Ok......So How Big is yours? (giggle)

[danicafontaine]

Im trying to get a handle on the cerebellar tonsil thing.  If youd like a good laugh here's my first reaction:

"Ok, so take my tonsils out...." lol.  I have since been educating myself, and would like to get a feel for how outrageous or how insignificant my issue will be perceived when I finally do manage to get an appointment with Neurology....

My cerebellar tonsils are 9mm below the craniocervical junction.  How big are yours?

[AJ29349]

Hi,
Sounds great!  My appointment is November 22nd.  Will probably come into town that Sunday.  Fill me in, have you had surgery yet?  Do you see doctors there in your town?  

[ploink]

My radiologist measured 3mm. But the tonsils do not herniate straight downwards and are not 'peg shaped'. They sort of wrap around the brainstem sideways and seal the foramen magnum like putty.

The deepest herniation is not at the back, where they usually measure from the sagittal image, but on the right side of the brainstem. When I measure it there myself, I get 7mm!
Look at my profile for images.

[selmaS]

Hi...drs just hand out what the pharmaceutics reps give them...the best thing I can think to do, is go to ur local pharmacy and ask what they may have comparable to this med and see if ur insurance would cover it...they r better at helping with that then drs.

Well one can tell u r a writer...lol...love the train reference and understand the need to vent in a humorous way.

I would think the use of crutches is not good for a chiarian...the pressure and strain it puts on the neck and shoulders.

Let us know if ur pharmacist is able to help u find something similar and acceptable with in ur insurance  constraints.

"selma"

[danicafontaine]

doctor gave me samples of MAXALT said- here take one- if that doesnt help wait two hours take another- if that doesnt help take another- take the samples before you fill the script.........drumroll please.......the samples contained one tablet. My insurance wont cover it anyways, so I should take the one sample, and then be completely frustrated that i still have a headache and dont have the others to take....heaven forbid it should work and then I cant actually have it.Why do doctors do that? Is it a test of our patience or a testament to their lacidasical, non-chalant attitude intended to inspire a return trip for another billable visit to my insurance company? Speaking of billable hours.... My insulin was 80. Doctor said it should have been ten.  My goiter has resulted in hypothyroidism, and my vision is shaking in my right eye again, the left side of my head went and got itself caught in a vise grip.  Some one clearly spoiked my Mountain Dew, because I wouldnt be able to walk a straight line if my life depended on it.   In other words, im dizzy again.   My right side of my nose and lips are numb, but my neck shoulder ear jaw and face are throbbing right along to the rhythm of the ringing and rushing which now coexist out of tune and harmony with my rapid pulse.  And as if it couldnt get any better than that, Im now throwing up the lortab and butalbital i took to try to get rid of the headache I have had since Halloween.  Oh, and lets not forget.....my shoulders hurt from the crutches I was using when I fell over because i am having severe spasms in spinabifida area which are just fabulous!!!! Needless to say, if I didnt have such a wonderful family, son, husband, and life, Id probably just throw myself in front of the nearest speeding freight train about now.  Yay.  (disclaimer: The suicide reference is intended as a descriptive adjective used in a humorous tone, in no circumstance is it intended to be reflective of my actual intent to throw myself in front of train.  Since I feel like I already have.)  Cheers.

[dpulum]

My herniation was 21 mm before surgery, about 5 mm after surgery (didn't shrink up as much as the doc hoped).  I took Topamax before I had the surgery for about a year.  I thought it helped with the migraine type of headaches & I was having ocular migraines and it definitely helped with those.  I didn't find that it helped at all with the pressure in the back of my head though, steroids are the only thing that I've found that help with that and I can't tolerate those full time.  I also got nystagmus after I started taking Topamax, which makes your eyes move back & forth involuntarily, so that made me dizzy, which was a definite down side and if you don't already have tingling hands & feet, it can cause that too. Selma,  I hope the Topamax is helpful.

Tina

[selmaS]

Oh my goodness...when it rains.....

Please keep us posted as to what u find out.....I am also hypo...Hashimoto's.....just had my 6 month US and waiting on the results to see if  my nodules grew ne...and the labs to see if the meds need adjusting.....

Sending prayers and good vibes~~~ that it is a false alarm on the diabetes and pancreas issues.

"selma"