New to Chiari

[lareel961]

Hi.......I have had some memory issues for a few months. I went to the Dr. and did an MRI and MRA. This past Friday my Dr.ca lled and said there were signs of mini strokes, and something called Chiari syndrome. He said we needed to do to two things: 1- get me on medicine for to help with the memory. And 2 - did I want to do to Mayo or Barnes in St. Louis. He had just sent someone to Barnes and had good results. The medicine he put me on is for alzheimers. I have always had a ringing in my head, i don't sleep, fatigue, trouble concentrating is being coming a real issue. I am a 51 year old female alzheimers in my family, my mother died this past year from it and so did her mom several years ago. I am waiting for a phone from my Dr. again on what the neurologist says. What can I expect?

Thanks.

[sandy629]

i am the same age and was going crazy with the memory loss i came on here and freaked out.  i went to a new dr, and he said it wasn't dementia or alzheimers  it is my opcipital nerve. i was so depressed i thought i was going to be mindless at the age of 52  i am so bad and some of the sad part is i find that i can't react to situations. i was a cna for 28 yrs it was my job to react and now i can't.  i saw a little boy drowning and i just sat there, i didnt say anything, do anything.  and like you i have dementia and alzheimers in my family.

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Well there will or should be more testing to see just how the Chiari is affecting u and ur overall health....u will want to know if u have a CSF obstruction, a syrinx, tethered cord, disk issues, ICP, POTS, sleep apnea and ehlers-danlos as they r related and can affect how u feel and heal should u go forward for surgery and even if u do not.

U will want a true Chiari specialist one that will look for these related conditions.

I wonder if ur family members had Chiari and not alzheimers?