Stabbing Chiari Headaches passing out

This happens often after I've just gotten up, [dbka] crawling to bathroom or to get drink whathaveyou. Is this a normal symptom? If so, what do you do to counteract it? I've not really noticed anything leading up to it but I keep hitting my head again from falling when I pass out. Any suggestion would be appreciated.

[selmaS]

Hi ..it is possible that u have a related condition called intercranial hypertension...check ur BP b4 u stand up......and get up slowly to avoid falling.

Do u have a chiari specialist?.....ask to get checked for this condition.....it is a tilt table test.

I would also get ur heart checked as a precaution, if u haven't already.

"selma"

[mleedix]

Yes, they've already run tilt table, eeg, all sorts of junk. No results on anything. I did have [sp?] sincope as a kid but have not had a problem with it in probably 35 years till now, symptoms are very similar except now it happens when getting up, once when walking and a couple times when having a kind of uncontrollable gagging, gagging on nothing- i mean like choking to death on thin air. My first visit with a Chiari specialist was a week ago. He dx me with Chiari and has a nuecleitide [sp?] study sceduled this week. He suspects that some of weird symptoms are due to a preexisting cyst acting up and periodically putting pressure on the cerebellum. I took a bad fall on ice a few months back and have had continully worsening symptoms since then. The last month has seen more and more new symptoms. The other night my wife sat up and counted 41 different symptoms... kind of makes you feel crazy.

[selmaS]

Yeah a fall will do that...it triggers the symptoms......May I ask, prior to falling do u feel like u r going to pass out....u know that feeling and sound, or is it u r standing one minute and the next u r in mid fall wondering what is going on...if so that is a drop attack, not passing out...there is a difference...I had drop attacks and u only lose control for a few seconds....and come to mid fall.....I had one in May of '07 and it caused a sprained ankle and a torn meniscus of my knee...which resulted in a surgery and a renewed quest to finally find out what was wrong.

I also had the choking...gagging...especially when laughing....to the point I would vomit and my head was splitting in pain.

U r not alone.....I would guess the chiari dr will call this a drop attack.

Please keep us posted after ur next visit.

"selma"

[mleedix]

Sometimes it will be when I've been having dizzy spells. But most times no warnings at all. Just the sharp pain and then I'm waking up. I'm a DBKA, PCP has me no wearing my legs as much as possible so the fall is short as I crawl upright. It's been a few days since it happened until today, this afternoon the chiari headache all since I got up then earlier this afternoon was crawling by the table got dizzy reached for the table next thing I knew my wife was kneeling over me. Funny thing is I could hear her but not respond she says it was only for a few seconds. The dizzy and or vertigo almost always is accompanied with very sharp stabbing pains in the back lower part of the skull.

[mleedix]

Thanks Selma! For giving me the correct term searching this forum for 'drop attacks' did give me answers. I've also had a similar thing happen where I'm not really out - just eyes open can see and everything but am unaware of anything around me. Is this the same thing? Several times in the last few weeks my wife has been talking to me [NO it's not selective hearing!] and I sort of just snap out of it with her in a raised voice shouting 'Honey, are you listening to me?'. Fortunenately she is not upset just knows something is wrong. Honestly without her I probably would have checked myself into a loney bin by now with all the docs reactions to all this stuff the last few months.

[selmaS]

Hi.....It might be the same thing....I know I had a similar situation, but my mom was tlking to me, my eyes were open , but I could not respond. The way my Dr explained the drop attacks is that the nerves get shut off for a few seconds and then the "power"is restored.So there is no sensation of passing out....and there is no ability to react bcuz of the nerves being "off".....

So if u were in a sitting position I am sure it is a possibility.....

When I had my drop attack, my DD was with me and she said I was not responding to her either....I do remember thinking it all thru....y am I falling, I didn't trip....I am going to be a mess....I am wearing white.....ect.....

It is a very odd feeling.....

Do u have a chiari dr?

"selma"

[mleedix]

Yes, sort of I guess. I've seen Dr. Di at the Clevland Clinic one time. He is the one who has scheduled this nucleotide test that I'm having tommorow. Then next week he and the team there at the clinic will be reviewing the test results to see if the cyst that rests on the cerebellum is interferring with the chiari. Where we go from there I'm still in the dark... normally I'm pretty good at quizing the docs but right now my body is so out of it ... just no energy for anything. The more I read about chiari the more we understand why, foretunately my wife has been more than helpful. Sorry, know my spelling is a mess but the head is killing me right now and we're packing up to head for Cleveland it's just over a three hour trip from here.

[selmaS]

Make sure u ask if this is this dr's speciality...he may be able to dx u, but u might need a true chiari dr if surgery is an option.

I understand ur HA's....and I do hope u get some answers...remember to ask for copies of all tests reports and the test itself on disk...this way u can get another opinion if needed.

Good Luck

"selma"

[mleedix]

Yes, Dr Di is parterners with Dr Benzel and others here in the clinic that work specifically with Chiari.

[selmaS]

Oh Ok...I know Dr Benzel's name...never heard of the other one......very good.
: )