Natalie Update on Hydrocephalus

On Wednesday July 29, 2009, I took Natalie to her Neurology appointment. We met with the doctor. He asked me several questions about her development. I told him that he recently starting sitting up for about 2-4 minutes at a time, she is rolling over, grasping toys, and gabbing. He was quite expressed with how she is doing. He felt her soft spot on her head and he said that it felt good and it had't closed up yet, he said that she had a good amount of pressure too. He asked me if she refuses any feedings and of course she doesn't. He also said that her eyes looked great...they are not down in deep in her head. Well he did say that if he were to base the amount of fluid on her head on one catscan, then she would need a shunt. He didn't want to jump and put in a shunt after only doing one catscan. He said that since she is doing so well right now, he wants us to get a ultrasound that day and then come back in a month for a another ultrasound and appointment to see the increase or decrease in fluid. At first, I didn't understand why he wants to wait but on my drive home I thought about everything he said, he did mention that putting a shunt in can create issues and it can be a rough road. I am grateful that he is willing to wait it out to see what happens. I asked him if prolonging the shunt will hurt her development, he mentioned that he did not know because this was the first time he has met her. I know that whatever happens, whether she needs a shunt or not. She will be blessed. We would like to go and get a second opinion from another neurologist to see what they say. Erich and I agree with waiting the 4 weeks to see how the fluid is, but we know that if it has increased we would like for her to have a shunt to help drain the fluids. If you have any advice please let me know. Thanks so much!