Could Chiari cause my 4 year medical history mystery?

[Mlb33]

I am currently a 22 y/o female. For four years going on five now I have had a wide range of problems. Starting w extreme abdominal/stomach pain. While in the ER for stomach pain my Bp reached 215/180 something. The ER doctors didn't seemed concerned. The gastroenterologist saw nothing and diagnose "nervous stomach. I was 19 at the time. After this came extreme weight loss and unexplained high blood pressure. My high blood pressure comes in spikes every so often maybe once every few months, sometimes every few days. Lately (the past 2-3 months, my Bp spikes haven't gotten stronger and have been lasting longer. It has been 253/215 multiple times. (scary, considering I could have a stroke at any moment during that). I also experience headaches lasting for days at a time with no relief, tremors in my right hand and my right arm and leg (hand) go numb often. Over the past two years they have tested literally everything, only thing left was a brain scan. Well, Friday 4/11 I got a MRI w and w our contrast. For the first time I finally had a test come back showing something! My dr called and told me it was essentially normal, but I had a venous angioma. He blew it off like it wasn't important. And research has shown those are typically asymptomatic. I went to pick up the report, after reading the report I saw that the radiologist (who is a neuro radiologist and I know how thorough he is with his work bc we use him in the office I work at) mentioned a 6mm "borderline" Chiari malformation. He said this might be the cause of headaches but didn't say other symptoms could be caused by this. It makes sense that the numbness, and dizziness and headaches could be caused by Chiari, but what about the blood pressure? Has anyone ever heard of problems with blood pressure due to Chiari? I have an appt w. neurologist on Tuesday 4/22/14. I have experienced 4 years of in depth medical problems with our insurance, this neurologist is going to wipe my pockets clean but I need an answer! So my question is..has anyone heard of or experienced problems with blood pressure with/related to Chiari?? Please help, I'm feeling hopeless.

[Thisonesforthepast]

Sometimes high blood pressure could be do to how your body deals with pain. Other times, not. I completely understand what you're going through! I also had various stomach issues in the beginning and saw a specialist for it. They DX'd me with acid refelx. Now I am going through the blood pressure spikes. Whenever I'd go to the doctors or the ER it would always be up. I brought this up to my doctor and she insisted it was just anxiety, but when I lie still at home, I can see my whole upper body bounce to my heart beat! I'm in the process of having more testing done, thankfully. I hope you feel better!

[selmaS]

  BP issues like I mentioned above could be related in a different condition like POTS....

Dysautonomia (Autonomic Dysfunction) issues are also related and can affect BP...POTS is just one of these conditions....

I really think ALL of us were made to feel we were crazy, making up symptoms and it was all in our head, yes it was but not the way they indicated....

[Niki2004]

"I was not crazy" is something that seems all to familiar to me!!  But as far as the BP is concerned, I have the exact problem. I experience odd spikes in my blood pressure a few times a month. Sometimes it lasts longer than others, but I can always tell when it is high because I get a different kind I headache.  I have never herd of it being an actual symptom, but it is definitely something I have been through, and I have Chiari as well!

[selmaS]

  Many have said " it was the validation I was not crazy" and to know the Drs believed me that gets us very emotional...as it is not easy to deal with the condition and the medical professionals.

As I said ur radiologist said urs was borderline, but my tonsils were at 6 and 4 mm's (we have 2) and I had surgery due to an obstruction of fluid resulting from the tonsils and a partially retroflexed odontoid....

I know what u mean I am older then u, but all started when I was younger and even now to see older individuals able to do more then I dare can make u feel old as well ...older then u r if u do not put it into perspective....I have a condition and they do not....I remind myself,,,and I am doing well considering....lol...

Sounds like u have a plan in place which is good...know u can post on here just to chat too...but I am looking forward to an update when u see a Chiari specialist.

[Mlb33]

Thank you for the response Selma,
I am going to wait for insurance before going on any steps past the neurologist. I just needed this to easy my mind, and maybe give some temporary relief. It's nice to hear that some people w Chiari have had Bp problems. Now the only hope is to see of the neuro thinks this may be the cause of the Bp. Either way it is such a relief to finally be sent in the right direction for possibly getting relief for the headaches and numbness and dizziness and shaking. Those symptoms are so exhausting, and I'm so tired of "feeling like and old lady" when I'm only 22. I'm ready for something, some relief. I looked at the list of local Chiari specialists, and there are 2 in my area..(Dallas) I also have a name of a neurosurgeon from a 23 year old I know who recently had decompression surgery for her Chiari. This forum has been so helpful. Hopefully after my neuro visit I can update with some good news. (good news at this point would be relief, in any form!)

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

YES !!!  BP can be related to a condition called POTS...and that is related to Chiari....so there is a connection.

There are also many with BP issues that do not have POTS, so it can also  be Chiari itself...

Once u have a Chiari DX u will want to get certain tests done and u might want to wait until ur INS kicks in....as they are all costly.

More MIR's to rule out other related issues with the spine....and a CINE MRI to check for a CSF obstruction.

Keep in mind it is not the size of the herniation but if it is causing a blockage of the fluid....and no one can say if it is mild or "borderline" with out first doing more testing...as that suggests it could not cause u issues, and u already have some so again, just looking at the MRI u had will not indicate how it is affecting u or ur overall health.

U may want to start researching true Chiari specialists now so when ur INS takes effect u can get in and know whom u want to see.

[Mlb33]

***correction****i have all of this WITHOUT insurance, I will be gettin it in a month or two though, thankfully.

***also, the past 6 months or so I have been feeling confused, and dumb. Not being able to piece my sentences together and just all around havent felt myself. I have also had balance problems for as long as I can remember.  -mlb33