My son Mike acquired a cold and his first shunt placement was delayed a week because of the congestion. I panicked and thought it was dangerous to wait, but they said the fluid had been there all that time and it would be more dangerous to operate with the bad cold. It was the longest week of my life. I did jigsaw puzzle after jigsaw puzzle. To this day I still cannot do them without flashing back to that horrible waiting period.
Fear usually stems from the unknown.
It's vital to become educated and informed about hydrocephalus, for your own peace of mind and so that you can translate what you know to children, friends and family. Once diagnosed, it is important to understand what is going to happen during and after the surgery. If this means getting your neurosurgeon to explain it step by step to ease your fears, ask him to do so. Showing you or your child what a shunt looks like, how it works and where it is placed will make the surgery seem a little less frightening. When you have a better understanding of what lies ahead, the apprehension and fear will slowly become more tolerable.