Chiari and Hearing Voices?

[Mandy_Best]

I'm 23 years old, I was diagnosed and had Decompression Surgery at 16. I have had nearly every symptom of Chiari that I have read about and this isn't new. Ever since I can remember I have seen and heard things that aren't really there. Although I always knew it wasn't real, most the time, it startles me. I have been treated with anti-psychotics and anti-depressants my whole life to no avail. Untill now I accepted the fact that it was just psychosis, but in the last year I have weaned myself off of all medication for depression, anxiety, and psychosis and behold! My depression and anxiety have diminished to nearly being non-existent. I AM HAPPY! But when I get a headache, the back of my neck/head swells and when it gets bad, I start hearing voices, screeching and loud knocking noises. It also feels as if there are people touching me, pulling at me, my skin crawls like there are ants inside of me. Also I see flashing lights, floaters, my vision gets blurry and distorted as if I am looking into those trick mirrors at carnivals.
I am scared of being labeled depressed and psychotic by doctors so I don't say anything. I have been dismissed by the only neurologist I have seen since my surgery, she even said I was 'cured' by the surgery. ARE these symptoms of Chiari or AM I crazy?

[S_Chaney]

One way I can see chiari causing "voices" is through lethargy where you are in a partial dream state.

I have had this happen more then a few times.

[Mandy_Best]

Thank you guys very much by the way.

[Mandy_Best]

The voices are more chatter than anything structured, although I do sometimes hear my name.

[S_Chaney]

If you are hearing structured communication (aka words, sentences, etc..) then it is highly unlikely to be chiari. Random indefinable sounds could be some kind of neural static, like ringing etc...  But structured language would require structured activity in the brain.

But then again, we are missing so many critical pieces of information about how the brain actually works, anything is possible.

[selmaS]

  I would suggest when you have the swelling and hearing the voices to get to the ER for a MRI as something is happening at that time...

  I recall someone else having had a similar issue and will try to pull up older threads to find out what the nature of it was to see if it is similar.

[Mandy_Best]

2 months after my surgery I was hospitalized for having a cyst on my brain near the surgery site. Since then I have had 2 MRI's that I was told appeared normal. It's been a year or longer since my last.

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.
It is possible it is related to the Chiari. There is no cure only treatment to restore CSF flow.Try seeing a Chiari specialist as this could be surgery related.
Did you have and post op MRI?