another painful day

I'm 29 years old, a single mother to 2 gorgeous daughters and recently diagnosed with Chiari Malformation I. It started off with severe headaches, dizziness, and nausea. I went into to ER thinking it was just migraines, they did a CT scan and MRI. When they came back with the diagnosis, the doctor was even baffled because this was something new to him as well. That was 2 months ago.

The symptoms have progressed, things have gotten worse. I was ordered by my neurologist to cease working, I hate not working, and I will be having the decompression surgery soon. Everyday is a surprise to me if I'm able to move. My nine year old has suddenly grown up so fast and helps whenever and however I ask her. She's an angel.

The numbness sometimes stays in my hands and feet, sometimes spreads to legs and arms. I've had an occasion where half my head and face went numb and another occasion where I lost feeling from my waist down. My memory is being effected now too. I forget things I've done or been told within an hour of the events occurring.

I've become depressed, I feel like a freak, I know I'm not normal now, I'll never be normal again. I cry daily. This is a struggle, a major test of my strength. And honestly, I don't know how much more I can handle

Holly H.