Alternatives to medication

While my proGav shunt continues to act like an unruly child with the cold weather, I've decided to distract myself in the meantime. This weekend, I went to see the Marvel film, Dr. Strange. I was surprised to learn upon watching the movie that the main character, Dr. Strange was a neurosurgeon.  I found it awkward watching a few scenes were there was surgery. I couldn't help but think about my past shunt revisions.  I didn't know in advance the movie was about a neurosurgeon. A large portion of the film focused on how the body heals itself after an injury.  It made me more interested in how the body heals itself.

Treatments for brain injuries

I don't know whether or not I'd be a candidate for the medication used to treat Parkinson's which is also being used to treat some forms of brain injuries....I've taken a break from taking anything for my pain issues. The full article can be found here: goo.gl/zkSs5k

After my injuries, I found it a challenge to interact with people...There's a lot of calculating our brains are doing, synchronized with muscles and nerves....Like navigating how to sit in a chair with or without wheels....there's a big difference....as I learned during a physical therapy session one day in 2014....

Upon leaving rehab in March 2014, I struggled to interact with more than one person at a time and in a group setting it was even more overwhelming. After time though, it got a lot easier. Now I would say I'm back to where I was on a cognitive level before my brain injuries....so there is a lot to celebrate....

Interesting article about socializing after brain injuries: goo.gl/LJQ6a8

Traumatic Brain Injury and Animal Therapy

The scar tissue pain is getting less and less frequent. I believe it's because of my nervous system continuing to heal.  I expect at some point in the near future, I won't have any scar tissue pain.

Tomorrow is my cat Stella's 16th birthday. October 16, 2016 will be her golden birthday.  It's been a blessing to have her for such a long time. She's been a good companion and has helped me recover from my brain injuries.

Stella and I relaxing at our usual spot on the couch. 

There was a post from an online brain injury support group I belong which mentions the benefits of pets on the healing process: TBI and Animal Therapy

My Shunt's Daily Activities, Part VI

It's been raining the last four days where I live and my programmable shunt valve is causing pain and throbbing from the scar tissue....Makes me wonder why I feel what I do  on specific days depending on the weather. Could be healing issues associated with what happened in March 2014.

From online hydrocephalus support groups I've seen people discussing how barometric pressure affects shunt valves: Barometric pressure and shunts

There is a correlation between the two, I just wonder why...It's too bad I can't check the settings myself or just get the same kit they use to make adjustments at the neurosurgeon's office.

My Shunt's Daily Activities, Part V

Today was a good day. Some shunt and scar tissue pain this morning around 3am. So far it's been a nice pain free day. I won't write too much, as I suspect the programmable shunt may hear my thoughts and retaliate. I will continue to enjoy this calm.

My Shunt's Daily Activities, Part IV

Dear Programmable Shunt Valve,

I hate you, because you cause me pain. I'd like my old shunt back. I'd also like the brain I had before the multiple brain injuries I had.

Thank you.

I know one thing for sure, my programmable shunt valve reacts to the weather and causes scalp and nerve pain. I also know it responds to the slit ventricle syndrome I acquired between 2009-2014.  I can feel when csf fluid is being pushed through the valve. It could be because of the resistance level ( level 11 ) which is considered high, however it's what I needed as a lower level ( 8, 10 ) caused my head to bob up and down involuntarily and I could feel explosions going off in my skull.

So we'll see what happens....

My Shunt's Daily Activities, Part III

June 2014 MRI. Neurosurgeon says some of
the white space ( top left corner ) is scar tissue from my brain injuries.

The rain will be here soon and it's humid outside. I can tell because of how my shunt and scalp feels. Since the early hours of 3am, I've had throbbing pains on the shunt valve, occasionally in my abdomen where the distal catheter ends and in different parts of my scalp from the scar tissue.

My brain looks like a walnut.

In response to my cerebral shunt attempts to predict the impending rain tomorrow, I've posted a question on a hydrocephalus support group I'm a member of online about how other people who have programmable shunt valves cope with pain issues associated with the changing weather patterns.

*Update as of 9/19 - It's been raining all day today and sure enough, my shunt is responding to it with pain on the shunt valve and upset stomach were distal catheter ends.  Some of the responses I've received from my original question posted online have been the same: Pain is from changes in weather patterns, sometimes pain medication helps, others just lay down to deal with the pain. If I don't have to go anywhere, I stay home curled up somewhere. Pain medication works for headache pain, not for my shunt, scalp and nausea pain. Other people with shunts have said they can too can predict when it's going to rain before it occurs because of how they're shunt responds.