Could this be Chiari?

[mrdude1234]

Hi all,

Background: 26 year old male, previously overweight for a period of 2 years, currently exercise regularly and eat a relatively clean diet.

-Sunday 17 May 2015:

I'm playing video games online and all of a sudden, my ear begins to ring. I didn't think much of it, as it caused me no bother and I had no problems sleeping.

-Monday 25 May 2015:

I wake up to go to work, generally not feeling amazing. I had a scratchy throat and in general felt a little off balance and strange. When it got to lunch time at work, I had some kind of an anxiety attack where I felt extremely dizzy and my heart rate shot up.

This "attack" has only occurred once.

My symptoms I'm experiencing since that date are:

-Very difficult to sleep. As soon as I close my eyes and begin to doze off, my heart beats very rapidly. Sometimes even when I'm asleep, the rapid heart rate will wake me. I can feel this heart beat all over my face/ears/head/stomach.

-Sensitivity to heat.

-Tinnitis and hyperacusis

-Lethargy and fatigue on most days.

-Prone to cold hands and feet.

-Occasional nausea. Hard to look at computer screens and motion sickness more common.

-Lack of appetite and decreased libido.

-Occasional feeling of pressure/fullness in ear.

-Occasional tingling in hands and feet.

I have seen multiple general practitioners on multiple occasions, one suggested possible ear virus that will pass, another suggested possible vestibular neurosis. I have had an MRI which came through all clear. I have seen an ENT who looked at my MRI's and my ear, and also suggested that I may have an inner ear virus that will pass.

I'm not sure if this is a spinal/brain/ear issue at all and am wondering if these are typical symptoms of Chiari.

Thanks

[mrdude1234]

Thanks selma.

Today I have a tender spot on the right side of my spine (more upper back). I will try and see a good doctor but it may prove difficult.

I'm also getting odd itchy/tingling spots on my feet here and there.

Will keep you posted thanks.

[selmaS]

Oh ok....we do have a very short list of Drs for Australia...if you find a Dr not on that list, please let me know so we can expand on the list so future members from your area will know which Drs to look at.

Just try to listen to your body more and stop and rest when you need to....when I have a special even to attend I rest for a few days b4 so I can enjoy the event.....this is even post op that I need to do that......sleep issues have always been an issue for me as well and my Dr decided to try an antihistamine b4 bed and it has helped me not only with sleep, but with my reflux as the PND is less then it was and it was a big contributor to my reflux.....

Be patient and wait to see what all may be going on....you will deff want a well informed and experienced Dr.

Keep us posted

[mrdude1234]

I live in Perth in Australia, I can't seem to locate a Chiari specialist.

I am trying to get an appointment with a neurosurgeon or neurologist asap.

My current symptoms are occasional dizziness, tingling/buzzing in back of head, difficult to sleep, more fatigued than I would usually be.

I can still function with these symptoms but they have affected my life somewhat, I guess I just need to learn to deal with it as best as possible at this point.

[selmaS]

  Well do ask if they could check your spine for issues like bulging disks, or a syrinx.....etc...many with Chiari can have issues with our sinuses,so a closer look may be in order.

Send copies of your MRI to a Dr you know is a true Chiari specialist, if there is anything related they will see it regardless if the radiologist noted it on the report. It is one way to know for sure what it is or is not....and go forward from there.....

I hope you get some answers soon.

[mrdude1234]

Hey, I already have the copies of the MRI and the report.
The report indicates some sinus inflammation but nothing else really. MRI is only of the brain and head though, not of the spine.

Thanks for your advice it is appreciated.

[selmaS]

  If you can and have not already get copies of your MRI along with the report....sometimes we are not told we have Chiari as most Drs consider it an incidental finding....

You are lucky in that your symptoms are not  with you as long as many of us....most deal with these symptoms our entire life...and try for more then 10,,15 or 20 yrs to get a DX.....be patient and ask questions and push for answers...

[mrdude1234]

Hey I've actually had an mri already. I've heard nothing so far about chiari but I will be seeing a neurologist in the near future.

My symptoms started out fine, then got much worse, and now seem to be getting better, but brain fog and concentration issues are still lingering after 2.5 weeks.

[joshipea]

i have some of your symptoms and the doctors thought it was related to inner ear problems as well
i even got an ear test and it showed up some kind of imbalance

the only way my chiari was discovered was with an MRI the doctor finally ordered after not knowing what my problem was. the MRI was the only way it showed for me

[mrdude1234]

It started as just tinnitus in one ear, which didn't bother me at all. Then a week later I had an inflamed throat, which didn't bother me all that much, and was prescribed antibiotics.

My blood work was ok, white blood cell count was up, but I did have a sore and inflamed throat at the time, and my vit d was slightly low.

Then that same week I had three episodes which could have maybe been anxiety attacks? My heart rate would shoot up when I would try and sleep. This has calmed down and I'm ok with sleeping but I will awake in the night sometimes.

When I wake up though, I feel a kind of pressure around my ears which is odd. And in general, I have a "fog" which is there constantly, kind of like out-of-focus and a hard to concentrate type of feeling.

Again, this has all happened in the space of 2 and a half weeks so not too sure.

[selmaS]

  Do you know if you did anything that could have triggered the symptoms to start?

A fall, or a cold...with coughing can do it....

Your best bet is to be seen and have testing to know for sure.....

Try a neurologist  to see if there is anything neurological....and have your PCP do blood levels to check your vitamin and mineral levels....

[mrdude1234]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

I would say that these symptoms started occurring very suddenly and were not ongoing.

Tinnitus started one day, the week after that I felt much worse. Doctor put me on antibiotics, started feeling better 3-4 days letter but still a lot of lingering symptoms.

Just hard to pinpoint whats going on and what kind of specialist I should see.

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

All of us need many tests to rule out related and non related conditions to be sure Chiari is our issue since there are so many conditions with similar symptoms....for that reason it can be difficult to DX along with the symptoms cycle and flare....

You stated your MRI was clear...do you have a copy of it and the report? If not, ,get a copy and send it to a few Drs for a review...by having other Drs look at them, you may find out what is going on.

Do keep us posted on what you find out.....keep in mind it is possible to have several DX'd/conditions at once......

Also think back to see if you may have had any of these issues/symptoms prior to your timeline you outlined above....