Hi all,

I'm new to the forum, but I'd like to post a question I've been researching the past couple days.

I have both hydrocephalus and epilepsy. I had a VP shunt placed in at birth with about 15 or so revisions. I haven't had a revision or replacement since I was two-years-old. I'm now 23. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 16, after 3 seizures over about 3 years and was put on medication that completely stops the seizures. 

However, I was never told that children with hydrocephalus, especially ones with shunts, have a 20 to 40 percent chance of developing seizures. My parents were never told. I feel a little duped. And I wouldn't necessarily consider my health care shoddy...I recieved my first shunt and revisions at The Cleveland Clinic and a replacement at Children's Memorial in Chicago. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at Children's Hospital in Columbus, OH, an arm of The Ohio State Medical Center...which is where my current neurologist is located. Why did no one tell me of the correlation? 

Furthermore, my seizures start as complex-partial on the side of my brain near my shunt and then become generalized. I wonder if anyone knows if scar tissue was removed from around my shunt that hasn't been revised in over 20 years or I elected to have a more technologically advanced one put in, if my seizures would go away? Has anyone had this experience? 

I have a neurologist appointment next month and plan to ask my doctor, but I'd just like to know if anyone has had personal experience with this. Thanks!