MRI Interpretation

[Abbydabby36]

Just heard from the NS at Duke that after reviewing my MRI, although the herniation is longer, he doesn't feel that my Chiari is worse...He feels that it's the way the radiologist interpreted the result.  That's great news...but I still don't understand why I have all these symptoms that I never had before my surgeries!  Anyway, scheduled for a CT Myelogram for pressure and possible blood patch on 2/2/11...Could high pressure or a leak be causing my symptoms?

[*Stormy*]

No problem...I am a bit of a research freak so I am happy to pass out what I find out!!

If it was me, I would be worried about the LP too. I know that ppl with Chiari do have it done but usually it is done by a Dr that knows the risks associated with Chiari. I think that it would be wise to see Dr. Rosner instead..you really have to go with your gut feeling.

Tell me about it...it has taken me almost two years to accept that everything that has gone wrong with my body may have been only due to Chiari. I think that's why a lot of us search for other answers....it is really hard to accept that all this strangeness comes from that little herniation!!

Take Care
Carolyn

[Abbydabby36]

Hi Carolyn!!!  That's when I noticed the dripping from my nose...when I bent forward!  It's just like a faucet that wasn't shut all the way off!  I know whhat you mean about the sinus congestion...and the coughing...and the post nasal drip.  My head, like yours, never feels "clear"...kind of "thick" feeling all the time.  I think if anything, it may be high pressure,as you suggested.  I drink way too much coffee :) and as you know lying down at night is when the headaches hit.  When I had this "mini" cold thing...the only part that was bothersome was my head and nasal passages...I thought surely I was starting something and was prepared for it to travel to body aches, chest, etc...but it didn't...POOF! In two days it was gone!  I have been sleeping with two pillows (I have always loved two pillows), so my head is somewhat elevated at night.  Last night I had to take one out and slept OK for about an hour and a half.  I did try a wedge...my husband has inherited it...didn't seem to work for me as well as I had hoped.  I am seriously debating about whether or not to keep my lumbar puncture appt. with Duke...found an article that actually advises against it for people with Chairi.  I posted it on the site here a few minutes ago.  I may just set up an appt with Dr. Rosner here in NC...Everyone says he's fabulous!!!!!!!!

Chiari is just the strangest thing anyone can have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[*Stormy*]

That is sort of what it was like for me before surgery. I would wake up with a pounding headache in the middle of the night and I would have to sit up to relieve it, sometimes I could go back to sleep. But when I got up for the day it would get a lot better, I still get this sometimes to a lesser degree.

So I would think your headaches are more likely high pressure? The at home remedy for low pressure headaches is usually to drink caffeine and lie flat to see some relief. So, since that would make it worse for you...

I would keep an eye on the dripping nose and see your Dr if it doesn't improve. One thing I have noticed since the surgery is that I do have a lot of trouble with my "head"being stuffed up (meaning way up in the sinus cavity) like that. That is when my headaches come back. It take a long time for it to come unplugged, hence the constant dripping. I get post nasal drip from it too making me cough at night. It seems any time I come in contact with a virus or just plainly from an allergy attack...this comes back. In fact, I have it right now myself due to a clean out I am doing in my house and I am allergic to dust. BTW- I never get the cold symptoms either...just the upper head stuffiness that I can't relieve.

So we may be prone to upper head stuffiness but you also don't want to discount any sign or symptom. I have read that if you have a CSF leak from your nose that when you bend forward, it will come pouring out so that may be an indicator too.

One more thing...have you tried elevating the head of you bed at night to help relieve the headaches? More as sort of a prevention. You can put a wedge under your mattress. I did that for awhile b4 the surgery and it helped a little.

Carolyn

[Abbydabby36]

When the headaches hit...which oddly enough is about the same time at night...between 3:30 and 4:30 am...I have to get up out of bed...seem to be worse lyning down.  After I get into a hot tub, take some meds, put hot towels over my head...I have to stay up...There's no way I can lie down again and feel comfortable.  Another funny thing happened about a week ago...I thought I was coming down with a cold...Runny nose, pressure in my whole head...and then the whole thing went away in 2 days...now I have just "dripping" from my nose from time to time.  Never had a cold before that only lasted 2 days!  Could the dripping from my nose be related to a csf issue?

[selmaS]

I would say yes....the pressure will affect the brain stem...and that is our control center...and it will affect balance same as if it were the tonsils compressing it.JMHO

"selma"

[Abbydabby36]

Thanks Selma...Aside from the headaches, which are realtively infrequent, could the pressure cause the loss of balance, etc.?

[selmaS]

Deff...a leak or high pressure could make u feel worse than b4 surgery.....a CSF leak HA is the worse HA u could ever get....

I hope they get to the issue and correct it so u feel better soon.

"selma"