Chiari, Worsening symptoms..

[Stroud5393]

This morning I woke up up my neck really sore and feels on fire and so does the back of my head. The throbbing pressure isn’t as bad first thing when I’m in bed. Soon as I get up everything gets worse... Is this throbbing head pressure that is in time with my heart beat a chiari thing? Please someone respond.

[Stroud5393]

They are keeping me overnight for observation. They did a mri of my brain and Cspine and I’ll go over it with the neurosurgeon tomorrow.. The nurse told me the mri said borderline chiari but guess we will see what the neurosurgeon says.. Insaw the neurosurgeon before I had the mris and she didn’t think I needed to get a spinal tap until I had the mris done. God I hope this isn’t high pressure in my head I’ve read it can kill you quick..

[Stroud5393]

Does anyone know if Selma is still here? Wonder what she would think about everything I know she’s heard a lot of chiari stories.

[MattMarshall]

She is still part of the site, but she is not always online.

[Stroud5393]

Thank you I will. I’m so scared man honestly

[MattMarshall]

and this… have him read section 3.1 specifically

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352872917300295

[Stroud5393]

Can chiari make your head heavy and feel full of fluid? I’m at the hospital now my head feels so have and feels full of fluid in the back :( I’m so scared

[Stroud5393]

Not to mention the bad head pressure I hope this isn’t serious

[MattMarshall]

I've felt lethargic, brain fog, neck pain and headaches sufficient enough to make my head feel heavy, like I just need to lay down, but never like it was "full of fluid". I hope the docs at the ER are able to help you get some relief. Just remember, ER docs are rarely going to know much about chiari, so you need to be prepared to inform them so they know what to look for.

[Stroud5393]

Well the er doc just came in and actually sounded pretty knowledgeable about everything. I told him about the bad head pressure and fluid like feeling and fullness on my head and he mentioned doing a lumbar puncture he said my pressure could be high in my head. He also mentioned if it is high needing a shunt put in. I’m so beyond scared... :(

[Stroud5393]

I’ve never had a LP and I’ve heard it can make chiari symptoms worse

[MattMarshall]

My wife is a PA at University of Michigan's NICU. They do shunts quite a bit there. While there is a risk of infection, they are pretty safe, and if the pressure in your head is off the charts, it would likely give you a lot of relief.

[MattMarshall]

Share this link w/ the doc... https://asap.org/index.php/medical-articles/spinal-taps/

[Stroud5393]

Didn’t you also say previously you had shortness when bending over and straining? Does hot environments trigger your shortness of breath ever? I know if I ever get to hot it’ll bring on a attack. I’ll get this burning feeling in my ribs and then feel breathless..

[MattMarshall]

I never thought about the temperature having an effect on this shortness of breath and light headedness when bending over, especially when bending over to pick something up or even doing light duty work (i.e. picking up toys, etc.) when bent over.

However, now that you mention it, the worst episodes I've ever had (which were episodes where I thought I was going to pass out) did occur in recent years when working outside in the heat. That said, I should say that because I've always been a heavy sweater, when working in heat like this I drink TONS of water. So, I would not simply attribute it to dehydration. You might be on to something with heat impacting this symptom.

[Stroud5393]

I’m just really concerned this is hydrocephalus or something this throbbing pressure is the worst it’s ever been today like my head is being crushed...