I WAS 28 YEARS OLD WHEN I WAS TOLD I HAD PTC. I AM 39 NOW. I\'VE HAD 19 SHUNT SURGERIES, VIRAL MENINGITIS 7 TIMES, STAPH INFECTION 9 TIMES. DOCTORS TOLD ME THAT THE SHUNT WAS CAUSING THE INFECTION,JUST IN THE PAST FIVE MONTHS I HAVE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL 6 TIMES, 14 DAYS EACH TIME. I\'VE BEEN TOLD NO ONE KNOWS WHY THIS HAPPENS, BUT IT IS MOSTLY IN WOMEN OVERWEIGHT. THE STRANGE THIG IS WHEN THIS FIRST BEGAN,MY WEIGHT WAS ONLY 117LBS. NOW AFTER ALL THE YEARS OF SURGERIES,SPINAL TAPS AND ANTIBIOTICS I NOW WEIGH 180. IT\'S WORSE NOW THAN EVER BEFORE,STILL HAVE THE HEACHES,FEVER AND EVERTHING THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT. THE ONLY THING THAT HELPS IS SPINAL TAPS. NO PAIN MEDS EASE IT AT ALL. IT IS A HORRIBLE THING TO SUFFER FROM.