How long to wait for Chiari surgery??

[trebmal2]

How long did you wait until you decided to have decompression surgery?  I know everyone is different, but just curious to  how long some of you waited.  I know it's inevitable for me.  I'm really nervous about it.  I know the surgery can make me feel better, but I know the risks too.  Thanks.

[zygy2]

I waited a few months!  The headaches were terrible and I just waited long enough to get to a month  of the year that I felt it best worked into our schedule.  There is never a great time to do it but I did not want to be near my kids birthday's or a big holiday.  I am calling today to schedule my second surgery ( I have a spinal fluid collection out side the dura from a leak) and I can tell you I cried all last night about calling today to schedule it, I dread doing it again but I also know I want life without those head pains!  I think each person knows when the time is right!  -Zygy

[selmaS]

  Hi...u r soooo right we r all diff, and we all have and experience diff symptoms that all plays a role in the decision along with finding the right Dr....I would hope no matter how bad u feel, as long as ur overall Health is not in  danger to wait for the right dr as that is so very important.

I went yrs of miss dx's and then finally got a dx and until I scheduled surgery was over a yr.....I had to get the right Dr...and it was drop attacks that had me on a course for surgery.

In addition to the above great advice from Tina and Zygy, keep in mind no Dr is going to "cure" or "fix" u, and they can not give u a time table as to when u will be able to go back to normal activities...u have to wait and see how u  and ur body respond to the surgery and the meds.Give it time, do not rush, this is major surgery.

  "selma"