Newly diagnosed 20 year old

[LTrain27]

Hello!

I turned 20 in September. My symptoms started to be consistent in August. I have tingling all over my body, sometimes vertigo, headaches, weak muscles (off and on) and fatigue (it hasn't been bad lately), have some memory problems- It takes me a while to think of a specific word and it happens often, and sometimes some neck pain (not severe) as well as sometimes not fully balanced. They aren't terribly bad, I can still function in my day to day life. I am a senior in college, finishing up my degree in April in exercise science. I am hoping to go to PA school. I also currently work 25-30 hours a week as a phlebotomist. I can tell during work that my symptoms seem to worsen.

I was wondering, do most symptoms progress with time? I was diagnosed this week with Chiari Malformation. When the nurse called me she said that it was borderline benign and that I would keep my scheduled follow up appointment at the end of November to learn more and what I should do from here on out. But three and a half weeks is a long time to here about what to do. And after hearing lots of surgery stories, I was wondering if surgery is usually the option of choice. Will this affect my career? Should I not be looking to go to PA school after this?  Will symptoms most likely worsen or stay stagnant?  Any light that you can shed on this is most definitely welcomed!

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

As wonderchiari mentioned above Chiari symptoms do cycle.....so it is possible to have good days followed by bad....especially if we over do it on our good days.

Until u have more testing there is no way to know how this may affect ur chosen career path...

U will want testing to determine if u have a CSF obstruction, Syringomyelia,tethered cord,ICP,POTS, sleep apnea and ehlers-danlos.

There is a list of activities to avoid to help keep symptoms at bay in the Health Pages......u can also journal what u do that u have a flare up so u also know how ur own body reacts....but use the list as a guide.
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/list?cid=186

[wonderchiari]

Hi welcome to this forum ..though i feel sorry that chiari brings u here..

..I would just share a few words .

The symptoms u have mentioned are very much chiari like atleast to me..

u need to be tested by a chiari knowing primary  dr.,or the best is chiari expert nsg .

yes chiari symptoms do worsen all of a sudden and on the other hand  

might disappear  for a while only to resurface again ...

.In some cases It is sort of cyclic too .like up and  down .one good day another bad day sort ...

chiari is one condition where in no two persons might never  have same

symptoms or the same pattern of the progression .

u have mentioned about drs appointment  surgery and raised questions after that  

..I think competent fellow chiarians would throw light on those matters.

For the time being (temporarily)I would suggest whenever you have free

time ..be it  after work or holidays  just relax and take rest .

If possible and if u could get leave ... do take atleast a short break from the

job ..so that u find some relaxation from your routine life .

.If u get sleep easily do sleep a lot also  taking naps and relax ur mind a

lot., keep it tension free .dont think too much ....It does help in controlling

the symptoms ..

please wait for other knowledgable people  to answer ..as and when they

see this .