Neuro Update

Annabel had a good neuro follow-up this morning! The ultrasound showed that the shunt is working fabulously, draining the CS fluid and decreasing the ventricles size. She does however have a cyst of CS fluid that is not draining. This cyst has been there from day 1 and has not gotten any bigger and Dr. Maher believes there is no pressure around the cyst so at this time nothing will be done about it, in fact, nothing will probably ever be done. The logic is that since it's been there from the beginning any damage it created has already been done and now the brain has grown around the cyst, plus, without any pressure there even if they went in and opened it up to the ventricle to drain it still may not. Also, if surgery was done, the chances of it improving anything rank the same as chances of problems occurring. Basically if it's not broke don't fix it.

Annabel will have an MRI done at her next appointment (in 3 months or so), Dr. Maher thinks she's old enough and big enough now to get a good look at the brain. If this shows anything drastically different regarding the cyst then we will discuss things. Unfortunately for this Annabel will have to be put under anesthetic and will be on the vent for the procedure, having to wait a few hours afterward to resume normal breathing and come out of it.

Annabel was really cute in the waiting room this morning, there was another little boy across the room and he was jabbering with his Mom and every time he'd talk Annabel would whip her head around like who are? You're not my brother or sister! In other news, Mady's latest thing is that she now rolls on to her tummy in her sleep and then when she wakes up that way gets scared and let's out a blood curdling scream! Needless to say it was not fun the first few times this happened!