I’ve got my life back

It’s autumn break, and Kirsten is on her way to Assens with her husband and their dog when I call. They are heading for a short getaway. Kirsten has just enough time to talk before they reach the hotel, as she is eager to help others so they can receive the same support she did.

 

"I think there are many people like me who go around not knowing that they have hydrocephalus, and that help exists for all the difficulties it causes. And then you might not get a scan and never find out what’s wrong," says Kirsten Skifter Christensen-Henriksen from Juelsminde.

 

A year ago, Kirsten realized that something was seriously wrong. She felt as though she had developed dementia and gradually noticed that her memory, speech, and ability to walk were getting worse and worse.

 

I want to know what’s wrong with me

 

Over the course of two and a half years, her dementia-like symptoms had gradually become worse and worse.

 

"I suddenly couldn’t find my way home. I had trouble remembering things. And one day, I froze in front of a traffic light while sitting in the car. That was new for me," she says.

 

Eventually, Kirsten decides to see her doctor.

 

"I had a feeling that something was wrong, and I could sense that something wasn’t right. I started withdrawing from two women’s clubs I was part of because I couldn’t keep up. I thought, this is not like me—I want to know what is wrong with me," she says.

 

Kirsten is referred by her doctor to the dementia department at Skejby. There, she undergoes several brain scans, which show signs of fluid in the brain’s ventricles, pressing on the frontal lobes. This is what caused the dementia-like symptoms Kirsten had been struggling with for the past two and a half years.

 

Kirsten is diagnosed with NPH and is referred to Aalborg University Hospital for further examinations.

 

I think I need to go into a nursing home

 

In February 2024, Kirsten is told that she can have surgery more than a year later, in May 2025. But the following month, her condition worsens.

 

"I was getting worse and worse, and suddenly I told my husband that I think I need to go into a nursing home," she says.

 

But Kirsten’s husband does not give up hope for treatment and begins researching options at a private hospital himself. And sure enough.

 

"I was so happy that Privathospitalet Mølholm could perform the operation, and that I could get it done so quickly," Kirsten says.

 

Examined, operated on, and discharged within a week

Kirsten undergoes further examinations and a walking test at Privathospitalet Mølholm, and then things move quickly. She is scheduled for surgery the following day.

 

"Within a few days, I had consultations with neurologists and neurosurgeons and was offered surgery the next day. Phew, it all happened very quickly, and I did have to take a deep breath. But I am forever grateful that I decided to go ahead with the surgery," Kirsten says.

 

Kirsten undergoes surgery for NPH, a condition involving fluid in the brain’s ventricles. The fluid presses on the frontal lobes, which caused Kirsten’s dementia-like symptoms. The operation has removed much of the fluid, and three and a half months later she is well and free of symptoms.

 

Now I can remember and write again

 

"I have no urinary problems. I can keep my balance, remember, and write again, and when I’m out and about, I just bring my walking stick with me. I used to be a finance director, so I’ve been used to figuring things out in life. And after going through something like this, you start to think a bit more about things," Kirsten says.

 

I wrap up the conversation so Kirsten and her husband can enjoy their holiday. And just before we both hang up, I hear a touched voice:

 

"It has been nice to share my story. I have such a good life now, and I get very emotional because I really want to help more people receive the same treatment that I have," she says, her voice breaking.

 

- Thank you very much, I say. For letting me hear your story.

 

 

Do you know about NPH?

Up to four percent of all elderly people suffer from NPH (normal pressure hydrocephalus), a condition characterized by excess fluid in the brain’s ventricles.

 

The symptoms of NPH include difficulties with walking and balance, poor memory, and sudden urges to urinate—symptoms that can be mistaken for dementia or common signs of aging.

The earlier you are treated, the better the outcome. That’s why it is important to undergo evaluation if you suspect you might have NPH.

 

NPH can be treated with a VP shunt operation, which is a drainage system that allows the fluid to flow out of the brain’s ventricles. During the procedure, the VP shunt is implanted under general anesthesia. It is positioned under the skin and can be felt by touch. The surgery itself takes about 45 minutes.

 

 

See also
4 out of 5 who undergo surgery for NPH experience improvement

 

 

14 January 2025
Anni Kathrine Søndergaard