|
|
My husband, age 56, had surgery on
August 13, 2004 for Chiari Malformation. His MRI confirmed the diagnosis. It
took us three years to finally get an accurate diagnosis. It has been a
struggle for both of us, especially my husband who is used to being very
active. It has been four weeks plus since his surgery and my husband is
still experiencing headaches behind his left eye. He is getting depressed
because he still has the headaches. Of all his symptoms, if the headaches
disappear, he could function normally again. (I don't know if he knows what
that is anymore).
My reason for sending this e-mail is to solicit information from people who
actually had the surgery. I need encouragement that his symptoms will
subside, especially the headaches. I don't know how long it took other
patients for their headaches to go away, if they go away at all. If anyone
can e-mail me with their story, especially how long it took for your
headaches to subside (if ever) I would appreciate it. Then I could give my
husband some encouragement that it just takes time for his symptoms and body
to heal from this type of surgery. My e-mail address is :
Patricia.Connerty@orm.va.gov
Thanks.
Patricia Connerty
I had a decompression September of
2000. It was a newly diagnosed Chiari and I was having increasing
right-sided weakness and syncope which helped me to make the decision to do
surgery.
I now am so glad I had the surgery, I feel that, except for some neck
stiffness and occasional pain, I am back to 100%, of course I can never ski
or ride roller coasters, but I guess this is a small price to pay.
Everything was not wonderful at once though. It took 18 months to get all
the strength back in my right arm (nerves heal slowly), I had really
annoying myoclonus for several months afterward, I had tinnitus for about
one year, I had problems with balance and confused speech for about 3
months, I still have episodes of dizziness but they are few and far between.
How much is due to the Chiari and how much to the surgery, it is hard to
tell, but I really think people who are affected should consider surgery.
Pam Pastore, NP
Fort Collins, CO
|