My SIL was born with hydrocephalus and the Dr. who invented the shunt saved her life when she got a shunt at 18 months. Adult shunt went in at 18 years. Hang in there and take care!

I WILL hang in there/here; right now, I'm SWEATING, just returned from grocery store, and the back and forth to/from the car in 87 degree weather, with what feels like HIGH humidity, is a real nuisance!

like that far off. We are already in the middle of July

Wishing you a quick recovery when they do the procedure

Healing vibes on the way to you. 💓💓💓

Will check.

harvard? bug your doc.

WILL 'bug' my doc.

Maybe your doc can order a STAT procedure? I'd try that route first.

need to drain the accumulating fluid from wherever in/around brain it accumulates.

Sounds urgent to me!

and have lived with it (for a long time, imo,) but is only now burdensome; affecting my gait. Neurologist wasn't enthusiastic about it, at the time, but may have been because she didn't have anyone to refer to AND was clearly not 'urgent' then.

THAT neurologist's office was/is 200 miles from where I live now, and the 'remedy' requires 'surgery,' fairly unusual speciality.

Maybe can get stat order.

can you get on a list for cancellations? I recently had an appt for a CPAP that they scheduled for OCTOBER (this was in May or June), and when I called back I lucked into an appointment the very next day. Hopefully you'll get in sooner than September.

16 pages to reiterate everything they already know, right? I hope you're as lucky as I was.

ETA people opposed to universal health care like to point out how long people wait for appointments in the countries that have it. they got nothing on the for-profit model we all suffer under here.

VERY new patient to Hopkins. They need full history, which I have to provide for them.

I go to Duke and they still make me go through hoops for each appointment even though i've been a patient there for several years.

I have worked at Johns Hopkins on a clinical trial. I hope your doctor is as capable and caring as the one I worked with, she is a lovely person and very dedicated professional.

who can look in on you in case you do fall. Being a senior myself I have to chuckle still at the "Help I've fallen and I can't get up!" ads but as I have my own problems with my heart and see my own balance getting worse I feel a little different.

I do not know your living situation so, if you think it may get significantly worse see if there is a program for people to check on you please. I would hate for you to fall and not have the hope of someone who calls each day or more.

Many supporting thoughts go to you. One small bit of advice as I saved myself from laying in the gravel for hours, take a cane with you everywhere you go. I fell coming out of my horse barn, about 1/4 mile from the house and not visible. I had just had a stroke after a procedure, my phone was broken and with my cane I was able to get up and over to the car and get back to the house somehow. I know you get around taking pictures so if you do not have one it might be a good thought about getting one and having it in case, just in case.

I am sorry you are dealing with this.

Yes, 'plenty' peeps around here, daughter, son in law and other family members, AND neighbor/landlord who is very cooperative. Will refill rx for osteo meds soon, @ nearby CVS, too.

I DO take walking stick everywhere, AND phone, small flip phone so easy to keep in pocket. GOLLY, no adventures such as you experienced likely, no horse barn! and car @ my door, with easy access to paths, neighbor's house, and roads.

I do like idea of going to Johns Hopkins due to their experience and reputation.

This time of year, there might be one. Worth a try.

It’s so maddening. Why don’t we have more doctors in this country??

Please take care of yourself.