My Chiari poem

[Jennyfoo]

It's a little on the silly side, but it was fun to write. I've not written poetery in ages: won awards in HS and such though.

"It’s Not All In Your Head"

a Chiari poem by Jennifer Bosch


It’s really not all just in your head
It’s in your spinal column instead
Your brain is lower than it should be
An incidental finding, if you ask me.

At home, confused, want to figure it out
But the doctor said it’s nothing to worry about
What about this horrible pain in my head?
The dizzy spells that send me, fumbling to bed?
The constant whooshing and ringing in my ears?
The emotional instability that brings me to tears?
The pain in my eyes, my neck, and my back
That drives me to lie, alone in the pitch black?
My hands have gone numb, I drop what I hold
But my neuro exam was just fine, I’ve been told.

But I’ve been down this road once or twice
With doctors who seem to be very nice
But simply just don’t know what is true
About a rare condition that’s been ailing you.
So I turn on my computer, my trusty pal
To find out why my brain’s in my spinal canal.

I read tons of articles, medical papers and more
And find others who’ve dealt with Chiari before.
It’s not just incidental, it’s a serious concern
And most doctors really need to take time and learn.

The experts say info shows it’s not the size that counts,
But compression and CSF flow of improper amounts.
So I go back to my doctor, my pleas fall on deaf ears.
Go get a 2nd opinion if that’ll ease all your fears.

My regular eye exam time comes around
I tell my opthamologist what my MRI found.
She says my optic nerve’s swollen, to scurry
And see a neurosurgeon quick, in a hurry!

My doctor just doesn’t seem to understand
Says my Chiari’s too small, not the problem at hand.
My vision is blurry, the headaches keep getting worse.
But my doctor expects me to simply live with this curse.

My insurance and doctors keep making mistakes.
Meanwhile, I’m going downhill fast, with no brakes.
Finally after battling with my doctor forever,
I get a referral to a surgeon who I hear is quite clever.

Some day I hope to look back at all this, in kind,
As a horrible nightmare that I’ve left behind.
Until then, the waiting is the hardest part of it all
The frustration, pain, and doctors who don’t return calls.

The road is fraught with obstacles every which way
It takes lots of resolve just to get through the day.
For those who’ve gone through all this before,
I admire your strength, your courage, and more.

[Jennyfoo]

I went from poetry to writing lyrics for music my hubby wrote for mini stage plays that our old church youth programs put on. It was so much fun. I've not written anything since our last play, when my now 12 year old DD was 3. Wow, it really has been a long time. I guess I stopped writing when we just got extra busy, with adopting my oldest son, then another daughter...moms with 3-4 kids barely have time to sit down, let alone write. Haha. I'm insane to want to adopt another...if after surgery, I'm doing a lot better. DH won't even hear of it, unless I'm remarkably better. So many kids in foster care, just waiting for loving families to adopt them. It makes me sad.

[Givenstrength]

Awesome love it!

I use to write poetry as well and like u have won plenty contest and awards but it has been YEARS since I wrote poetry! Matter of fact last one was June 2002 when I had a miscarriage! But I loved reading this thank you for sharing

[Jennyfoo]

Aww, I'm sorry it made you cry. The message isn't supposed to be silly, just some of the lyrical verse is silly IMO. Maybe I'll add to it after I have surgery and have more story to tell

[selmaS]

Jenny...it that was to be silly...then my chiari is at it again ,,,cuz it made me cry...... : * (

<3 this

[thieb9]

Love it!! Sounds so fitting for the majority of us

[niki3350]

This sums it up perfectly Honey!!!  Love it!!!!!