Chiari and blackouts?

My spouse was diagnosed about a month ago and has had 4 episodes of "passing out". He is only out for a few seconds at a time. The doctors are saying it is not common to "pass out". Curious if anyone seeing this might have had these episodes.

[ChiariWolf]

Sorry Melanie, to hear of your spouses dx. Even more sorry to hear a doctor has told you this baloney.

Drop attacks got worse and worse on me before the operation. I still get dizzy spells [5 mos post op] but no drop attacks since the operation. How many others have these symptoms? I don't know, I do know there are a couple on here who have had them. You might try searching this forum for 'drop attack' as there have been a few posts about this issue.

Hang in there, I know from my Wife's experience with me that this symptom can be a bit scary.

Wolf

[jorlex137]

I would get black attacks.....things would go black but I never passed out

[*Stormy*]

Hello and welcome

On most of the symptom lists for Chiari, fainting is listed so I am not sure why they are saying that is not common. Granted, most of us don't actually get to the point of passing out..just headrushes and dimming vision (like we are almost going to) but I have heard of some that do. It just goes to show that there is an awful lot of pressure building up in your DH's head.

Also there is two different types..syncope (fainting) where you drop from actually losing conciousness...and drop attacks..where you drop from loss of muscle control or severe vertigo but you are still concious (usually). I have never completely experienced either myself but have definitely come close a few times.

I would recommend looking into getting a Chiari specialist..they will be more up to date on Chiari symptoms...

Carolyn

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

As everyone else has said...phoooey on what the dr has said....but there is a diff btwn a drop attack and passing out..,.I know bcuz I had both...passing out u know u r going out...u get that static sound and snow like vision....and u go out.

A drop attack is totally diff in that u could be standing and the next moment u r aware u r falling but can not respond.....what happens is the signals going from teh brain to all ur extremities gets blocked for a second or two and returns so u go out but so quickly u r unaware u were out....I had one of these lovely drop attacks which was teh last straw for me with my symptoms and no dx....I needed 2 surgeries as a result of the fall and one of my surgeons sent me to a rheumatoid dr looking for lupus and finally found chiari.


As Carolyn has mentioned u deff need a chiari specialist to help determine ur next course of treatment.

So glad to have u as part of our chiari family, so sorry ur DH has this and is the reason u had to seek us out.


"selma"