Questions after shunt revision surgery

Hello all,,, it has been a year since I visited this board, after an ESD with shunt surgery. My doctor at the time had a bad bedside manner but was supposed to be the best in the area. After the surgery I had some relief from the vertigo, but constant pressure, pain and increasing hearing loss. I visited the crabby doc several times, asking what could cause this, and his answer was that it was normal and could last for months or longer. I knew that something was not right! Grasping for straws, I asked him if the shunt could have moved out of place. He ordered an MRI and said results were normal. He laughed at the thought that the shunt could have moved.

I found a new doctor who was very thorough AND friendly, took the time to answer every one of my many questions. After tracking symptoms every day for month and even trying meds to rule out migraine-related symptoms, he recommended a shunt revision surgery. He even said that the shunts the other doc used were "crap." (I have never hear a doc say that about another doc).

After the surgery he told me that he could find no previous shunt. There was NO shunt. He said it is possible that it could have moved, but hesitated to say much more. I am in the process now of retrieving my MRI records and previous surgical records to determine if there is a next step. My question to you is; Has this ever happened to any of you? Do you have any thoughts, words of wisdom, advice or comments? Whatt would you do?

 

Thank you for your response! I was comparing the two surgeries... after this last one, the hospital gave me a card to carry in my wallet that says I have a device in my head. After last year's surgery, I did not get such a card.... even though the medical records say he inserted a shunt. Hmmm. But I learned that there are different types,,, and the one I have now has titanium in it... so maybe last year's shunt, if indeed inserted, was the one that did not.

I did talk with an attorney, and as I suspected, I didn't lose any income, my pain and suffering didn't put me out of work, and I'm doing well now, so it probably wouldn't be worth it to bring a law suit, even though it seems like two brain surgeries and a year of pain would be worth something. I do plan to have a discussion with the former doctor.

The great thing now is that 90% of the post-op vertigo is gone. I drove today for the first time, and am cleared to fly and take my grandsons to Florida next week for a vacation. All pain, swelling and pressure I experienced for the last year is gone. I am so grateful, and am starting to consider this one a success. Hoping and looking forward to a healthy future.