By Mary Dufton
Retired chef and caterer Phil Bronsther has only lived with hydrocephalus for about two years. The 73-year-old Ottawa resident is still new to the condition’s challenges.
Two years ago, Phil sought treatment for a tremor in his left hand, which caused involuntary shaking. His doctor referred him to Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital. The tremor was treated but an MRI revealed he had Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). NPH is a form of hydrocephalus that generally affects older adults where too much cerebral spinal fluid accumulates in the brain.
Phil was referred to a neurologist, then a neurosurgeon in Ottawa. Phil underwent further treatment, including the placement of a shunt in his brain to drain the excess cerebral spinal fluid.
An avid learner with a curious mind, he is determined to discover as much as he can about hydrocephalus so that he and his wife Sue can live a full and active life.
Phil and Sue belong to various online support groups for people with hydrocephalus, including a group from Texas that holds monthly Zoom meetings that sometimes feature presentations by specialists and opportunities to ask questions. They also attend Hydrocephalus Canada’s monthly support meetings on Zoom.
They are members of Hydrocephalus Canada and attend the monthly Tasters’ Club lunches. Both enjoy interacting with peers and gaining new knowledge.
As a former chef, Phil enjoys cooking and does most of the meal preparation at home. Their family includes two sons, their wives and three grandchildren. For exercise, Phil walks their dog. He also enjoys reading and watching television. About once a week, he goes for breakfast with a group of friends in his neighbourhood.
Life has returned to normal for the couple, but it has not been without some challenges and setbacks. Phil fell this past February, while on holidays in South Carolina. He landed on his head and suffered a brain bleed. Unable to return to Canada because of the health risks, he sought emergency treatment at a nearby hospital.
The hospital resident was unfamiliar with hydrocephalus, so he turned the programmable mechanism on Phil’s shunt up rather than off, causing over drainage. Phil was not aware of this until he returned to Ottawa and was having seizures and could not speak. Surgery was performed to adjust the shunt.
Although it has been several months since the fall, Phil’s shunt is still not functioning at the level it was before and is being readjusted every two weeks. His balance is considerably compromised, so he uses a walker or a cane for stability. He is also seeking treatment for another tremor in his right hand, in consultation with a team of neurosurgeons in Canada and the US. He is still on seizure medication and cannot drive, so his wife Sue drives him around.
Phil offers the following advice for anyone who has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus: “Be sure to get the proper diagnosis and heed the advice of a specialist in the field. Some individuals with symptoms of dementia may have NPH, and not have a proper diagnosis.
Also, even if one feels confident in their stability, I encourage the use of a walker. I was reluctant to use it and had an additional fall, which may have been avoided with use of a walker for stability.
Sue adds: “Be patient and supportive. And it’s also important to take care of your own mental and physical health.”
