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2018059 tn?1328519479

Vagus Nerve Damage

Hi there, put simply, my doctor suspects that the Vagus nerve has been damage during heart surgery last October.  They believe this to be the case because I have been left with a high resting pulse rate.  I also have a constant 'buzzing' nervous sensation across my chest and down my arms, that can get almost unbearable at times. I can feel my whole upper body trembling. Can someone tell me if this could also be due to the Vagus nerve damage?  Also, do nerves really heal themselves or not?
Can anyone recommend a herbal or vitamin remedy to help the healing process and / or to relieve me of the 'buzzing'?
I would really appreciate some advice.  Thank you.
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Avatar universal
I had a hysterectomy and sine then I have had strange symptoms. I have had every blood test the dr can think of, heart scans, colonoscopy, gasoscopy, rheumatoid specialist and still nothing.
I have nausea, dramatic weight loss, tingling in arms, dizzy loss of hearing or audio clarity, dizzy and the strangest is I have chest tightness and shortness of breath each Time I get the urge to urinate or pass faecal matter. I am fatigued all the time and have to be very careful what I eat as I get stomach cramps and then the runs. Please any help would be amazing as I am constantly feeling terrible
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Hi
Just wondering if your doctor prescribed the antibiotic Cipro as your symptoms sound like mine which presented after it was prescribed to me. It's in a family of drugs called Flouroquinolones. If so, please Google Cipri Toxicity to see the full gambit of symptoms. My heart goes out to you.
Avatar universal
Hi pdiddy151! I have read on a couple of other forums that some people suspect Vagus Nerve disorders because of postural reasons. For example, some people have had chiropractic procedures done and it "fixed" their issues. The suspicion is that the Vagus Nerve was somehow being "pinched" or compromised in some way.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi there I am experiencing a lot of the symptoms related to vagus nerve damage and am wondering if it could have been damaged when I had  a C5-C6 fusion after a bad fall at work. I have the dizziness, raspy throat, difficulty swallowing, gastrointestinal issues, frequent urinating , cardio vascular changes and constant tightness in my muscles. I am experiencing anxiety as well which I have never experienced before. Please get back to me and let me know if that is a possibility after a fusion surgery of that type.
I am trying to get to the bottom of why I am feeling so off.
Thanks for any insight into this
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Avatar universal
Please tell me where you went to get the confirmed diagnosis. I suffer so bad after a surgery and no doctors seem to know what to do. The do irrelevant tests and say Vagus Nerve Damage but will not put it in writing. I have every symptom and my stomach is just dead now. I am having heart problems, paralyzed vocal cord, ear problems, dizziness, constipation, and many other problems.
I need a neurologist to help confirm a diagnosis.
Please leave a message or contact me in some way.
Thank you.
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1 Comments
Rochester Minnesota fransician kemp
6722327 tn?1384126805
I was diagnosed with Vagal Neuropathy nearly two years ago. My symptoms began with a feeling of faintness then proceeded to waves of nausea, palpitations, choking on food and drink, full body tremors and the desire to fall over backwards whenever I stood up.  My voice became hoarse and I would start belching whenever I talked, and my stomach felt like I was in fight/flight mode all the time.

This went on for about 10 weeks and nobody could find anything wrong with me. I felt so ill, I eventually checked myself into hospital and told them I would not leave until they found out what was wrong with me.

After 2 weeks in hospital and having a barrage of tests a Neurologist came into my room to see me. After making me walk up and down and doing a couple of other tests, he diagnosed my problem as Vagus Nerve damage. He said this condition was very rare and was not curable.

I had never even heard of the Vagus Nerve but quickly Googled it and was horrified to see how long it was and how many of the symptoms I had relating to it's enormous reach.

Nearly two years on and some of my initial symptoms have subsided, although if I get stressed they return but in a milder form. My voice is still shocking and I still have belching and stomach and bowel problems.  I still get palpitations and I still feel sick occasionally.

I have been having Neurofeedback for about 15 months, which helps with settling the nerves, and also with my arthritis pain. I also take a barrage of supplements to try to mend the Vagus Nerves.

I now have an auto-immune system disease which causes many other nerves to misfire so I am now subjected to random nerve pain throughout my body. I have had a chest infection for over six months which will not go away.

I am to see my Neurologist again later this month with a view to possibly having a Vagal Nerve Stimulator implanted in my chest.  It is usually used for Epilepsy patients but I am willing to try anything to see if I can get to feel well again.
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1 Comments
Oh my God it sounds like me I'm finally getting the answers I fell down a flight of concrete steps 7 years ago in these symptoms are her riffic my heart rate is out of control everything everybody has been describing everything is the same as what I've been trying to describe the doctors I know I have a compressed vagus nerve they say I have a spinal cord injury I'm getting angry that they have to adjust something do something at least give me ease from other issues on my spine I did concrete work on my life I hurt myself terribly I can't stand the fast with Manic heartbeat that continues day after day it's been going on for 7 Days 7 years I finally get seen by the cardiologist they got the echo they see the heart already is affected we have to see what else is going on I knew I was right the whole time I knew I was right for 7 years I should go back and sue every ******* doctor that told me they didn't know what was going on that's all in my head now with all the MRIs and final testing images proof in the pudding I told them so they have me in large amounts of amitriptyline to keep the symptoms at Bay but I can't stand the heart problem and I have to deal with a heart condition when the first moment I was ever injured they could have did surgery and they overlooked it because I don't want to deal with it it was so high risk I come from a very rule community in Wisconsin
Avatar universal
I am a 35 year old male.

I understand my symptoms are not as extreme as others but I am uncertain what course to take.

I recently underwent disc replacement surgery (C6-C7) approx 5 weeks ago.
The surgery itself was successful however I still have very little voice.  
Hoarsness, loss of pitch, volume are my symptoms.

An ENT has confirmed that my right vocal cord is paralysed caused by the vagus nerve being either damaged or severed.  

The ENT specialist has suggested bulk injections to help increase voice volume.  I understand this is a temp fix as the body will eventually "break down" the forgein material.

I am also experiencing a high resting heart rate, anxiety and I constantly have to clear my throat which I presume is related to the vegus nerve.

Swallowing is good most of the time however I have found on 2-3 occasions that it’s difficult to do on command.

How can you tell if the vagus nerve is severed or just damaged?
Any help/advice would be appreciated - Not sure what to do!

Thanks
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Hi I have had neck surgery and I have similar symptoms as you,they had to cut some of my Vagus nerve away.I have horsness a persistent cough and swallowing difficulties.I would like to know how you are now as I would like to know what worked for you if anything.
Kind regards
Reece
Avatar universal
Hi,
I was diagnosed with MS in 2004 managed pretty good untill 2008 I lost my hearing in my left ear did not realize it untill I held the phone to my ear no pain no infection at the time hearing was better then great untill that time, the day after I noticed the loss of hearing, I got sever vertigo that had me spinning for 3 months, now I have been diagnosed with gastroparesis with nausea and vomiting dizzy feeling heart palputaion. I am on a event monitor at the present time. My question is, is it possible that the MS has damaged the vagus nerve and so what can that mean for me. I can't seem to get an answers from about is from my Doctors.
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Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi there and welcome to the medhelp forum. A severed or damaged vagus nerve will affect the functioning of gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, etc. there could be absent gag reflex, difficulty swallowing, change in voice, heart rhythm disturbances and dizziness, inability to control urine. vagus also supplies the external ear canal and ear drum so there could be partial or complete deafness. Heart rate and blood pressure may increase due to sympathetic predominance. The buzzing across the chest needs a neurological evaluation. It doesnot appear to be related to vagus. Check if you have other symptoms too. It would be inappropriate for me to comment further based on the information available. Best wishes.
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Avatar universal
I have been diagnosed with Gastroparesis and am having a really hard time with the disorder. I have had double by pass heart surgery, lung cancer surgery (an adenocarcinoma) and also removal of my gall bladder. I also have type 2 diabetes and take Metformin daily. Are there any herbal remedies that would help me with this very dibilitating disorder? I was on Clonodine for a number of years to help control my hihg blood pressure and now i'm reading that this particular medicine can be a cause of the disease. I am a 65 yr.old female and really would like to enjoy my food! Are there any herbal answers to my dilemma? I've been thru quite a bit and was brought thru it all and now my food seems to be my enemy! Does anyone have any suggestions? Can the vagus nerve be repaired? Could this nerve have been damaged during any of my surgeries? My symptoms have been really bad since my thoracic surgery Dec. '09.
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