MRI need?

[deetoni]

Hi, I am new....Just yesterday heard of Chiari...I have been having Migraines & head aches for over 2 years now. Went to the Dr. She never has mentioned a MRI. My head never feels perfect. The pain grows during the day. By 4 to 5 I am laying on the couch. The pain is sharp and then not so, but there is always a bad feeling(numbness or pressure I guess would explain it) up there. Its so hard to explain. Its usually starts at the base of my head on the right side & ends up on both sides or really sharp on my entire right side. I do have nausea with it sometimes. When I first was getting migraines a lil over 2 years ago, I would actually throw up & have to stay in bed for 1-2 days. The headaches are not that severe now, meaning the "sharp pain" does not last but for a few sec to 10 min or so. & can be relieved some by postioning my head in a different position. I am tired & my memory seems to be off, especially my short term, but I was thinking that was age related, I am 37 will be 38 this year. I have had Jaw pain in relation to the head aches, not every day, but when it hurts it hurts for a week at least. I have my Maxalt, but that does not work, I feel it might relieve it some, I am to scared to go the day without tylenol or at worst times Maxalt (@$23 a pill & I only get 9 I have to use wisely). I have been calling it a functional head ache, because I have to keep on living even though I am in pain. I was wondering how to get an MRI, I seen a dr for this & she has never mentioned it. I hate being the Dr with the Dr. if you know what I mean. Like I hate going to her & saying hey could it be this Chiari, I just heard about.....I mean there is more out there then just medicine that is not working, Right?

[*Stormy*]

To help you feel better...before I knew what was going on I was convinced I had a brain tumor too because everything that was happening to me was so weird and affected every area of my body. That is what Chiari does, it sends a whirlwind of symptoms that don't seem to connect, as I was told by my NL "you don't fit into any box". If you are being referred to a NL then they most likely will do an MRI and if it's Chiari then they will see it. You have the advantage of being aware of it which I wasn't so I felt like there was nothing that could explain my symptoms.

I would really push to see a NL, having the MRI will comfort  you one way or another whether they find something or not. Take care!

[selmaS]

Do keep us posted on ur dr visits : )

And remember we r here and will try to help and support u the best we can.

"selma"

[deetoni]

I have an apt. this Thursday, I am going to ask that tests be done.  In the dr. Defense, she mentioned a neuro dr. next if meds & changing my birth control pills did not work. My migraines(throwing up & having to stay in bed) basically stopped I had 4 over the summer, but still had a head aches, that was soothed by tylenol, but was always there. I thought we were making progress by changing the the pills, that soon the head aches would leave too. The last 3 weeks have showed I was so wrong, no "good days" its getting worse somehow.

cmoeller- I do have to clear my throat, but no spasms, sometimes my jaw feels like its having spasms. I sure dont want to wait until my walking is distrubed. I mean I dont know if I have chiari or not but something is wrong & what I have read on here & other sites its the closest to my symptoms.

I was thinking it must be a tumor or I was going to die soon, even to start to think about writing my girls & husband a letter for when it happens. I got some hope back when I found this site:)

Selma- I hope to see NL soon, going to ask Thursday. I have not had any accidents or falls. Just frequent headaches for over 2 years and last year I had migraines that last 2-3 days every week, those ended during summer, but the headaches still are every day, not a single day where I am not taking Tylenol or Maxalt to try & ease the pain.

Thanks for welcoming me its a relief to find a site that I can read up on & see that I am not the only one suffering & that there maybe something out there that can help me.

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

First, may I ask if the dr u refer to is a neurologist NL or a Neurosurgeon NS or ur PCP primary care Physician?

A NL dx and then u get sent to a NS...if u r only dealing with ur PCP it makes sense that u have not had a MRI...ask to be referred....look into ur insurance to see if u even need a referal.

Have u been involved in a MVA in the last few yrs?...had a fall?

Make sure u give al those details to ur dr when asking to see a NL.

"selma"

[*Stormy*]

I completely sympathize with you, I know how hard is to be assertive when you expect that the doctors would do what's best for you. I had this battle for years with the headaches and even when other neurological symptoms started I was still put off for months. I only finally got some action when I ended up not being able to walk properly, then everyone finally sat up and took notice. Even after I had my MRI, my neuro chose to ignore the "incidental chiari" telling me it is usually asymptomatic.

Your headaches sound very close to mine, I have a lot of facial pain and definitely jaw pain too. Do you have any throat issues? Trouble swallowing, feel like you need to clear your throat, hoarse voice, throat spasms. I had all those things early on so if you do it might help your case. One very big deciding factor for Chiari being the culprit for me is that I have absolutely no gag reflex, which is very easy to check for yourself. If you don't have one then you really have something solid to give your doctor and she should send you to a neurologists and get the proper testing done.

I really hope it works out for you, I hate to see anyone in the same situation I was, it was the hardest thing I ever had to go through.

Let me know how it turns out.