Liz Potts Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy
When Liz Potts, 42, was diagnosed with hydrocephalus in July, her neurosurgeon at Manchester's Hope Hospital said an endoscopic third ventriculostomy would be the best treatment for her.
Here Liz, who has spina bifida, talks to Link about the reasons for the operation and her health since then.
“Health wise, my spina bifida had never caused me any horrendous problems, until the 1990s when the discovery of dermoid cysts meant three spinal operations since 1998, leaving me wheelchair dependant.
But about 18 months ago I started to feel quite ill, vomiting quite frequently and always feeling very tired. My health had really deteriorated by June of this year, when I was admitted to my local hospital for two weeks.
It was initially thought that I had bowel problems because I had lost so much weight. I was finally given a CT scan when I was diagnosed as having hydrocephalus.
I was transferred to my local neurosurgical unit had an endoscopic third ventriculostomy. The neurosurgeon talked to me the day before the operation, and told me about the success and failure rates, but I was so ill that I didn't take much in.
Following the ETV I was in hospital for another eight weeks in rehabilitation. The usual recovery rate is much shorter, but because I was so run down it took me longer to recover and build my general strength up.
My health has improved dramatically since the ETV, which is a huge relief. When I was ill it was a terrible strain on my family. I still don't feel 100 per cent though, and have an appointment booked with my neurosurgeon this month to make sure all is well.”