Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.
It is possible that u have what is called chiari 0, for some reason Drs feel the need to measure the herniation to determine if u have chiari or not when chiari is the malformation of the cerebellum part of the skull.Since they measure, most need a 5mm herniation to classify the herniation as chiari, and many do not recognize chiari 0, which is any herniation or obstruction less than 5mm.
What u need to find out next is, do u have a CSF obstruction? U would need a CINE MRI w/wo contrast.This is of the brain and cervical spine area so I do not think ur rods would impose a problem.
Speaking of ur rods, has neone of ur Drs checked to see if u developed scar tissue at ur surgical site?....DO u know if u have old MRI's to compare to see if the herniation was present b4 ur getting ill in Jan?
Many of us with chiari have had symptoms all our lives, but attributed them to other things, like the flu or school work...etc....or even as a normal sensation to activities since we have always had them.
Until u have further testing it is diff for ne of us to really say, but it is possible....nething is possible....all of us should have had testing to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms...some are- MS, Lupus, lymes, it is important to rule these out, so ur Dr can focus on what is really going on.
That said, there r not that many Drs that believe chiari can cause symptoms in the first place, so if u can get the report that says low lying tonsils, or chiari u can get into a true chiari specialist.
I am adding our list of Drs which was compiled by the members here of their own Drs, they only posted if they liked the Dr...and not all are true CHIARI specialists, and this is not a list to be suggested as a referral, but a means to help u start ur research to locate a Dr that is right for u.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Chiari-Malformation/LIST-OF-CHIARI-SPECIALISTS/show/1503562
There are a few Drs in TX.....not sure if that is where u still are or want to go, but many of us do need to travel to get to a good Dr.
Good luck in ur search, keep posting updates : )
"selma"