I was assured by my Neuro/ent, my 'endolymphatic shunt' would not clog and that I would not have vertigo 'again'! That was 5 years ago. So far, no vertigo. But as you know from seeing my posts I'm certainly not symptom free--at all! I have had ongoing head pressure for years that would usually ease at some point during the day--and some days 'not'! This past year and the past few months have been 'awful'. No vertigo--but feeling like it was 'about' to happen when pressure would get intense. I'm not talking about ear pressure--but upper head (all the way around) like when I used to have Migraines. No, I don't have MAV! The tinnitus that has been 'tolerable' for a long time has come back in the form of musical tinnitus and some days when the lightheadness/pressure is really bad--I hear a sudden loud 'horn or furnace roaring sound' in one ear, then the other. And visual things can make it worse and loud places or being around crowds--shopping, etc. can increase the symptoms. I don't take meds other than xanax--low dose when things make me really anxious. And I sometimes have to just give in and 'sleep'! Waking I feel better until I'm upright and after just a few mins--symptoms return. A real quality of life thing. I keep going--try to get my mind on other things as I've mentioned before. Would love to hear from 'post shunt' patients and know if any of you have been told your shunt could or already has closed. And if so, what are your options for treatment? Thanks for listening.
Hey Yanksgirl, My Neuro told me they (meaning his practice composed of several neuro's, Michigan Ear Institute) don't even use the shunt anymore because of issues with clogging and excess "liquid" concerns about draining into the skull cavity, etc. He recommended the sac decompression for me with no shunt and sited that the percentages of people with successful outcomes are almost exactly the same between those receiving a shunt and those only having the decompression. Of course, I just had the decompression about 2 months ago and am still having pre-operation levels of symptoms.....sometimes I wonder if the shunt would have made the difference? Its still pretty early for me in my recovery from surgery, I know, but I'm starting to look at alternatives already, I can't just sit here and do nothing. I know exactly what you mean about the head pressure, I get the same feeling and when I do I immediately pop a valium because it usually means some level of vertigo is coming. Anyway, I didn't want to hijack the thread, just wanted to let you know what my neuro had said about it. He's a young guy and his resume (or whatever) is pretty impressive, at least to me it was, Robert Hong is his name. I hope you get the answers you're looking for and find the relief that we all deserve. Stay well! RWJ
I had a shunt placed in my ear in October of 2016. It was unsuccessful I continues to have vertigo and eventually lost my hearing over the course of the last year. However my surgeon did say the average shunt only worked for about 5-7 years. My hope was something would come along before then...but it didn't matter...it didn't work in the first place. He quoted me 80% success rate. Oh well...someone has to be in the 20 right? Good luck!
My shunt surgery was a failure. It also left me severely to profoundly deaf in the operated ear. I had fluctuating mild to moderate hearing loss before the surgery. I woke up from the surgery with horrible vertigo, vomiting and double vision that lasted for four days. After the shunt, my vertigo attacks were more frequent than they were before the surgery. Some days I would have a vertigo attack, get over it, and another one would come. I never went more than three days without having a vertigo attack after getting the shunt. After 11 months of living like that and not being able to leave the house, at least by myself, I had a VNS. I was told, and most literature states, that the shunt can become clogged or dislodged. One of the biggest reasons a shunt stops working is because it becomes covered with scar tissue. After shunt surgery there is to be no lifting, no straining, no blowing your nose. My surgeon speculated that my shunt became dislodged by the prolonged, violent vomiting I did after my surgery. I was also told the shunt can't be retrieved because it would be too hard to find. I still don't understand that, since the inner ear is smaller than a dime. Another theory he came up with was that my inner ear wasn't tolerating the shunt, sort of like a rejection, and he diagnosed me with permanent vertigo. I guess that's the best he could come up with. Since having the VNS, my MM has become bilateral.
Oh--wow! I do appreciate you letting me know your experiences! I now know the shunt can 'fail' in some cases and also can succeed. I've read the success stories--like mine--(in not having vertigo)--but nothing about other symptoms or complete failures. This board opens discussions for all types of successes and failures. I plan to share it with my Ent--and see what his answer is. Of course, his promise that I'd have 'no vertigo' has been true so far. But--no explanation as to the daily head pressure and lightheadedness that really is quality of life altering. So, if it's not another health issue---and believe me, I've had so many mis-diagnosed in the last few months and tests (more than I care to elaborate on) and so far am declared --pretty healthy. So--no explanation as to these awful symptoms I'm talking about. Could be 'anxiety-depression' but that is all caused by the symptoms! So--one doesn't know which comes first--the symptoms causing anxiety/depression or vice versa! So, you look for the obvious--the Meniere's. Thanks to all of you for you very helpful and enlightening comments. I do hope you get relief--and those who have found it--keep it!