Update - My apt with a Chiari doctor

[bookworm79]

My apt went well but please excuse any of my negativity, mean words/judgments and sarcasm.  I'm tired, have a headache and hate long drives and just got food in me and I become a raging Meany when I don't have food for long periods.

So as many of you know I went to Mayfield today to see Dr. Tew.  No surgery for me.  He discussed my history and went over the images and said I have really good flow etc. etc.  He does not recommend surgery.  He wants to see me back in 2 months (I asked the nurse to schedule me for 3 months out and I'll tell you why in a second.)  

I had a headache when I went and the waiting room was too loud (and bright for that matter).  Why don't people think of it as a library and shush?  When did we become such a narcissistic society that people feel they're so important and popular that they have to have extremely loud animated cell phone conversations about things you'd rather not hear?  Especially disgusting personal things?  Reality check - I don't think you're cool.  I think you're sadly looking for attention - the wrong kind.  And a woman with a runny nose, swear to god sucked it back up in her nose literally, literally no kidding every two seconds and it's a hospital so it echoes so you hear this snot sucking loud echo every two seconds.  (I'm a weanie and can't handle bodily fluids etc.) There were tissues not but 5-7 feet away and it took all my power not to get up and hand her the box.  They were right in front of her and I saw no evidence of her being blind or that the issue she was having was medical and not truly a runny nose situation - sorry if that sounds mean but I thought if I had to hear it one more time I would puke...but then maybe I should have gotten her the tissues?  

So it did take a little longer than I thought to see him.  They wanted me there a half hour early and the apts were running late.  BUT once he got in there, no nurse by the way, just straight to Dr. Tew, he took his time.  He listened, he asked questions, he offered information and suggestions etc.  

He said I needed to eliminate all animal products including red meat from my diet because it causes inflammation.  At first, I was like, what the heck does that have to do with it?  But on my way home in the car, my ever-searching, somewhat logical brain said, "Hmmmm if animal fats cause inflammation and my brain is already crowded and inflamed nerves are not just in hands, feet, etc., then it makes sense that inflamed nerves from animal fats would make the nerves etc. in my brain inflamed as well and make it even more compacted in my head and that can't be good."  So at least that's what I'm telling myself anyway.  Don't know if it's true but it sounds good doesn't it?

He said my heart rate was too high and not functional during exercise which means I need to build up my cardiovascular slowly.  He asked me about an EKG and assumed it was normal because I had joined the Army before.  

Then I actually was caught totally by surprise...shouldn't have been but I was.  He basically told me I was overweight, needed to lose weight and join a gym - not to work out at home but go to a gym with a group atmosphere etc.  

Ok, so I know I need to be in better shape but arrogantly thought I was in some respects.  I'm 5'6 1/2" and weight 139 pounds.  I thought I was skinny - aside from a little "pooch."  Yes, I know a pooch isn't good but by no means did I think I was fat.  But as we've all heard, there is such thing as skinny fat and I'm not technically skinny at 139 anyway.  My BMI is within the range, only just barely, and so I thought, no biggie.  But apparently if I am leaner, work out more and eliminate these animal products (and get my sleep apnea - he feels is not caused by my brain but by obstruction - under control) that I will see a huge improvement because he doesn't recommend surgery on someone like me right now.  

He gave me some food and workout tips/tricks such as cooking with coconut oil etc. etc. and directed me toward some resources online.  He said he wants to see me back in two months and asked if that was enough time for me.  I told him I could try to do these things and he said trying wasn't an option that I need to do it and did I think I could make some improvements in two months.  I said yes.  But when I went out to schedule the apt, I had them do it for 3 months.  I by no means eat terribly horrible and already don't eat meat but I needed some time to "learn" some new things and to get into the swing of finding time and making myself go to the gym - especially since the closest one is 20 miles away and it's winter out here in farm country (yes, yes, more excuses but I will do it.)

So anyway, that was what happened in a nut shell.  

And I will be honest....if a past jackoff doctor I had before or a doctor who knows nothing about Chiari had said this, I would have been mad, felt dismissed again, looked for another doctor.  

But I've been thru a whole slew of doctors and from the research that I've done Dr. Tew is a great doctor, a Chiari doctor for sure, very accomplished, world-renowned, many accolades and so I'm going to choose to believe that I've gotten an opinion from the very best.  Not only that but when my husband became a vegan, I had to listen to him rave about how much better he feels without all the chemicals and junk in his system so maybe there is something to it.

Because of this, I will implement his suggestions, stop seeking more doctors, follow up with him, monitor my Chiari yearly and see what happens.  

All in all I give Dr. Tew 5 stars out of 5 simply because of the time he took, the questions he asked and answered, his seeming honesty, his background and experience and will recommend him to those of you in this area looking for a doctor.

The way I see it, surgeons make money off surgery.  He very well could have justified cutting my head open and making a profit because I am symptomatic and I do have a 6mm issue.  So in some twisted way, I kind of think of him as being more honest in not pushing the surgery when he truly doesn't think it's warranted.  Or is that warped thinking?  

(I did see a young girl in there with a helmet on from her surgery, another guy with a nasty scar, and a very young child.  Wanted to hug them all.)

Hope my apt helps some of you and I welcome anyone’s thoughts on my situation and will keep you all posted on my journey to get in the gym and lose weight and fix healthier meals.  (Meal wise, my husband is very healthy, and fortunately we've been cooking better and neither of us really eats meat at all so that will be the easier part.  It's the gym I need to conquer.  Having went to basic training, I know my body can handle more than I think, and despite the injuries I sustained, I never felt better in my life than when I was 120 and muscled up nice and lean so I need to keep telling myself to remember that time and how good and confident and healthy I felt.)

Anyway, I'm just rambling now and tired and probably should stop typing and settle down for the night.

Wish me luck and I welcome any suggestions meal or exercise-wise.

[alimcat]

Thats really great, so many times I too feel I am being pushed out the door. In fact yesterday I pretty much was. My doctor I haven't even seen for a year because I literally just got insurance maybe a year ago now, does not want me as a patient. I am fine with that, as I already wanted to see a different doctor because I did not care for this one, for reasons I am sure many people have for leaving their docs. But I stayed because I figure well I have time in with this one and who's to say the next one will be any better if not worse. I am so irritated at doctors. Many of them are too arrogant to open their eyes to the possibility that a person is really in that much pain and not making it up. I had a headache for 9 DAYS that just subsided yesterday although I still get a sharp shock like pain with jolting movement like getting up too quick or turning my head too quickly. I asked if there was anything for head pressure relief and he tells me tell the neurologist and that he will be writing a letter to not have me as a patient anymore because I go online and do my own research. I guess its a crime to try and figure out what is wrong with yourself nowadays. I called the chiari specialist office to find out that my referral which took them over a week to send never reached the specialists office. And my insurance is being canceled at the end off this month due to having too much money in my savings account. I have state ins. since I lost my job last year, right after buying my first home at age 24 might I add. Hopefully Ill be back working by summer. Anyways I am sure you know how lucky and blessed you are to have found a doctor finally that doesn't treat you like a moron. God bless you and good luck in your journey to a better more enjoyable life. I am going to take some of the tips you mentioned into consideration. Thank you! =) Alison

[selmaS]

  {I'll still be out here aggravating people though.  :-)} Just as we want it...lol....

I am so glad u feel that way, and it is like I always say, when driving on ice and the car starts to slide.....u have to look where u want the car to go, not the ditch, other wise u end up in the ditch...it is being positive...and u have to look where u want to go and keep looking there : )

[bookworm79]

He just said in his lecture that the biggest chronic issue effecting health today is chronic inflammation and where does that come from?  Food...obesity etc.  So if anyone is interested, they might want to check his lectures out.  The one I'm listening too is interesting and has some pep to it so not like a boring lecture on something textbook.

[bookworm79]

Hi guys, thanks for the responses.  Selma, I definitely had mixed emotions about surgery but am glad he's having me try this first.  Once I thought surgery was upcoming, I kept thinking, "What can I do to help myself avoid surgery...such as surgery for sleep apnea and just "manage" the other issues."  So I'm definitely happy to hear from a KNOWLEDGEABLE doctor about it and have him tell me what he thinks would help before just hacking me open.  I was even prepared to listen if he told me I was mentally ill.  It was just hard to accept it from clueless doctors with awful bedside manners.  I'm currently listening to a lecture from Dr. Tew on Youtube and it's very informative about neurogenesis and health, eating, relationships, activity etc.  So I'm glad for what he said today and want to try this and certainly no one WANTS to get their head hacked open so I'm really hoping this will make a difference in my life and I can avoid serious surgery.  I'm definitely going to do this with open mind and really listen.  Not going to go into it negative expecting to fail.  Because in the end, I DO IN FACT want to get and feel better and if that means bucking down and making lifestyle changes, this process has taught me how serious I need to take it and so I hope other people might learn a little from it too.  I called my grandma immediately and told her and my mom what he said because it could benefit even them with diabetes etc.  So I'll be starting my journey tomorrow and signing up at the local (20 miles away LOL) YMCA.  I'll still be out here aggravating people though.  :-)

[selmaS]

  Hi....this can happen with many chiari specialists if or when there is not a CSF obstruction....and the food idea, is not new, I have a page in the Health Pages....http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Neurological%20Disorders/Anti-inflammatory-Foods/show/1023?cid=186

Weight is another biggy with many of them, regardless of how difficult it is to loose weight....

The waiting  room is never a comfortable place to sit, and I too would have been sickened by that sound as well...trust me, I can not handle bodily fluids of other people either, and a reason I am not a nurse : )

  The fact he has u trying this and coming back is a good thing, too many tell u , this is what u have to do and see a diff Dr....so, there is a method to the "maddess" or so it would appear to us.....

I am glad u r going to give this a try, and am sorry u had a bad day....but surgery is not always an answer and even if u r determined to be a surgical candidate later on, ur Dr has to know how ur body responds to all of this to help him decide his best course of treatment.

   "selma"

[drewlevas]

Thank you, it's verry informative!

I know for sure that when you have gout you should not eat red meat because it make it worst. So I belive that animal protein can make things worst for inflamation.