New info vs. old misinformation

So my world has been turned upside down. Last Thursday I had my appointment with my neurosurgeon at the Mayo. I learned that much of what I thought I knew was wrong. I learned that Chiari is not a brain malformation but a skull malformation. Basically my skull didn't form correct and is too small. My brain is formed correctly and looks good but my skull is too small to hold my brain and now my brain has herniated in through the base of my skull (the Posterior Fossa) and is causing all kinds of problems. Well the Neurosurgeon said that the only symptoms he can verify that are being caused by the Chiari directly are the head aches and the head and neck pain. At this point in time there are no tests to determine if my other symptoms (problems...including the drop attacks) are being caused because of the Chiari. My Neurosurgeon says that we'll know if they are related if after the surgery they go away or not. If they don't go away then he said I may want to look into having additional tests done to determine if there is something else that may be causing the symptoms. So yeah now that I know that there is something wrong and what it is I decided to have the surgery. He also told me that in some cases if people who have Chiari choose not to have the surgery and tough out have had a Syrinx develop which can cause paralysis and then the surgery would be mandatory. So don't have surgery and maybe wake up one day and have one side paralyzed and have to wait in that condition and have to have surgery to correct it. So I decided to have the surgery and to take the chance to not hurt anymore. I'm scared but I know it will be a chance to get better...I've got to buck up and be brave. My surgery will be toward the end of January.

Finding my "Brave"...
-AP

Fresh from the Mayo

So I had my appointment at the Mayo for my second opinion. The neurologist apt was on Thursday. It went pretty well. I really like my neurologist but he wants me to do more tests to help determine if my Drop Attacks are from the Chiari or if something else is causing it. I had an appointment with my neurosurgeon on Friday but it ended up having to be rescheduled for this coming week Thursday because they needed me to have these new tests run before I spoke to my Neurosurgeon. So not a whole lot of new news. I have been weighing my options of surg because the doctors have all agreed so far that I am a good candidate for surg and that I have a good chance that the surg will be successful. I'm just not sure... More news after this Thursday cross u r fingers.

-AP

Closer

So Last week I had a thought that I haven't had yet. "What if they ask me if these symptoms are something I think I can live with? Can I live with it instead of surgery?" I realized that I have alot of big decisions to make. Surgery is a big deal and there are serious risks involved, but the chance to not have anymore bad days... are the risks worth it? My first reaction is yes. So can't do anything until I find out what the Neurologist says. The closer it gets the more nervous I get. All the silly and scary "What if's" run ramped through my head.

My Myo fascial therapy has been helping me manage the pain better. And! A friend of mine gave me 20 free visitor passes to the YMCA so I can try out the therapeutic pool there. I guess it is warmer than a normal pool and is supposed to be great for helping muscles. We'll see. I just am tired of not exercising.


Breath by Breath...

-AP