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[Todd]

As you all know I have a VP shunt in my head, well for the past few weeks I have been having pain in my chest. The tubing runs directly down the center of my sternum, which is where I'm having the most pain. From what I can find online it could be calcification of the tubing. I have had the same shunt since age six or so, I was told that as long as nothing happened to infect the shunt itself I would be fine, but seeing as how i'm having this pain I'm second guessing that statement. I have a neurosurgeon I can see but probably wont be able to get in til next month. I was just wanting to hear some opinions on the matter.

[Navi]

I know nothing about shunts but I deal with high anxiety on a daily basis and have sharp, angry chest pains almost as frequently, right in the center. If there's any stress in your life, that can definitely be a cause of angina. Sometimes it happens when you don't even know that you feel stressed. Just another option.

[Todd]

I dont think its angina honestly because it feels like there are knots of stuff in my sternum. but thanks for the info though.

[Lyric]

It could be a calcification or a breakdown of the shunt itself.
My uncle also had a shunt in his head for many, many years.  It did break down and he has hand two subsequent surgeries.
Both surgeries happened under emergency circumstances. 

I am glad that you are already working on the situation with your neurosurgeon. Stay on top of it and let us know what is going on.

[Todd]

It could be a calcification or a breakdown of the shunt itself.
My uncle also had a shunt in his head for many, many years.  It did break down and he has hand two subsequent surgeries.
Both surgeries happened under emergency circumstances. 

I am glad that you are already working on the situation with your neurosurgeon. Stay on top of it and let us know what is going on.

I go to my family doctor Wednesday to see if i can get an x-ray or something.

[Lyric]

I am so glad to know that you are following up on this.. It's pretty scary.

[Todd]

yeah i'm waiting on the call to see if my insuranced ok'd the CT scan or if i have to get an x-ray first.

[Lyric]

Hopefully they won't give you any crap!  It's not like you are asking for a CT scan on a sprained joint.
Please, keep me posted and I will keep you in my thoughts.

[Todd]

Hopefully they won't give you any crap!  It's not like you are asking for a CT scan on a sprained joint.
Please, keep me posted and I will keep you in my thoughts.

Got the call today they are requesting that I get an X-ray first.

[Lyric]

Okay, so you have to jump through the hoops.. With hope, you will go from this to the next test quickly

[evilavatar]

Post back with what they say about the X-ray.  Calcification can be dealt with, but usually would require surgery to replace the shunt if it starts to be blocked or is not working properly.  Than again it depends on the doctor your see.  More often than not most doctors will try not to do anything with the shunt unless it is necessary or some other work around (pain meds or other treatment) can fix the issue.  Do you notice tenderness when touching the area external to the shunt?  Are you seeing any swelling?  When you see your doctor try and describe the pain as best you can.  (Is it stabbing pain or constant, how intense is it, are you seeing skin discoloration, swelling, or other issues).  Shunts are (like any foreign object placed in the body) rejected by tissue around it so you can also get pain if the shunt is not in deep enough or too deep, been in  a while and your body is trying to push it out to get rid of it and other things.  I would ask the doctor to make sure there was not any issues with the shunt itself as medical devices get recalled all the time. Probably not the case but always worth checking just in case.