Well, Carter had his first follow up appointment regarding his VP shunt surgery. Over the last month I have kept a close eye on Carter and making sure that he hasn't been having any negative side effects from surgery. For the most part he has been doing really well. Although at first there was some swelling issues, over time that decreased and his head looked like it was decreasing in size too, which is to be expected because the fluid is being released into his body now.
His stitches are looking a lot better and eventually will dissolve but for now they are still pretty much in tact. You can easily see the shunt in Carter's head but the tubing is so thin that you cannot see it running into his abdomen area. Once he has more hair you won't be able to see the shunt and the doctor has said that sometimes it's even hard to find when they come in for their check ups. The great news is it doesn't hurt him at all if you touch it, and it can't be broken from his side either; meaning if he falls down or hits his head when he is older it won't be able to break, which was also nice to know that in case he falls while playing we won't have to watch him like a hawk just because of his shunt.
There were a few things that needed to change with Carter when he came home, mainly being baths. From the time Carter came home until the doctor okay's it, he needs sponge baths again and cannot be submerged into the water with his stitches. He does like the bath... when he can be in the water, but he HATES sponge baths. Luckily I have created a system so that it's a quick process for him and eventually he will be able to get back into the water and enjoy bath time again.
When we got to Mott's we started with the ultrasound. The doctor wanted to see how the fluid was looking and to check how much it has decreased. Over time the fluid from Carter's head will slowly decrease and be released into his body rather than it all leaving his head at once. His shunt is a medium flowing shunt, which lets the fluid leave at an appropriate rate; only in emergency situations are shunts put in so that the fluid leaves immediately. This is because if the fluid leaves the body too quickly it can cause brain bleeds, which can cause major problems and complications and is obviously the last thing we want. Once the fluid that is still in Carter's head was measured it was time to see his neurosurgeon to discuss how things were looking and what our next steps would be.
Carter did a great job at his appointment and the timing to feed him and change his diaper was impeccable! They took his weight at 14lbs. 7.5oz meaning he gained 4.5 ounces in three days, as well as his height and head circumference. His head measured at 44 cm and although it's still a bit big his actual size has decreased in the front by his forhead. After all of his measurements it was time to see Dr. Mahr who greeted us with excitement when he saw Carter awake and alert, when usually Carter is sleeping during his neruo appointments.
Dr. Mahr took a look at Carter's scars and stitches and was very impressed with what he saw! Carter hasn't been having any leaking from areas where the shunt was placed and he is handling the shunt placement well too. I was told what to look for if there are any complications or malfunctions because that can happen even though the surgery went well. I did ask about baths and because the stitches aren't gone yet Carter will have to keep up with the sponge baths. The great news is that Carter will not have to see neuro for another 3 months (unless something comes up and we need to rush to the hospital)! I was relieved to hear that everything was going so well and that the doctor was also just as happy as I was with this news. When we come back in April for Carter's 3 month neuro appointment and all is well there too we won't have to go back from another 6 months. In the meantime we will continue to keep an eye on his shunt and get ready for his urology appointment.
His stitches are looking a lot better and eventually will dissolve but for now they are still pretty much in tact. You can easily see the shunt in Carter's head but the tubing is so thin that you cannot see it running into his abdomen area. Once he has more hair you won't be able to see the shunt and the doctor has said that sometimes it's even hard to find when they come in for their check ups. The great news is it doesn't hurt him at all if you touch it, and it can't be broken from his side either; meaning if he falls down or hits his head when he is older it won't be able to break, which was also nice to know that in case he falls while playing we won't have to watch him like a hawk just because of his shunt.
Here are the stitches on Carter's head where the shunt was put in.
Just underneath the skin is the shunt and when he's older and has more hair you won't be able to see it.
There were a few things that needed to change with Carter when he came home, mainly being baths. From the time Carter came home until the doctor okay's it, he needs sponge baths again and cannot be submerged into the water with his stitches. He does like the bath... when he can be in the water, but he HATES sponge baths. Luckily I have created a system so that it's a quick process for him and eventually he will be able to get back into the water and enjoy bath time again.
When we got to Mott's we started with the ultrasound. The doctor wanted to see how the fluid was looking and to check how much it has decreased. Over time the fluid from Carter's head will slowly decrease and be released into his body rather than it all leaving his head at once. His shunt is a medium flowing shunt, which lets the fluid leave at an appropriate rate; only in emergency situations are shunts put in so that the fluid leaves immediately. This is because if the fluid leaves the body too quickly it can cause brain bleeds, which can cause major problems and complications and is obviously the last thing we want. Once the fluid that is still in Carter's head was measured it was time to see his neurosurgeon to discuss how things were looking and what our next steps would be.
Carter did a great job at his appointment and the timing to feed him and change his diaper was impeccable! They took his weight at 14lbs. 7.5oz meaning he gained 4.5 ounces in three days, as well as his height and head circumference. His head measured at 44 cm and although it's still a bit big his actual size has decreased in the front by his forhead. After all of his measurements it was time to see Dr. Mahr who greeted us with excitement when he saw Carter awake and alert, when usually Carter is sleeping during his neruo appointments.
Dr. Mahr took a look at Carter's scars and stitches and was very impressed with what he saw! Carter hasn't been having any leaking from areas where the shunt was placed and he is handling the shunt placement well too. I was told what to look for if there are any complications or malfunctions because that can happen even though the surgery went well. I did ask about baths and because the stitches aren't gone yet Carter will have to keep up with the sponge baths. The great news is that Carter will not have to see neuro for another 3 months (unless something comes up and we need to rush to the hospital)! I was relieved to hear that everything was going so well and that the doctor was also just as happy as I was with this news. When we come back in April for Carter's 3 month neuro appointment and all is well there too we won't have to go back from another 6 months. In the meantime we will continue to keep an eye on his shunt and get ready for his urology appointment.
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