I am 20 years old and have had hydrocephalus since the age of four months and a half. I lived a normal life during the first eighteen years of my life. In March 2003, the nightmare began. I had the first of twenty-six shunt related surgeries in twenty months (revisions and externalizations). Some were due to blockages and most were performed because the neurosurgeon wished to relieve the pain as quickly as possible.The problem was the symptoms kept returning a few days after the surgery (headache, nausea, and shoulder pain). So, a few weeks ago, an MRI was done and it shows that I have Arnold Chiari malformation, type one. The cerebellum is 7mm lower than it should be. The symptoms (headache, nausea, and numbness) that I am presently experiencing are all related to this condition. Surgery is planned in the next few days.