In the past I have written about a meniere’s surgery called the endolymphatic shunt surgery. I had an opportunity to have the surgery done in 2008 but I didn’t have it done because I had read that it wasn’t always effective with eliminating the vertigo attacks.
I got another doctor’s opinion and he confirmed what I had read on the internet that the shunt surgery wasn’t the way to go.
The other day I received a comment from Wendy who had the surgery but didn’t have the shunt put it. It sounds like the surgery (without the shunt) has been very successful for her.
Here is an excerpt from the comment…
So my doctor recommended surgery. They still call it Endolymphatic shunt surgery but they don't put a shunt in. He drilled a hole in my skull right under the back of my ear where the Endolymphatic sac is, and he shaved part of my temporal bone off. This gives the sacs more room when they fill with fluid so they won't end up mixing fluids. I had the surgery on April 28th. I've only had 2 real vertigo attacks since then. I will have all the signs one is coming and then it just doesn't.
Unfortunately, I have this in both ears and he only operated on one. This week both of my ears are going crazy, and I've had a bad case of vertigo. I'm almost sure it's because of the left ear though.
This surgery has a very low chance of hearing loss. I have pretty bad hearing in my right ear anyway. But the vertigo was so bad, I wanted to die. I would accept going deaf, if he could just stop the vertigo! Lots of people live without hearing, but the vertigo was impossible.
To read the full comment go to my Understanding your options with meniere’s disease post.
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010
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4 comments:
Interesting reading about the shunt-without-a-shunt surgery. It means there is something more to be done!!! I´ll ask my doctor next time I talk to him.
David:
have you heard about the vestibular prosthesis to restore balance coming out of John Hopkins. Very very good news for all us meniers sufferer.
Check it out if you have time. I believe it works like a cochlear implant except it restores balance. I believe the Doctors name is Santina.
Talk to you soon
Ryan
Ryan and David:
I read the vestibular prosthesis about dr santini at John Hopkins.
I emailed him and he responded that he hopes to be implanting them in humans within a year or two. Good stuff. Brilliant man.
I also found out today that dr rubenstein has developed a
vestibular prosthesis as well that acts as a pacemaker for the inner ear for meniers patient in much the same way one does for the heart.
He begins implanting them in humans in the next few
weeks. Excellent results animal models with induced hydrops.
He is at University of Washington. Emailed him and he also
emailed back. Very nice.
Ryan and David: I think the trend is now toward vestibular prosthesis. If it can be done for hearing why not balance function.
Take care
Susan
Thanks everybody for the comments and the terrific information. I'll definitely do some research on it
thanks again
David
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