Drop Attacks

[jenniferk86]

I was just wondering, I was reading other places that drop attacks related to Chiari are actually where you lose consciousness and then I read here it is where you don't.  Can anyone answer this questions for me.  I need to know whether or not I am fainting, experiencing drop attacks,, sudden severe weakness or both so I can convey this to my dr.  Any help would be appreciated.

[Jody_M]

Can you have weakness on one side of face,, like droopy eye after chiari surgery? I had mine done in 2009 and get migraines  or just bad headaches every once in awhile. Today, is not like a migraine but right eye in drooping. Can this be one of the side effects? Thank you

[boosmom95]

so when you "drop"....you can be doing anything - sitting, standing, walking, talking, whatever and then you just go down. Your eyes are closed, you look like you are passed out cold...this lasts for 15-20 seconds....then you start to come around but still need to just lay there....then you come back around....start to finish about 10 -15 minutes.....

This happened to my daughter again last night, thank goodness she was standing in front of the couch - by the grace of God - and she dropped....but the last 2 times it has happended she rubs and rubs her eyes as she is coming out of it - she said there is like a stabbing pain in both eyes.....

[christianirc]

My attacks are just like that.  They thought I was having some sort of seizure in the hospital.  I could hear what was going on but just couldn't respond or move... just staring.  

[selmaS]

  Well do be sure and let ur chiari dr know...u may want to keep a journal so u have dates and times and more accurate accounts of how long they lasted etc......


  The static all depends on the type meds used when putting u out......but also when u pass out, or should I say when I did...lol....

The drop attack  u go out is really only for a few seconds....

Please keep us posted : )

    "selma"

[jenniferk86]

No I have never had the fuzzy static or anything like that, I've been under for surgery, def not like that, so I'm prob experiencing drop attacks

[selmaS]

  I have done both, when I fainted u get that snow like static.....that comes over u when u r put under for surgery.....so when I had my drop attack, I knew I did not pass out bcuz I had b4 and it was so different.

   "selma"

[jenniferk86]

yes, that is how it is for me... but I wasn't sure .. ok.. that makes sense.  
I guess I have never fainted then because I have never had a warning.. never... so I thought that was fainting... so I was always confused... I think this helps me understand.

[boosmom95]

My daughter has had many of those same attacks. And what selma said is exactly how I describe it - it's like someone flipped a switch. She can be in the middle of talking, writing, walking, sitting, standing.....she just goes down. She says she doesn't feel it coming on, and once she goes down, she can hear us talking to her, but she can't make her mouth respond....to us it looks like she is out cold, but she says she can kind of hear us...this lasts about 15 seconds or so and then she just lays there very still for another 15-20minutes and then she trys to sit up. She feels terrible afterwards, her head hurts really bad she says and her neck. It takes probably about 30 minutes for her to be able to be part of whats going on, but her head is killing her at that point.

that is amazing that you used that same expression, because I do too when trying to describe it! She actually did this in front of the doctor when we went for an appt. and after that he said - let's get you admitted!

[selmaS]

Hi, my NS explained a drop attack to me like this-

First to know what passing out or fainting is, u feel it coming on, u get a fuzzing feeling....and then u go out...

But a drop attack, u r fine, u do not get a warning, but what happens is the CSF gets blocked and it is like someone flipped the switch off then back on, what happens i s u fall, lose conscience but regain conscience mid fall, but can not respond or react or call for help.....

  After one such event I remember being very nauseated too, not sure y about that...but I  also sprained my ankle and tore the meniscus in my knee and required surgery to repair  it....

   Passing out can be due to chiari, but it is  much diff from a drop attack.

    "selma"