When a doctor is treating a patient for hydrocephalus, many things have to register in their minds. 1) How much CSF needs to be drained off to allow for a "normalization" of pressure. 2) How much excess fluid is being produced. 3) Could there be other causes that may make the brain produce more or less CSF and therefore make it difficult to "regulate" a patient.
Each of us is different. Each of us have unique needs. Some of us need more carbs, while others of us could use more protein. Then there are those that may be allergic to a specific food item. So, why am I talking food when this blog is suppose to be about pressure settings??? Simple. I am trying to help you relate to *other* things in your daily life.
For instance, I know when I have an excess amount of salt, I retain more fluids. That's a bad thing, for me. I love my meats... buffalo burgers, bangers (brats), chicken, turkey, you name it. If it is meat, I'll give it a shot.
Yet, *processed meats can be full of salt and that would make me retain water. Not good.
But, getting back to the pressure settings. In one of my first blogs, I wrote about the "normal brain" that produces around 500ml of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) per day. Yet, due to a "structural" abnormality, the brain of those with hydrocephalus produce more.
When the setting is just right; for the patient; they don't have any headaches. They don't have any nausea. They are as close to "normal" as they can get. Yay!!! Normal; while over-rated; is good. There is *acceptance* in "normal".
This is the goal of the neurosurgeon. They don't want to operate a great deal of times on an individual. They know, that every time they open up a body in surgery, that exposes the patient to germs, errors and more. So they really have to take a step back, *before* they even operate on someone.
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