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vns therapy side effects
Wed, 02/15/2006 - 10:10Topic: Complementary Therapies
I joined this site yesterday and I'm interesting in touching base with anyone who has a vns. In particular I would like to find out if anyone has experienced any unusual side effects not mentioned by Cyberonics. I occasionally experience 'tingling' in my neck and shoulder - this is actually quite unpleasant and it has been severe enough to warrant having my vns temporarily turned off. At one point last summer it felt like I was being repeatedly stung by a bee or something like that (I'm not sure exactly how to describe it). Cyberonics claims that no one has ever mentioned anything similar to this. I have been quite happy with my vns - it has helped stop many seizures once they have started, which has meant fewer trips to the ER but if this problem became really severe again I wouldn't be able to keep my vns turned on. Please let me know if you have experienced anything like this - I would like to know - Cyberonics makes it sound like I'm crazy or something. Thanks!!!
Comments
Re: Re: Re: Re: vns therapy side effects
Submitted by westmoreland2002 on Tue, 2007-03-27 - 09:49
I need some help in deciding whether or not to have this done for my child..she is 19, mild to severe mental retardation, with seizure..she has mild seizure most of the day. Some you can see or the doctors can track..it is the ones that last 4 minutes that the doctors are concerned about. She is currently on 3 meds for the seizures the doctor can't raise them anymore and she is still having them. The doctor gave me information this VNS Therapy...considering it if it will help her...I guess my question is....the magnetic bracelet that is used to control either stopping or making the seizures less severe...will it be affected by some common products like a microwave, cell phones anything with a magnetic in it...I have read some of the side affect reponses on this page and I have concerns about some of them.
Re: vns therapy side effects
Submitted by Denny on Thu, 2009-10-22 - 11:31
Did you ever make a decision as to the VNS? My son, also 19, is given the option to have it implanted and so far I have read more bad than good. I hate these decisions. Parents should never be required to continually make them.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: vns therapy side effects
Submitted by TheCaptain on Fri, 2007-05-18 - 10:24
It is VERY difficult to reply to this constructively. I even slept on it before deciding to speak. The comments made by epi_help may be technically accurate, but do NOT speak to the topic of this post. The link given is an ADVERTISEMENT by the manufacturer of the device, NOT a comprehensive unbiased study of the Pros and Cons of getting the implant. Please, if you are considering this procedure, do your homework EVERYWHERE and listen to EVERYTHING you read, positive and negative. Don't just listen to MY negative babbling OR epi_help's starry-eyed advertisement. Neither is probably a good indication of what YOU should expect. This is a permanent, irreversible procedure that will at the very least leave you with a wire wrapped around your Vagus Nerve. FOREVER. Do not enter this lightly. I have to speak to something in the above link... I quote: "The patient is usually not aware that it's operating." I think this is absolutely a best case scenario and I doubt many will say that they have no idea there is an implant in their chest that is shocking their brain. I know every millisecond mine is operating. I think it is not only misleading but downright negligent to post a link to the 'Best Case Posible' without also adding FDA reports and other information that show the 'Worst Case Possible'. Especially when the original question was about negative side affects!!! If you make your decision based solely on epi_help's reply above, God Help You. The Captain