Doctor said "don't worry about it"

[greenfleshyflower]

Well,

I found out from the medical record of my MRI Brain Scan that I have a "Borderline Mild Chiari Malformation 1 with 4th ventricle effacement"  My brains extends 5 mm below my foramen magnum.  I went into the MRI for high prolactin levels and they found a pituitary tumor that's a microadenma (5 x 4 mm) which I am currently doing more blood work for.
Here's the thing- I went to a neurologist/neurosurgeon today and I asked him about this Chiari thing. He told me that the other doctor was "just being dramatic" and that "it's nothing to worry about it".  My health insurance runs out in June (I'll be 26 and no longer claimed).  What do ya'll think?  I don't know if I need to get this further investigated.
Also, I have symptoms with ringing in the ears, vision loss, headaches, and fatigue.
Thank you!

[selmaS]

  I was having balance issues, and headaches as most do....even some vision issues...but I had a drop attack which lead to surgery for injuries from the fall....one of my Drs ( knee surgeon) sent me for more testing as he suspected Lupus and it was in my files as borderline ....it was the next Dr I was sent to that was doing an MRI when my Chiari was found. In getting ALL my old MRI's , Xrays etc....it was found I had tethered cord seen on a yrs earlier MRI but I was never told....

My herniation was 4mm and 6 mm as we have 2 tonsils...I also have a partially retroflexed odontoid which also causes crowding...and an issue for CSF flow.

With each person the situation is different and the rate of change in symptoms and the condition is unique as are we....only your Dr...being a Chiari specialist can give you the best advice.

[greenfleshyflower]

What were your own symptoms and mm dissension?
Do you know if your brain can descend lower or the symptoms get worse over time?

Thanks!!

[selmaS]

  Not everyone with Chiari is a surgical candidate...but well worth having a true specialist review it for you as there are other possible related conditions and I trust their opinion over that  of any other Dr on this condition.

I had surgery almost 6 yrs ago and would do it all over again if needed.

[greenfleshyflower]

Thank you for the hasty response-- it's a relief to have communication with someone who's experienced this.
I will definitely have to get some kind of insurance, that's for sure.

I will be calling today around my area. Is it worth all of the money to get looked at? Well, I'm curious if it will continue to slip or my symptoms will worsen. It's something I can live with now. I had planned on going to Europe in August, and I don't want all of this to hold me back. :\

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Many Drs ignore Chiari as being a condition to cause symptoms and consider it to be an incidental finding....

Do you have plans to get your own INS at some point? You may need to see a true Chiari specialist to get answers and it could take beyond June to even begin to get answers....

If I were you I would investigate this further....but you would need to have INS or able to pay the bills incurred....and specialists are more $ then a PCP.