Mira

My name is Mira. I believe in early detection of hydrocephalus and here’s why!

In April of 2022, at the age of 79, I was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). It was a complete shock because I had never heard of the condition and didn’t know that it existed.

For about two months prior to my diagnosis, I was experiencing symptoms associated with NPH. I felt very tired. I had severe headaches with pressure in the back of my head. I could not lift my foot because it felt like a heavy brick. I am a walker and usually very steady on my feet, but all of a sudden, I felt very unsteady. To be safe, I would hold onto a wall when I walked or another person that was walking with me. Being an active person, I realized that something was off with my well-being.

I met with my primary doctor, and she quickly sent me to a neurologist. The neurologist checked out my gait (my walking) and ordered an MRI. Within a few weeks, I had an appointment with a neurosurgeon who told me that it looked as though I have NPH.

My surgery was then scheduled for a couple of weeks later. The surgery would place a medical device called a shunt. The shunt drains the excess fluid, also called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), from my brain to another part of my body. A few days after surgery my walking improved, and my headaches were gone. I feel very lucky that my doctors caught my condition early and were proactive.

I’m grateful that I had early detection and hope people learn from my story. The Hydrocephalus Association (HA) and its Community Networks, also known as support groups, have been a great support system and I have found it extremely helpful in guiding me through this experience.

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