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Ommaya Reservoir removal - Anyone experience this?
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Oct 05, 2010 - 8:41 pm
I received chemo back in 2004 both through a catheter and an ommaya reservoir. The catheter stopped working shortly after my chemo was finished, so it was removed. The ommaya reservoir remains in my head today. I am giving serious thought to having it removed, but I'm worried about scheduling 'elective' surgery. My doctor recommends having it removed because he said it probably is non-functional anymore anyway. I'd like to know if anyone has had an ommaya removed, and how the procedure went. I have a full head of hair again, and would assume a patch would have to be shaved away for this procedure too, but I'm not sure yet. Any comments are welcome! |
Joined: Sep 2010
Hi! I am sorry that you are having to consider surgery. My husband has AML that has spread to his spinal fluid, and he had an ommaya placed last week. We were told that this had to stay in for the rest of his life, unless it was causing him trouble, like infection or pain. The surgeons explained that removing the ommaya would be more risk than what it would be worth. I am not sure if this helps! When you had your ommaya placed, how many days after surgery did you still have a headache? My husband still has a pretty wicked headache, and is sensitive to light and sound, not sure if this is normal. Best of luck in your decision! I hope that since you are considering having it removed that it means your cancer-free!!!! That would be great
Joined: Jan 2012
i had an omaya reservoir put in before starting chemotherapy in January of 2010. Although I am now in remission my doctor has advised me that it has to remain in my head as the surgery is very risky. I wish I had known that before. I was very upset at the prospect of having this in my head for the rest of my life.
Joined: May 2011
Hi, I had a relapse of acute lymphatic leukemia in March 2000. It came back in my spinal fluid. I had to receive multiple chemo treatments in the fluid so they put in an ommaya. I later had a BMT and have been cancer free/remissioin since August 2000. I've had mine in the whole time and it hasn't bothered me at all. There is just a knot on my scalp where they placed it. Mine didn't work right from day one for some reason. My doc said as long as it wasn't bothering me or causing trouble they would just leave it in. Taking it out would be more trouble and an unnecissary surgery. Over 11 years and it hasn't hurt anything staying in.