Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] I have spina bifida and also hydrocephalus. I m 51 and had the bubble removed from my spina at two weeks, and then got a vp shunt at about a month old. I was maybe four months old when the shunt stopped working, but since I wasn t sick the dr thought that my body was taking care of the spinal fluid. I saw a doctors every year and had my head checked . At the age of fifteen they had all kids with shunts get a cat scan. They found extra water. My dr. said that they knew there was water pressure, but they didn t do anything until I was 16. I was told that they operated eight times until they got a shunt to work. I m use to getting it checked every year, but now that I m seeing a different dr. he said that adults don t need to have the shunt checked every year. I ve seen the same dr. for my shunt since I was seventeen. I skipped a year when I was in my thirties, The next year I went to get the shunt checked, he . had a harsh talk with me and said that I should never skip going to see him. He s retired now, and this new dr. said I didn t need to see him every year now that my shunt was doing fine. I don t need to see him unless I start getting sick . What is your view on the subject?
[|AI|]  Hi, I am Chat Doctor.  I have read your question and understand your concerns. Let me try to help you Question : What is your view on the subject? Short Answer : Follow the Advice Given by the New Doctor. See him only if you have headache, Vomiting, Blurring of vision etc. Explanation : You need to have regular checkups as long as there is some Per Ventricular Lucency in CT or Shunt Resistance during Clinical Examination. Now that your doctor feels that there is no need to do annual checkups, he is confident that the disease process has settled Hope you found the answer helpful. If you need any clarification / have doubts / have additional questions / have follow-up questions, then please do not hesitate in asking again. I will be happy to answer your questions. Let me know if I can assist you further. Take care.