Hey everyone.
I didn't realize that I haven't posted here since November of last year. It wasn't till I went to sign up(forgetting that I already had) I went and found some old posts and I was signed up.

Anyways. I am looking for some possible advice, answers.

I've had my second shunt in place since 1986. The first one when I was born and collapsed. Fast forward to 30 years later. I have never had a shunt change anytime as an adult. The valve that I have is always opened. The shunt has been blocked since 2000 and no issues. Bigger ventricles in 2009 found in a MRI. Found a crack in the tubing from the shunt into my stomach in 2013 from shunt study that was done because of a few days of pressure and no relief. The pressure went away shortly after that. The only thing wrong that I got out of this whole thing is that my head is oddly shaped and I can't look at people when I talk. Operating was only an option if my life was in danger.

Fast forward to this last week.

I noticed a couple a days ago that I was having issues with my balance. That evening I went to the store(drove) and I was having issues concentrating. When I got out of the car my balance was off and I felt like I was going to fall over. Tonight I went for a drive and I was having issues concentrating my eyes. This has never happened to me before walking, driving. My balance walking was off. It wasn't constant but it was enough for me to notice. When the balance issue started, I was having pulses of pressure around my head, mainly above the shunt tube. There has been the odd pressure since then. It's just annoying, not painful.

I'm wondering, has anyone ever had vision, balance issues come up when they never had these issues before? It makes me very concerned. The last time I went to the specialist I spent 3 days in hospital and the doctors going back and fourth about operating. It went from operating in 3 days, then a week later, to not at all. I don't want to go through all through that hell again. I am not sure how to releave my stress when it comes to this. Since this shunt is 30 years old it does make me wonder. I have never met or read about anyone having a shunt in for this long without any issues. I am wondering now if the issues are coming up, or are going to come up as I get older?

So I am wondering if anyone here has had their shunt in(open valve) for a long time and experienced issues with it down the road without having issues prior?

I apologize if I sound ungrateful or anything like that. From what I've read so far from this board that a lot of people had more then 1 surgery in their life of having hydrocephalus. I'm trying to calm myself down. I am going to call my Neurosurgeons office to see if I can get in for an appointment without going through my doctor(was able once before with pressure I was having).