Is weight an issue??

[Givenstrength]

I have gained quite a bit of weight (I've always been a big girl though) I'm sure the weight gain is more due to my more sedentary lifestyle I've started (bc exercising kills me)

But my question is... If I do end up having to have the surgery then is it a good idea if I lose quite a bit of weight first? Maybe to lessen the risk? Would a NS be able to prescribe something to help with that if so?

I currently weigh 230 lbs which is more than I have ever weighed except 240 at 9m pregnant with my last child. It's just really adds to my depression and I've ALWAYS had a hard time losing weight.... Even back when I exercised atleast 3-4 times a week and ate only 1200 calories a day and drank only water!! Ugh!

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Weight can play a role as it can increase the amout of CSF pressure we may deal with and some Drs feel it can cause ICP issues, but we are aware that some very thin individuals also have this condition so it is not always a weight issue that can cause the condition to exist....

Getting weight off with symptoms of Chiari is very difficult, I have gained since my DX and surgery and I have yet to be able to get it off, I drop some during the summer, then gain it back over the winter months...as I am not as active, I find during the summer getting out and walking or getting into a pool helps me be more active.....winter I do not get out and I gain it all back....

I agree weight can exacerbate Chiari and ICP symptoms but I do not feel it causes them...JMHO

[Lifesvr7]

I have the same issues and was recently diagnosed with Hashimotos. While I'm not losing rapidly since starting treatment, at least I've stopped gaining.

On a side note, one of the NS I saw (and clearly rejected) told me that " sometimes Chiari malformation can be caused bt being over weight" .....really?? When all this started and my symptoms hit me like freight train, I was a size 8-10 and had worked VERY hard to get there (being over wt most of my life). So maybe NOT being over weight caused it Mr. NS! Grrrrrr

[nikkir1024]

I am 36 my birthday is around the corner in 4 mo. I was diagnosed 2 going on three years ago. I have noticed that my range of motion is so short and my muscles from mid back down hurt all the time. I know I need to loose 50 to 60 pounds just to be at a healthy weight but everything is so hard and I am always so tiered.Someone please Help.

[tkilburn]

I have always been told that my weight is part of the issue. I was told that the more you are over weight the more spinal fluid you produce so then the more that gets trapped up there. Now not saying that it caused the problems but could possibly make them worse. Plus it is just a lot harder on your body period. I have always been a bigger girl. After I had my son I lost 50 lbs and felt so much better but now have put make on 30 of it and feel like crap again. I will say my NL said he would recommend me having lap band if we can get the chiari symptoms under control. So maybe talk to your doc about it. Good luck and just keep with it.

[selmaS]

As Jenny mentioned our thyroid can play a part even tho we r told the labs results show it is "normal"......many drs just look at TSH and that in itself can give a false reading.

If it wasn't for the heart palps I was having and my PCP demanding a full heart work up, my thyroid issue may not have been found either. And I went to an ENDO!!
In doing an US of my carotid arteries they saw something on my thyroid...nodules, which indicates Hashimotos an autoimmune thyroid condition which can look ok if u only look at the TSH...get ur dr to test ur Free T3 and Free T4 and TPO antibodies along with the TSH and if u get on meds and u do have this u may see a reduction in weight.

Surgery is always a risk...and having added weight can add to the risk...ur dr should be able to advise u.....but I think many of us  r dealing with added weight...I gained 60lbs in a few months...so I knew something was not right.

Exercise is diff for us, but try walking ...and get those sneakers with the balance built in....it forces u to use the proper posture and uses muscles u r not even aware of.....it tones ur core.....very helpful for those of us with exercise issues : )

"selma"

[Jennyfoo]

I've had no success losing weight either. I used to work out an hour a day, 5 days a week and ate a 1500 calorie diet. Never lost an ounce.

What's infuriating is that my Hubby recently decided to go on a diet. By diet, I mean just watching the amount of food and tracking calories. We basically eat the same food. He cut his calories to 2500/day at first, and lost 30 lbs in one month. Then he cut to 2200, and lost another 20 the next month. I've been loosely tracking my calories compared to his, and I'm consistently under 1500/day. There are days when I've got vertigo and nausea, that I eat next to nothing: toast, Ginger ale.

I had my thyroid checked. My levels are off according to the #s the American Association of clinical Endocrinologists suggested they be updated to in 2003. My lab goes off the old #s. My dr referred me to an endocrinologist, but he too doesn't use the new #s and refused to see me.

I theorize that the brain compression is screwing up my pituitary. I have other hormonal/endocrine issues as well, including diabetes.

It's depressing, it's frustrating! It makes me so mad that my Hubby has lost weight so easily, and I've put on 15 lbs this year. I hate when he talks about his weight loss, his clothes being too big, or anything like that. It makes me feel like crap. It feels hopeless. At least he was always heavier than me; we were fat together. Not I'm heavier than him and it kills me. I hate my body, am disgusted by it, and have been for nearly 13 years. I'm now over 100 lbs overweight. It's a good thing I'm tall and have a large frame to begin with. Most people, including doctors and office staff, are surprised how much I weigh.  I guess that makes it a little easier.

[thieb9]

I have trouble losing weight also. Before I had my twins, I had lost over 100lbs doing weight watchers.. After delivering my babies (which Ionly gained 30 lbs) I stopped working and gained a ton of that back. I am back to where I was before I started weight watchers and now I cant exercise either because it just makes me feel terrible. I have tried dieting without the exercise and I can't lose weight either!! I am still convinced that there may be some other reason that may be keeping me from losing it, but my dr's did a bunch of testing that showed nothing. I am due to have surgery in 3 weeks so I am hoping that once I am recovered (whenever that may be) I can go back to dieting with some light exercise and see if that helps.

[Givenstrength]

Thanks Niki. I just don't understand why I can't lose weight! I feel bad for not exercising (although it makes HA worse) but then again I feel why should I if it's not gonna help anyways but just cause more pain!

My hips hurt A LOT! matter of fact I was almost in tears from them hurting so bad last night and I hate to complain bc I do feel it's bc I'm overweight! Same with when my ankles hurt!

I WANT to lose weight but can't seem to... Just wonder if something else is wrong with me keeping me from losing?

[niki3350]

Im only guessing but would think that I would have mindset that as long as I was fit then what the heck!!!  they operate on seriously obese people Honey and hey if they can have surgery then why cant you.  But do hear where you are coming from.

I have been on my journey for diagnosis for nearly 3 yrs now and while under care of ENT i was told there is nothing wrong with you, change your lifestyle and you will be fine so as I did feel I was overweight at the time by about 42lbs I went on a diet.

I now weigh 130lbs am 5ft6inch tall and my symptoms are worse than ever, so weight does not matter, I just thought my back pain and leg pain and knee,ankle,shoulder,pain could of been worse as I was carrying extra weight,  Trust me at the time these pains were mere niggles to what they are now!!!!!

Hugs
NIKI x x x