Nicole,
First off, remember you have options. That's one thing I was never given when first diagnosed with hydro at 24. My prime physician had little knowledge of hydro and was scared for me. The neuro she rushed me to see (2 weeks for the emergency appointment) was newly out of school and heard to be good. He basically told me I have 2 blockages, one probably from birth, and one from an accident when I was 3 or so. Shunts, at the time, were the only way to stop the water from continuing to build (I have more water in my head than brain), but there was a hit and miss method to them deciding which shunt would benifit me the most.
Long story short, through research and almost 20 years of experience I have realized that my body somehow already was compensating for the blockages, I just haven't figured out how yet. I have had a shunt placed and revised for a total of 4 surgeries over a 10 year period but it is now my belief that I will always have "headaches", some harsher than others.
I feel having the shunt does help from the pressure building up more than it is already, but it never aliviated the symptoms I have, and continue to develop.