Low-Lying with No Chiara?

[fx4nwoo]

Okay, so literally almost a year ago, I went to the Docs with a concern about dizziness (best way to describe it),
and he sent me for a batter of test.  Blood work, Eye Doc, CT to cx for sinusitis, X-Ray to cx the spine, and an MRI to cx the noggin!

Everything came back clean, or at least that is what I was told.

Last month, I went back in to the office for a follow-up.  I felt fine, just needed my refills for my asthma meds.
I had, during this time, continued bouts of dizziness, but just figured it was stress from the job! :(

During the follow-up, My PC Doc, gave me copies of all of my test.  Everything looked fine until I noticed the
"low-lying cerebellar tonsils with NO chiara 1 Malformation."  

After reading your forum, I had an Aha moment, cause it fits!

I'll certainly be bringing this up with my PC, but I guess my question to everyone here is should
I be concerned about the possibility of moving in to Chiara 1?  Right now, I just tuff it out, and wait
a few minutes and then all is well and the dizziness goes away.

Any advice is great appreciated!

[22dreams]

Here is a thread from someone else in the same question last year over on the Chiari Malformation forum:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Chiari-Malformation/Low-lying-tonsils--GP-has-never-mentioned-this--I-am-confused/show/970997

Folks over there should be able to help you out with recommendations.

[22dreams]

In a quick Net search, "low lying cerebellar tonsils" fits the description of Tonsillar herniation but with "no Chiari 1":

"Cerebellar ectopia is a term used by radiologists to describe cerebellar tonsils that are "low lying" but that do not meet the radiographic criteria for definition as a Chiari malformation.

The currently accepted radiographic definition for a Chiari malformation is that cerebellar tonsils lie at least 5mm below the level of the foramen magnum."

so it's based on the Number of millimeters. You will find this is a source of debate and distress in the chiari community, I would bet. Off my a fraction of a millimeter and you don't have Chiari sort of thing.

I am acquainted with someone in my neighborhood-ish with chiari and I know this stuff to be true.

Some lyme patients do also have chiari. Cause or Coincidence is the question. It's entirely possible b/c there are lyme strains that specialize in, so to speak, or favor the muscular-skeletal system.

Symptoms of chiari can be similar to lyme. It's one of the many differential diagnoses.

My neighbor still suspects lyme even after the chiari diagnosis. There is medical ambiguity around chiari surrounding access to treatment/insurance and diagnostic criteria.

[JackieCalifornia]

Sorry, I don't know anything about Chiari malformations except what I just read online.  I think someone who commented here may have mentioned having that condition, but I have not read anywhere that it is connected to Lyme and other tickborne infections.