Chiari and Asthma

[pdxmomof3boys]

Any of you have both CM and asthma? Just wondering because my symptoms are so much worse when I have an asthma attack, like I did today. I was actually hyperventilating in my GPs office. It was awful! Now my head hurts and the numbness/tingling/weakness is worse than usual. I know there is not medical connection between the two, but the symptoms ARE connected and overlap and trigger each other. If anyone has any experience/ideas that I can try to help, I'd be glad to hear them!

I see my NS tomorrow morning at 9 am. I am anxious (doesn't help with the asthma) and excited to be able to stop trying to diagnose myself :) It will be interesting to hear what he has to say. Hopefully he has some options that I can try before a surgery recommendation! Will post tomorrow after I know more. Take care All!

[rod44]

Hi there,
I have tired acupuncture and found it helps with pain management however i would recommend that you check the background, training and experience of the practitioner before starting treatment as there are many quacks out there claming to be qualified.
Re the Asthma, the coughing with asthma is going to give you a headache even if you did not have Chiari so it is bound to make a CM headache worse...
Some people on here suffer from post nasal drip witch I understand is connected to Asthma and I wonder if this is listed as a CM symptom or if it has been looked at by the medical field.....

Ray

[pdxmomof3boys]

he said he didn't know, as many NS don't, which symptoms are connected to or separate from CM. It's true! The list of symptoms is so long that they could be related or coincidental. I had H1N1, then viral pneumonia, and now my lungs are severely inflamed. Now that I've been on prednisone, my lungs are relaxing and I'm coughing even MORE, but it's important so that I can get better.

Wish I knew exactly what will get better after having surgery. My NS did recommend surgery to me, but said it's my decision. He asked if I'd like to try accupuncture first, as his partners have some patients that have done this with some success. He said he can't say for sure, but if I don't want to do pain meds, this is a good thing to try! With three small boys and a career as a teacher, I really don't want to go down that path! I totally trust him and feel really comfortable. He is certainly confident that my headaches will be relieved. Still trying to decide! I have an apt scheduled at the beginning of May, because even if I DO decide to go the surgical route, I can't until school is out for summer. He told me to contact him before then if things change/worsen. Thank God there is nothing wrong in my cervical spine but normal aging problems -- I'd like to tell  my children it's from walking them up and down the hallway on my shoulder for the past 5 years :) All of my other issues may or may not be related to CM. It's a gamble I'm taking if I do the surgery. Especially with all of the risks involved.

That's why I thought I'd ask about the asthma connection in other CM folks! I'm working on getting it under control so that my HAs ease...Thanks for the feedback :)

[sarah357]

Hi! I have asthma and really bad allergies as well. It seems to add to my fatigue and headaches as well. I was just diagnosed with Chiari about 3 weeks ago. I have been sick for about a week and a half with what feels like Bronchitis and my Chiari symptoms have been so much worse, especially from all the coughing!  Did your NS have any feedback on it?

Thanks

[selmaS]

Hi.....sending good vibes and prayers that u get answers at ur visit tomorrow.

I do not have asthma, but have had breathing issues as many chiarians do.

I do not know the connection  or the ratio of those with chiari and asthma.

Maybe that could be our next poll.

Sheila thanks for sharing ur experience.

Awaiting ur update.....

Good luck

"selma"

[sheila53213]

I have asthma as well as Chiari....I've had asthma for quite a few years now. Since I was 18...just got diagnosed with Chiari in the past month. So it's still too early for me to tell if there is any connection in me personally. I have had my asthma under control for the past few years.
I pray that you stay calm and don't trigger another attack in you!
Sheila