I just read back over your original post for the forth time (scatterbrained :-). I am taken back by the similarities with Mr Deans symptoms, and the symptoms that lead to my revision/ replacement in February. When seen prior to my surgery, my didn't worry to much with hunting a problem. He said my symptoms were a "dead giveaway" and the ct scan revealed that my ventricles were "huge". Upon opening me up, my shunt was "barely functional" and tubing was completely broken in my neck. The only exception with me and Mr Dean is that the shunt I had replaced had been in for over 20 years. Mine was just worn out and his just isn't that old.