Coughing

Question

Does coughing make the herniation of the cerebellar tonsils worse? I am have nasal congestion and the drainage is causing me to cough.  It is causing me tremendous pain and I feel as if my head is about to burst.  I am taking meds and cough drops in order to prevent spells however, they persist. Will this worsen the chiari symptoms and herniation? Thank you for any resoonses I am new to this diagnosis and forum.
Michele

mrreed · Answer

My doctor stated there was a mild decrease in flow in the back but not in the front. He stated he wanted to refer me to a headache specialist to rule out anything else, although my headaches spund like chiari.  He said Chiari is not black and white that he operated on an 18 year old with a much larger herniation but no headaches.  I will get the actual report but this is where I stand now.  I asked him if my wreck and whiplash casused me to become symptomatic.  He said the wreck may very well have aggravated my chiari.
 
 Is there any other headache associated with valsalva movement? 

I need relief. After work I am spent.  I cannot wear jewelry or jacket around my neck, I have numbness, tingling, and burning sensations that i take meds for and on bad days do not help.  I have right eye pain and blurred vision that changes.  I am glad he wants to check out everything before thinking of surgery.  I just get frustrated because I am athletic and now I can't do much other than walk.

Mezzovoce · Answer

I take guaifenesin for mucous control, pretty much all day, every day. It stops the coughing (and the subsequent pain).

selmaS · Answer

I still tend to get overly emotional at things like weddings and funerals and just about nething really....just watching kids perform by singing can get me, and I have no idea y, other then it must be the chiari bcuz it is not like I am watching my kids perform, it is almost like I can feel the emotions of everyone around me, it is overwhelming.....I dislike it and try to avoid situations where this may happen...lol...

mrreed · Answer

Wow, I have been pretty emotional lately.

selmaS · Answer

That will add to it and those with chiari tend to have emotional issues and by that I mean we find ourselves crying more so over things we would not normally cry over...so more sensitive....this is from compression of the brain stem...I hate Hallmark commercials...lol...

mrreed · Answer

Thank you Selma, it must be the stress.

selmaS · Answer

There are many things that can indeed trigger the chiari symptoms to worsen...a MVA, a fall, or a sneeze...many of us have had symptoms all of our lives but not knowing we had chiari had no idea it was not due to our daily activities or just the flu or over doing it....

  Stress can affect u, but standing was diff for me as well , but I also have tethered cord, which affect the legs and lower back....

 Do make sure u rule all related conditions out.

mrreed · Answer

No, they didn't.  Thank you for making me feel validated. When a doctor tells you the symptoms seem to have started due to a wreck but then refer you to someone else it gets frustrating.  Since I have been refered to a neurologist i am going to ask him/her to check all possibilities. 

Again thank you. I have read some of your other posts and you are extremely knowledgeable and helpful.

I have read a few journals and I feel strongly that my symptoms are due to chiari.  It is extremely difficult when I have a tough day at work. I take meds and go straight to bed.  At the end of the day I can barely turn my head without pain.  When it returns to the normal position, I get dizzy and i hear the whooshing sound in my ear. Does standing on your feet all day have an increase symptoms? I am a principal and always pulled here and there.

selmaS · Answer

Most of us with chiari do have the diminished CSF flow in the back....so that is not uncommon. It is also not uncommon for those with larger herniations to not have the headache or chiari symptoms....but, it is possible for a smaller herniation to have more severe symptoms...it is not the size of the herniation, but more the width and if it is causing an obstruction of CSF....

 Did they check u for EDS and tethered cord?

selmaS · Answer

Good luck !!

mrreed · Answer

Thank you. I go tomorrow to discuss myCSF flow study results.

mrreed · Answer

Ok. I will ask them to check everything. Thank you

selmaS · Answer

Wonderful!...Be sure they rule out all the related issues as well, sleep apnea, syringomyelia, in all areas of the spine, tethered cord, and ehlers-danlos, and PTC.

 Good luck with ur results : )

mrreed · Answer

Thank you, my story is like sooo many others. I met with my second NS, i found this group in Dallas, he ordered a flow study to see if the chiari was causing my symptoms.  he said it sounds like chiari symptoms but wanted to make sure.  i was pleased.  I had the MRI done Friday and should receive the results tomorrow.

selmaS · Answer

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

 Coughing will cause ur symptoms to worsen, and a hard cough may affect the herniation as well...as u strain, and straining will affect u and the condition.

 Now that u have ur dx, u will want to research Drs to locate a true chiari specialist....we do have a list of the members drs, it is meant as a tool for u to get started with research and not as a referral.

 Please feel free to ask questions, many here have had surgery already and many are like urself seeking info prior to surgery.

  "selma"

Rylanesmom · Answer

I don't know that it will increase the herniage but it does cause additional pressure in the head and this feeling is defiantly a chiari symptom.  I will say post op this has improved for me:) welcome to the forum...sorry you had to find us