Diet and nutrition with Chiari

[Bendaparty]

My sister has just been diagnosed with Chiari 1Malformation. She is experiencing constipation. Are there foods she should stay away from with this problem?  She has been taking laxatives but they are not working so good. Trying to read as much as I can to help her. Looks like a long road ahead and I want to learn as much as I can to help her. Thanks for having this forum. Brenda

[selmaS]

  Sure....how r u accessing the site?...if u r using a Iphone or Ipad u may not be able to see all the features....the Health Pages are along the right side of the screen ...here is the direct link- http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Neurological%20Disorders/DOCTORS-LIST-FOR-CHIARI-SYRINGOMYELIA/show/1062?cid=186

[Bendaparty]

I can't seem to find the list of Chiari Drs.  Can you send me a link?  I am not to good with web sites, Still learning how to use all this technology to help me learn more.  Thanks so much for your response.  My family is very important to me, and being there is a job I want to do.  So glad I found this web site.  Brenda

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Ur sister is lucky to have a sister willing to advocate for her so on her behalf thank u....not all of us have the support.

She should have her Dr take some blood labs to see if her magnesium levels are low....adding some ( with a Drs advice) may help.
Many of us with Chiari have bowel issues.....a stool softener may be more helpful then the laxative as it helps to not have to strain,.,,,,which can cause more HA's.

Does she have a true Chiari specialist? Finding the right Dr is key and ruling out ALL related conditions as they can affect how she will feel and heal if she should require surgery....and many of the related conditions can cause many of the same symptoms so she will want to know about all of them  b4 she considers surgery.

We do have a list of Drs here for her to use as a tool to research Drs as the list is not a referral nor an endorsement. See the Health Pages.