u/Unlucky_Equal_7143

I have been disabled for the last three years due to my chronic illnesses and had to drop out of college, but as soon as I can get my current illness under control I want to go straight back to school. However my main two illnesses are something I always have to worry about in the future, like flair ups or needing brain surgery that’ll keep me out of work for a week or so. I shouldn’t be ever disabled this long again though once I find a good doctor. The only things I’d need consistently even when I am 100% feeling good is consistent air conditioning (heat intolerance), a place to sit, and somewhere to store aids.

I plan on majoring in biochemistry and am dead set on going into food science. Is this doable? And are remote jobs still around/a possibility in the future?

I just don’t want to dream about going back to school/work when I can’t. Then I could put my focus into something else.

Edit: I’m in the US and in a state with plenty of food science opportunity.

Edit: Thank you for everyone who responded, it seems pretty 50/50 so maybe I’ll consider broadening what I want to do with a biochem degree. I really love school and loved the food science related courses I took when I was at school but there’s so many other options I can hopefully consider

I finally got to go in to see a new neurosurgeon and he told me that I don’t have nph and that I should have never been shunted. He believes I have iih since I’m 23. He referred me to a neurologist because he believes that treating my migraines will fix my slew of shunt malfunction symptoms.

Which I would believe him but there were some things that rubbed me the wrong way. One being that he didn’t want to try turning my shunt settings down because I guess I have a few abnormal pockets/gaps between my brain and skull that no one’s ever told me about and he didn’t want to risk worsening them. But he didn’t seem worried about my more concerning symptoms like the random stabbing pains I get on the right side of my head, or my muscle tics. And he told me that pain in my abdomen from the shunt is normal.
He also wouldn’t do testing on my shunt since he believed I didn’t have hydrocephalus, but even so wouldn’t it still be possible for my shunt to malfunction? I’m having basically all shunt malfunction symptoms. I’m also concerned about those pockets.

I was so excited for this appointment just to come out even more confused and concerned. Do I have nph, iih, or communicating hydro? I guess it’s time for a third opinion 🥲

I am on the urgent list to be contacted by a new neurosurgeon however I don’t think I should wait and should go to the er. My current NS just completely wasted my time. I have to drive somewhat far to get treated and even though my ventricles are larger and I have most typical malfunction symptoms besides vomiting all he had to say was “please go see your PCP in regards to your symptoms” as if that isn’t what I’ve been doing for the past six months. At that point I was just so done and didn’t know what to ask for. Could someone experienced in advocating for exactly what they need give me some hydro tips?

I believe I need to ask for a shuntogram and a shunt series. I’ve never had those done before so I’m not sure how it goes. Typical bad neurosurgeon traits to look out for would also be appreciated.

More background info- “Decreased Dilation of lateral ventricles since 2024, Stable enlargement of third and fourth ventricles, stable enlargement of Cisterna magna”are the findings. I have thyroid issues and about four months after I got my shunt in 2023 my thyroid went completely out of wack for two years that disabled me. And right after we finally got it stabilized is when my malfunction symptoms quickly increased. I didn’t have head pain up until this month and head pain was the only symptom of hydro I had before getting my shunt. I’m wondering if my shunt has been malfunctioning way longer than I thought. I was getting worked up thinking about how my current NS could have F’d me over like how doctors have had for all my other chronic disorders I have :( I really did trust him for years