Hi,
I was diagnosed at 48, almost six years ago. Our daughter had just gone off to university and I definitely did not handle it well! It was during that time that my symptoms started to surface. They were quite mild at first, but to this day, I still don't handle this chiari very well and as the stress continues, my symptoms seem to strengthen as well. (Typing this is making me aware that maybe I should do something now to handle the stress!).
Thank you, Claire. Glad you made it here, and I hope that the group helps.
I can't answer your question but you're definitely not alone. I'm 36 and my diagnosis of chiari (and pineal cyst) was in August 2014 after a sudden visual change and nearly fainting. Looking back now I realize there was so many warning signs over the years but nothing was ever done. I remember as a child and young adult when I'd dive into a pool I'd get the worst sudden sharp headache and I'd never twice in a row although everyone else would. I felt something was wrong with me but never gave it much thought and never told anyone. Another strange thing was when I'd play golf. When I'd hit the ball hard I'd get that same sudden sharp head pain. There's just so many things that occasionally come to my mind and IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW... I wish you the best of everything in your journey:)
Hi teacherhall and welcome to the Chiari forum.
Chiari can be very strange as it can come and go and give symptoms on and off for many years and then all of a sudden we have a full scale war on our hands....Drs say stress or a fall , MVA which could trigger the symptoms to flare....some times it is the formation of a syrinx that has just gotten so large it too is causing symptoms as well as the symptoms from the Chiari.
My symptoms took a turn when I was 47, I started having drop attacks and one left me with injuries that required surgery....one surgeon sent me to another Dr thinking I had Lupus which was something in my medical file ...listed as "borderline"....well that was forgotten when they finally found Chiari.....I had my surgery 2 months b4 my 50th birthday.
So your story is pretty typical for Chiari and how the symptoms can take a turn on us.