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Post by ucsdkatie on Nov 8, 2007 22:24:20 GMT -8
What is a shunt series? does it involve an MRI? Do i need to schedule a NS appointment to reset my shunt? I think it is when they inject die into your veins and then take x-rays of how the shunt works but I cannot for the life of me find a description. Thanks for anything from anyone! I have to have one ASAP but the stupid people that are supposed to schedule it are never there when I call. This has been going on for two days now.
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Post by ~*~Babby~*~ on Nov 9, 2007 0:15:59 GMT -8
SHUNT SERIES A series of X-Rays which follow the continuum of the shunt, from the valve through the entire system. It is usually used in conjunction with the CT scan to identify any problems. This was all I could find, and here is where I found it: www.patsabin.com/NPH4.html
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Post by Kristin on Nov 9, 2007 7:28:05 GMT -8
Ok I always forget which is which with the shunts...one is where they take a xray of your skull then your neckish area and then abdomen to just make sure the shunt isnt broken the other one you get a tracer injected into your resivoir then you lay under this wierd machine and it takes count i guess of how much of the tracer is moving and this will show if the shunt is clogged but no mris involved and no ct either just regular xrays or a nuclear med series like i said i can never remeber the difference
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Sara
Senior Member
Posts: 763
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Post by Sara on Nov 9, 2007 14:10:18 GMT -8
where they take a xray of your skull then your neckish area and then abdomen to just make sure the shunt isnt broken This is what a shunt series is! It really is a pretty simple series of x-rays along the shunt "track" and usually doesn't take long at all. Like Kristin said, they usually take one x-ray of your skull, one of the neck/chest area, and then one of the abdomen. They usually do this 2x...once while lying on your back and the other while lying on your side. I've never had any injections for a series, but it doesn't mean it's never done! Also, since it's just an x-ray machine, there should be no need to reset your shunt...usually that's just with MRI's. I hope this helps you, Katie. It's painless (although the positions can be uncomfortable) and usually takes just a few minutes. I hope you can get it done soon, Katie! It's helpful to see if there are any blockages, etc. along the shunt "track."
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Post by Kristin on Nov 9, 2007 15:28:43 GMT -8
Sara thanks for helping me out hter normally I get confused cuz I always just have both done its kinda like the policy where I'm at erg actually all of the hospitals I've had stuff done with my shutn they do the xrays like i said to make sure it's not disconnected or something and there is nothing strange going on and once you get the all clear for that I then normally get a shunt study done where thye inject the tracer and watch it...with that though you dont have to be a rocket scientist to figure out the shunt study results after you've had a few you kinda lesrn if you just go in get the tracer lay on the table for the 3 scans of the shunt then they let you go, if the shunt is good then you're done if not its back in like an hour to track the tracer still but you dont have to get the whole thing done they judt go right to where the tracer stoped showing up so yea if you get that done and then end up having to go back the shunt has an issue just a little heads up good luck with everything thoguh
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Post by ucsdkatie on Nov 9, 2007 21:41:24 GMT -8
Ok I dont think it is a shunt series then. the name of the thing she ordered was a "csf flow study" so i am guessing it is the tracer thing that kristin described..
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Post by Kristin on Nov 10, 2007 10:54:43 GMT -8
I'm willling to put money on it that you'll be getting the shunt study the only time a shutn series is really helpful is 1. you have a programable valve thats ancient like mine they can see the setting yours is nice you just have the thing put on it and it tells you grrr ands the seconed reason really is just to check for something not being in the right place but normaly they do the sdhunt study first and if that comes back normal then no need for a shunt series and additional radiation but maybe my docs are different with me since i"ve had soo much radiaton but it really dosen't hurt its judst like getting teh shunt tapped the worst part for me was laying flat I can't lay flat without screaming in pain the NS came in (this was my NS as well) and injected the tracer and left so they waited a few mins to let things settle and get the table ready well the second they laid me flat I started screaming in pain and my NS was all the way down the hall and he came running in to make sure it wasnt a reacotion to the tracer but he was less than pleased with tme not being able to lay flat...but yea if you can be flat for a while you'll be fine also you know the drill you cant move which is always interesting
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Post by ucsdkatie on Nov 10, 2007 18:38:09 GMT -8
I dont have too much problem laying flat as long as its not for too long and its not like when you get sinus ct where your head is hanging off the table. Because then my head starts screaming right away. otherwise i can manage.
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