If you met me at the grocery store or saw me out on a walk, you probably wouldn’t know that I’m living a new life: a brain shunt life. I am still the same old Jane on first sight. But so much has changed!
I had my brain shunt installed in May 2025, to help regulate and gradually drain the excess Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) that had been accumulating since I was a child.
I had not known that because I had a normal childhood, my parents did not know that I had an arachnoid cyst growing slowly with me.
Until I passed out in the bathroom one evening in April 2025 and woke up on a hospital bed, on oxygen. Later I was diagnosed and my CT scan an MRI showed what the doctors said was a large Arachnoid Cyst.
My shunt is the “silent partner” in my daily life – a small piece of medical technology that does a massive job, saving my life.
Brain Shunt Life Can Be Daunting
Living with a shunt isn’t just about a one-time surgery; it’s about the ongoing journey of pain, discomfort, fear, monitoring, adjusting, and learning to trust your body again.
For me in particular, its been a difficult journey of a couple near-death experiences.
why Am I Sharing This?
When I first faced the reality of needing a shunt, I found plenty of clinical websites and surgical diagrams. What I couldn’t find was the “everyday” perspective:
- How do you manage the anxiety of a possible blockage?
- What does the recovery really feel like when you get home?
- How do you stay resilient when your health feels so complex?
What You’ll Find Here
In this section of my blog, I’m pulling back the curtain on my life with a shunt. I’ll be sharing:
- The “New Normal”: How I’ve adjusted my daily routines and activities as dictated by my brain shunt life.
- Advocating for Yourself: Tips for talking to your neurological team as an ordinary human who knows their own body best.
- Peace of Mind: The tools and mindsets I use to stay calm and positive, even on the tough days.
If you are a fellow “shunter” or have a loved one living with a brain shunt, looking for answers, I hope my stories give you comfort.
I urge you to keep a positive spirit and know that you are not alone, I am here with you, going through something similar.
My purpose with this blog is to share my own personal experiences with hope that it will somehow help someone.
We are resilient, we are capable, and we are not defined by the hardware in our heads.