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Safe Exercises?

I found out about chiari malformation, maybe a month and a half ago. They're still running tests. The neurologist doesn't think that is what's causing my issues. I have an MRI(with and without dye) Tuesday. He told me that with Chiari I shouldn't do Insanity anymore. :(

So, I asked my mom(RN) if I could still run and things of that nature and she said to wait and ask because he probably doesn't want me to do anything that could increase the inter-cranial pressure. My optic nerves are swollen.  I see neuro on Wednesday.

I've lost nearly 40lbs since last year but still have about 40 to go. I'm stuck, I watch what I eat and that just isn't cutting it anymore. My husband is deployed and I was hoping to get to my goal weight before he gets home. We're about halfway through the deployment and I'm at a stand still. I can't stand this.

Does anybody know what work outs I can do??

They have me on mobic daily and so far I've only had two headaches the last 2 weeks. One was gone the next morning because I forgot to take the mobic the morning of the day it came on. They seem to happen when I forget the mobic. I haven't missed too many days and the one that lasted a while, I took fioricet and it was gone in no time. I was supposed to be on a muscle relaxer but I had a reaction and they never gave me a new one, figures.

All of the issues I've been having are : loss of vision(more often now than before the mobic), headaches, dizziness(almost none since the mobic), swooshing in my ears(about the same).... poor balance- same. I think that's it... I have a hard time remembering but I've been forgetful for years. I'm 23.

I can't stand the weight I'm at and I'm so tired of not being able to do anything. Any suggestions? Other than walking. I like a challenge. Thanks in advance.
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Avatar universal
I truly think that it sounds like you are doing everything that you can to make this deployment as easy as possible.  You are doing a great job!  One of my husband's deployments was when my daughter was 2 and she didn't want to see her daddy at all on Skype.  We didn't have many chances to Skype, but that might have been for the best because she pretty much refused to talk to him on there.  I think it was just too upsetting for her.  I was so worried that she would reject him when he came home like she did with Skype, but she acted like he hadn't been gone.  She was just so happy to see him.  It is amazing how resilient they are.  But, that doesn't help a lot while you are going through the deployment. I wish that I could give you more ideas of what to do to make things easier, but I truly feel like you have been doing everything.  Just remember that your daughter is 2 and just can't understand what is really happening.  That's probably why she gets in a bad mood when you talk about him, just because she can't grasp what's happening.  The thing to always remember is that the deployment will end.  I hope for all of your sakes that it isn't an incredibly long one!
I most definitely understand you wishing that you could read the MRI.  I have spent so much time looking at images of Chiari and Syrinx and trying to compare them to mine.  I never really got anywhere, though. :)  Please let us know how your Neurology appointment goes tomorrow.  Are you seeing a military Neurologist?  I just saw my PCP today and got a referral for Neurosurgery.  As I feared, I have to be seen on base.  No Chiari or Syrinx specialists for me.  I was told that if I didn't agree with the base NS I can get a second opinion, but then I have to take that 2nd opinion back to the base NS so that he can decide how to proceed.  I'm guessing that means that if he thinks surgery is needed, I won't be able to have it done by a specialist.  I just need to relax and stop thinking about worst case scenario, though!  
I think the idea of a day spa is great!  If that's too expensive, maybe just a pedicure or even a day of going to lunch and (window) shopping with a friend?  Are you near a base where you are staying?  Some of them have great activities for deployed spouses.  We were at a base that did some type of fun activity for spouses and families of deployed members.  One month was manicures and facials, another was an arcade for the kids, and another was a catered dinner.  It was so nice to get that special treatment and to not have to pay for it!
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Avatar universal
I do watch the 11 o'clock news, just because my in-laws watch it every night. I don't watch every night, some nights I'm already in bed. Most, I'm up. Anything to do with casualties or violence with the military, I turn around and try my best to ignore it. I know it's still in my mind somewhere but it's buried under everything else.

Right now I wish I knew how to read MRIs or knew someone that did. I have copies of the print outs to take to my neurologist tomorrow. I have seen this one decent sized white spot towards the front of my brain on several of the photos. If I'm remembering correctly, white is good because it means it's fluid, right? And the CT scan should have shown a tumor or cyst... I think. I'm telling myself right now that it's just fluid, they can give me bad news tomorrow if that's the case. Just want to get good sleep tonight and be well rested for whatever life throws at me tomorrow.

By if I'm doing everything right. I'm always wondering if I'm saying the right things, doing certain little things correctly. We look at pictures of my husband but my daughter and I don't talk too much about him because she gets into these horrible moods right after. She's fine when she gets to see him on skype(which, we finally got to skype again yesterday and this morning!! Awesome thing to wake up to! We haven't skyped since May). But if we just talk about him and look at pictures, it sends her mood down and she is just constantly throwing fits. She has a "daddy pillow case" it has pictures of her and him, and a book that he recorded, though it's eating through my batteries mighty quick. I'm doing everything I know to do, just wondering if there is more I can do, mostly for the two of them. Lighten their load and emotions a little bit. I have people I can vent to.

I'd love to take a hot bath, their only tub is NOT comfortable to lay back in. It's very awkward. I have thought about going to a day spa or something if it's not too expensive. It'd be nice to have a couple of hours of true relaxation.
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Avatar universal
Unfortunately,even though my husband has been deployed 4 times, I haven't ever gotten really good at relaxing during deployments.  What I have found is that each deployment has its own unique difficulites and stressors and you just have to make sure that you take care of yourself no matter what.  By that, I mean make sure that you are giving yourself time to relax, eating properly, and making sure that you make your dr visits and taking your medications a priority.  I have always felt that I needed to be "supermom" while my husband was deployed and that didn't work out so well.  During the last deployment, my son had two major medical issues that ended up needing lots of follow-up care.  I was so worried about getting him to and from dr. visits, as well as trying to take care of my other 2 kids, that I ended up forgetting to take care of myself.  I ended up eating lots of junk food or not eating at all, hardly ever sleeping, and forgetting to take medications.  As I said in my previous post, I ended up in the hospital with really serious issues.  
You mentioned that you aren't sure if you are doing everything right.  All you have to do right now is to take care of yourself and your little one.  Nothing else matters while he is gone.  And, it is incredibly important to realize your limitations and ask for help when you need it.  You have your own medical issues on top of everything else that you are going through with the deployment.  It is great that you have family there to help you out.  Just make sure that they are helping you and not just adding to your stress and work-load!
Linda had some great suggestions on ways to relax.  Not watching the news is really important, or you will drive yourself crazy with worry.  I loved the idea of the baths, too.  I think that things like going to the zoo and walking are great stress reducers, too.  The easist deployment for me was when I had a great set of friends close by that invited me for lots of fun activities.  It helped me to keep my mind off of things and made the time go by so much faster.  Just make sure that you don't over-schedule, it's a fine line!  I also definitely understand not wanting to miss emails, or a chance to chat with your husband.  But, the fear of missing it shouldn't keep you house-bound.  Is there any way that you and your husband can schedule a time that he can contact you so that you will know when to expect his emails or calls?  Some jobs would allow your husband that ability and others won't, but it would be worth checking into.
Good luck with all of this!!  I can tell you are a great wife and mom just from what you have said in these posts, so try not to stress too much!!    
Helpful - 0
1306714 tn?1327257080
I want to say I honor you two woman who have DH that are deployed.  My son is a Marine and he spent 6 months over in Iraq and I couldn't talk to him some times for 5 wks.  This is stressful in it self.  I had a dear friend that told me not to watch the news which was good advice because I was a worry wart.  I don't blame you not wanting to miss those e-mails they are precious.  Try soaking in the tub with some nice candles and some music you enjoy to give you some ME time.  I don't know if you ever heard of the show Army Wives but I watch it all the time.  Some people don't realize it is not just our soldiers, but all the family that has to sacrifice while they are serving our Country, just as we have to sacrifice other issue due to our Chairi.  I wish you the best and pray for more relaxing days ahead.  
Linda :)
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Avatar universal
As for medications, I'm on Welbutrin for depression but it is an appetite suppressor and most people lose weight while on it. I don't think Mobic causes weight gain or anything like that. I'm going to start taking my b12 complex again. Hopefully that will help a little bit.

The only machine I have readily available is a treadmill. Which is currently facing a blank wall. :| It won't fit anywhere else. It's hard to find the time to actually go somewhere as I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter. I'm living with in-laws but most of them work and their schedules clash so it's usually up to me to take my sister in law to work, her hours are all over the place(fast food). Then there is never knowing what time my husband will be online. I would feel like crap if he emailed and I missed it because I was in the pool or something.

I guess I will wait it out until Wednesday, see what the neurologist says. Only 2 more days. I know Friday me and a couple of friends are taking our kids to the zoo, which involves a TON of walking, so that will be good. Maybe go for a walk in one of the parks tomorrow. My MRI isn't until 4:30, so, that should be enough time to go for a decent walk.

I do know that I can't take iburprofen. I used to take that for my headaches all the time even though it never helped. Lol. But mobic is working wonders for my headaches and dizziness. Everything else is the same or worse.

fmimom, do you have any tips for relaxing? I try not to think about most stuff, it's easier said than done. This is also his first deployment so, I'm never sure if I'm doing everything right.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello,
I'm afraid that I can't answer your question as to what workouts are okay to do with Chiari and what aren't.  I'm new to all of this, too, and still trying to figure it all out.  But, I just wanted to say that I understand what you are going through with your husband being military and deployed.  My husband is also military and thankfully isn't deployed right now, but has been recently.  No matter what you do, just make sure that you remember to take care of yourself.  It can be so hard to do that while your spouse is deployed and it's up to you to take care of everything at home, but it is so important, especially since stress can make symptoms worse.  Unfortunately, I learned this lesson the hard way and landed myself in the hospital for several days during his last deployment.

I also wanted to tell you that my husband is on Mobic.  It has really helped him, but he is on it to help with pain from arthritis.  He told me that it is a form of an NSAID and that he can't take Aleve or Ibuprofen with it.  I'm guessing that is probably why it helps your headaches.  I know my headaches are helped more with NSAID's than anything else.  

Anyway, good luck with everything, and know that you aren't alone!!  You are definitely way ahead of me on this journey since I'm just meeting with my PCM this week to hopefully get an appointment to see someone in Neurology or Neurosurgery.  Good luck with everything!!
Helpful - 0
620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER

  Hi, we do have a Wednesday's weigh in thread with diff exercises u can do...the daily threads were stopped for the summer, but u can still pull it up and foll it from the beginning and do the exercises...if ne bother u stop those.

But a recumbent bike and walking in a pool should be good ways for u to exercise that will not put a strain on u .I know walking again, but having the water as resistance does help.

Do use the search this community to locate the Wednesday thread and try a few of those, keep in mind they r for those with limitations and u may not feel the benefit right away u do have to slowly build up, do not try to do them all at once.

If u have a problem locating it let us know : )
Helpful - 0
1306714 tn?1327257080
I know the flustration of not being able to be as active as you are used to, but for now I would suggest just walking.  I know for me bending, lifting really brought on pressure HA's.  Even after surgery I try to avoid this.  It could also be med's that you are taking.  I was on Lyrica for Fibro for 6 mths and gained 15 pds, but since I went off it and on another med I lost the weight.  Ask your NS when you see him on your visit.  I'm sure they will suggest what is best for you.  
Linda :)
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