said this was a normal thing which happens because of the prisms inside glasses. Doesn't happen with contact lenses as the entire eye is covered. In March 2015, I had surgery to correct the double vision I had after my brain injuries.

What's left of a rare pay phone at the park.

Brain Injury Fact along the walkway

I received a free shirt for registering early.

Adjustments and four paws

Image of my x ray with shunt.

Either my shunt is adjusting itself.... maybe it's just being moody or anticipating the thunderstorm which should be arriving in my area on Thursday....There are a few days (if I'm lucky) where I can get relief from shunt pain and nausea. Then there's the scar tissue pain from what happened to me in 2014.

My cat Stella with her toy mouse.

I was told by my neurologist the nausea from the distal catheter could be from the shunt adjusting. My neurosurgeon had said he didn't use ProGav shunt because they are temperamental and are always adjusting themselves.

At least I had a good day yesterday....I still had some pain issues. I was able to keep busy with exercise and some social interaction. Today I am a little grumpy from the pain and discomfort.  I may try exercise again as a distraction later. I find the endorphins help relieve the pain for a little while. My cat Stella knew I wasn't feeling well last night and early this morning, so she slept outside my door.

Brain on the Hudson

2017 Brain Injury Shirt

Flag from the walkway.

I walked today for the Brain Injury Association, they had an event near me. I had the chance to visit the Walkway Over the Hudson for the first time and got awesome views of the Hudson river and town. So nice to meet and talk to other people affected by brain injury. I look forward to other events in the future and volunteering with other brain injury groups.

Happy accident with my camera where the lens 'split' the image.
My shadow (right)  and an image of the walkway floor (left)

View of bridge from the walkway.

  

Eclipse

Total Solar Eclipse from tv

View from television 13 minutes before Eclipse starts.

Stella and I are waiting for the eclipse to start
today (August 21, 2017)

Today I've had bad shunt and head pain since this morning. Pain down the distal catheter on the top of my head and stomach. Some forehead pain and shunt pain at different times during the morning and into this afternoon.

The solar eclipse is today so I suspect this has something to do with the ProGav misbehaving.  In anticipation, Stella the cat and I are watching the eclipse on television this afternoon.





Last weekend, I visited the Boscobel Gardens in Garrison, NY. The weather was perfect, as usual, my shunt didn't like the high altitude at all.  Despite the pain, I was
still able to enjoy the visit.

                        
                       My trip to Boscobel Museum August 13, 2017

Science behind Barometric Pressure

Finally! An explanation about how barometric pressure affects people in different ways: NY Times

I found out about a brain injury walk event this summer.  Hudson Valley March

This should be interesting....

Recall and not the movie....

I learned this week from an online hydrocephalus support group, there was a programmable shunt recall as written by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A few months ago, (March 2017)  the Medtronic StrataMR Adjustable Valves and Shunts were recalled due to causing possible severe injuries or death in the people who had them.  The company which makes them, Medtronic, recalled the shunts/valves because they caused under-drainage of csf fluid in the brain. When under-drainage occurs it can cause buildup of fluid in brain cavities causing hydrocephalus.

When I had heard a shunt had been recalled...I secretly hoped it would be mine...then maybe I could get a different one which wasn't so temperamental...

This was not the case, as I know I would've gotten a phone call from my neurologist if the model I have was recalled.

I read another programmable shunt valve, the Codman Certas had been recalled in 2013.  I'm all about advanced technology. I just wish there was a way of knowing what these devices will do inside someone's body.  In my opinion, the programmable shunt valve is like a little robot. Sometimes I hear/feel it, other times I don't. I've learned over the last 3 years with this new device it doesn't like various types of weather (rain, cold, humidity).

It's too bad my shunt doesn't work like Alexa.

Reading about the shunt recall made me think about the film, Total Recall from 1990.