vns therapy side effects

I had the vns implanted in 2005. Using the magnet has givin me control over seizures. I've noticed when I've held it to close to long the vns it gives me a feelin as though i've been stung by a bee.

Hi, I have had the vns implant since 1998. I haven't had any problems with it, but I do believe you when you say you did. I know of one person at the same time who had his shut off. I think it reacts differently with everyone. They should take into consideration what you or anyone tells them. Who would know better than the person who has the implant?!

Hi! I had a VNS unit implanted in me August, 2004 When I was 54. During that time I have not incurred any side effects until approximately three months ago. I have taped the magnet onto my chest to shut the unit off on Friday, March 9th. and as soon I can visit my neurologist I will have her shut it off. I am suffering from severe headaches,a heart pulse rate of 96 (when before the vns was implanted it was 80), great fatigue,sleep apnea, nightmares, nausea, extreme jaw pain, bad toothaches, severe choking and shortness of breath, bad cough, depression, bad tingling in my neck and overall I did not feel well. My wife saw a change in my greatly lessened tolerability and even asked my step-father if I was like that before and his answer was no. The vns unit has made the last three months a living hell. Also I did not know that I cannot have a MRI test when the vns unit is shut-off,but I guess it is one of the vns units so-called benefits. To have a MRI test I need to have the vns surgically removed. Initially I thought it was only me and I did not want to complain about these problems, but after I have read various comments posted by many people on various websites I realized that other individuals experienced many of the same problems. I felt so relieved and not on edge when I put the magnetic over the VNS unit on Friday evening it was amazing. Last evening I removed the magnet to take a shower I began coughing and choking radically which caused me to throw-up. It also felt as though a sharp knife was stabbed in my throat. I believe Cyberonics should have tested the vns unit more before making it available and if a persons individual body is going to benefit from the implant of this unit. I further believe the F D A should have required more testing of the vns unit because these are human brains. Furthermore Cyberonics has not called me since the unit was implanted, but before that when they had a product to sell I was contacted many times If anyone else has experienced these problems with a vns unit please contact me. My email is- sprucemont@charter.net Also I have been in contact with a friend of mine who had a vns unit implanted in early 2004 and she also is suffering from the same symptoms. Thank You, Albert Richenberger UPDATE:I went to the my neurolgists office yesterday March 12 2007 to have the vns unit shut off and nearly choked to death in the nurses presence as she was trying to turn the unit off! Later that same day in the afternoon this vns unit start choking me again as the vns unit started on its own accord. I immediately was taken to the neuroligists office and she taped the magnet to my chest and said do not remove it as I think the wires are disconnected and sent me to Radiology to have my chest and neck X-rayed I now have a very radical cough. She said she did not trust the unit to not start on its own again. That is the reason for taping the magnet to my chest. All of this is doctor witnessed. I would not reccomend that anyone has this unit implanted as it was a couple years before the side effects appeared. I now feel that I am a prisoner of this unit. read more on the internet last evening and learned that AED can not be administered to anyone who has this unit in them. Another vns surprise! Albert Richenberger further update:I was called this A.M. by my neurolagists office to tell me that the wires were intact, but the unit was malfunctioning and it had to be surgically removed as soon as possible.I have since then called cyberonics and am waiting for a response. Albert Richenberger