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Getting my headaches fixed finally!

Discussion in 'Health' started by TacoCat, Sep 16, 2013.

  1. Sep 16, 2013 at 6:24 AM
    #1
    TacoCat

    TacoCat [OP] These pretzels are making me thirsty

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    On Sept 19 I'm finally getting my headaches fixed! Well, hopefully ;)
    A little back story for those that care to read (sorry if it gets long-winded):
    I have been having very bad headaches, or I should call it a single headache, for over a year now. It ranges in severity, but it's always there. The pain is generally in the area behind my right eye, but can travel to other areas in addition to being there. It can flare up on its own for no reason, sometimes after a bad cough, loud noises, or even if I laugh too hard. Sometimes I wake up in extreme pain with no explanation. After months of complaining to my wife about the headache, I finally gave in and went to the doctor to see what was up. I figured it was either migraines or worst case scenario maybe something wrong with my eye.

    First visit they gave me stress headache meds. No good.
    Second visit they gave me migraine meds. No good.

    Third visit they gave me orders for a CT scan. A couple days later they called me to say that the CT looked clean with one exception, a "malformation" they had found at the base of my skull. They wanted to do a MRI to get a better look at it.
    Went in for the MRI and it confirmed that I have what's called a chiari malformation. My cerebellum formed with some of it falling down out the base of my skull and into my spinal area. The cerebellum is squishing where it shouldnt be and is causing the headaches, and apparently is the source of my balance/coordination issues, random dizziness, and vertigo. It could also be related to my sleepless nights and restless leg syndrome. According to the surgeon, a malformation is considered to be anything past 3-5mm of a drop. My malformation was measured at 27mm :eek: I had never even heard of this before I was diagnosed with it.

    This condition apparently happens when you are being formed in the womb from what I have read, and they don't know if there are any genetic relationships far as I know. I never had any issues as a kid. The symptoms I listed above, with exception of the headache, have been around since probably the time I grew into an adult. The specialist said maybe when I grew something shifted and started causing the symptoms. The headache seems to have appeared around the time we moved to our new house in June of last year, so I am thinking I did something to trigger the headache then. Maybe straining while picking up a piece of furniture, who knows...

    They are going to expand the opening at the base of my skull by removing some bone, and since the malformation drops so far, they are also going to be removing some of the bone in the top couple of vertebrae of my neck. This should alleviate the pressure on my cerebellum and the symptoms should disappear. It should also remove any pressure to allow better flow of the spinal fluid to my brain.

    The doc says it is a painful recovery since they have to cut through the neck muscle to do this procedure, but I have weighed the risks to the potential benefits and to me the answer is clear. I also feel very comfortable with this doctor (he is a neurosurgeon with a good knowledge and background of chiari), and I know that he would not let me move forward with surgery if he didn't feel I would benefit from it.

    Please keep me in your thoughts on Thursday. Ill be taking a little nap and wake up in a start to a long and hopefully complete recovery from these symptoms that have bothered me for so long. I'm looking forward to having a more "normal" life.

    For those that have made it through this novel without falling asleep, thank you for reading. I will do my best to update, but I'll probably be out of it for the better part of the weekend. If anyone is curious about the condition, lots of good reading here: http://www.conquerchiari.org/index.html
     
  2. Sep 16, 2013 at 6:26 AM
    #2
    TacoCat

    TacoCat [OP] These pretzels are making me thirsty

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    And on a lighter note, I find the similar threads at the bottom to be hilarious!

    Similar Threads
    FINALLY Fixed my vibes!!!!!!!!
    Finally fixed my sagging ass <-- this is my personal favorite :D
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    Clunking sound finally fixed...New Problem
    Brake bleeding headaches!
     
  3. Sep 16, 2013 at 6:34 AM
    #3
    Boerseun

    Boerseun Well-Known Member

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    Good luck with the surgery and recovery OP! It is amazing what they can pick up these days with MRI. My son fell off the playground at school a few years ago and almost broke his neck. We went through a lot of CT and MRI scans, and it was just fascinating how they can measure movement and deformations to the fraction of mm.
    I hope this resolves those headaces for you (and that sagging ass :) )
     
  4. Sep 16, 2013 at 6:41 AM
    #4
    Nickel

    Nickel Well-Known Member

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    does turning tires to black wall out count? How bout added snug top rebel.
    Good luck man!!
    I know it's a little dangerous to do any surgery through the back of the neck, so I'm sure your neurosurgeon is a bad ass! I've got some bone rubbing on my spinal cord in my neck, and the best surgeon in town won't touch it because of the position, it's only accessible from the back of my neck, kind of like doing surgery blind, at least in my case.
    I hope the best for you, update if you can, I really want to hear how it goes.
     
  5. Sep 16, 2013 at 6:50 AM
    #5
    gjacobsjr

    gjacobsjr Well-Known Member

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    Crazy surgery hope all goes well with out a hitch
     
  6. Sep 16, 2013 at 7:10 AM
    #6
    SoCalTacos

    SoCalTacos Turd runner

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    My brother in law has been suffering from a migraine for the past two years. He's tried everything. ..docs cant figure out whats up. He's heading to a clinic across the country soon that specializes in head trauma.
    Hope your surgery goes well and you make a full recovery.
     
  7. Sep 16, 2013 at 7:11 AM
    #7
    CanisLupus

    CanisLupus Member since 2011

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    Good luck John! Hope all goes well!

    Matt
     
  8. Sep 16, 2013 at 7:43 AM
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    TacoCat

    TacoCat [OP] These pretzels are making me thirsty

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    Wow that's pretty scary, glad he's ok. Kids bones are made of rubber or something it seems like. My (almost) 2 year old can nose dive off the couch and get up laughing and climb up to do it all over again. The MRI is amazing. Scrolling with the mouse and seeing all the different layers of my brain is a little surreal (and freaky).
    Yeah my surgeon is pretty awesome. I think they'll have me on one of those tables like a massage table where my face is going through the opening. Hopefully this "massage" has a "happy ending" with it LOL. I hope you can get your issues fixed as well! I'll try to update as soon as I can after surgery but it'll probably be a couple days until im coherent enough to type.
    Thanks!
    Thank you and I hope the best for your brother. My surgeon actually suffers from migraines and they can't find a reason. Hopefully he's migraine free on Thursday ;)
    Thanks!
    My retros better still be in the truck when I get out of the hospital ;)
     
  9. Sep 16, 2013 at 8:08 AM
    #9
    CanisLupus

    CanisLupus Member since 2011

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    Damn it you already foiled my plan...I mean, I wouldn't even think of it... :spy:

    Matt
     
  10. Sep 16, 2013 at 4:09 PM
    #10
    TacoCat

    TacoCat [OP] These pretzels are making me thirsty

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    All ready for thursday. Saved the doc a little shaving time.

    uploadfromtaptalk1379372973796.jpg
     
  11. Sep 16, 2013 at 4:13 PM
    #11
    BostonBilly

    BostonBilly Well-Known Member

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    Good luck man
     
  12. Sep 16, 2013 at 4:14 PM
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    DTFtacoma

    DTFtacoma Dezert Toy Fabrication Vendor

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    Good luck OP hope all goes well!
     
  13. Sep 20, 2013 at 8:10 PM
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    Dcpsychobilly

    Dcpsychobilly Well-Known Member

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    Hope your doing well op
     
  14. Sep 21, 2013 at 5:36 AM
    #14
    TacoCat

    TacoCat [OP] These pretzels are making me thirsty

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    Thanks i made it through surgery. Lots of pain still. Ill fill in more details as i get better.
     
  15. Sep 21, 2013 at 5:42 AM
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    Delmarva

    Delmarva Mayor of TW

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    Feel better soon :thumbsup:
     
  16. Sep 21, 2013 at 6:03 AM
    #16
    Sje1124

    Sje1124 Well-Known Member

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    Just a few
    Going to get an MRI for the same thing when medical makes my appt. Hope recovery goes well man!
     
  17. Sep 22, 2013 at 6:28 AM
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    Nickel

    Nickel Well-Known Member

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    does turning tires to black wall out count? How bout added snug top rebel.
    Just rest and get better! Fill us in later.
     
  18. Sep 24, 2013 at 11:34 AM
    #18
    TacoCat

    TacoCat [OP] These pretzels are making me thirsty

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    Hey guys sorry for the delay in progress. Ill keep it brief and add details later.
    Was supposed to go to surgery thurs am got bumped for emergency annurism surgery. Didnt get out of OR till i think 6 or 7 they said. The ICU nurses were amazing i need to send a note of thanks to them.
    The surgeon told me i may be out by sunday or monday but then on Saturday some dude ive never met comes in saying hes discharging me that day :eek: i can barely walk pain is incredible and they dump me into a car to go home. They were out of beds and wanted to make room for patients. I know cause i was in icu all day friday waiting for one.
    As of now i am on percocet valium anti inflammatory steriods and lots of stool softeners/laxatives. Ive never been so bloated in my life its miserable.
    I have staples in two spots and now the skin seems to be tightening or the staples are shifting and it is worse than the last couple days. They come out thursday. Im bruised all over look like they used me as a punching bag :(
    Here is a pic from saturday when they took the dressings off. Not horrible but not pretty. Got to get some more rest. Thanks for all the well wishes everyone.

    uploadfromtaptalk1380047702481.jpg
     
  19. Sep 25, 2013 at 5:01 AM
    #19
    Nickel

    Nickel Well-Known Member

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    does turning tires to black wall out count? How bout added snug top rebel.
    That's pretty rough to be rushed out of the hospital! Take it easy, maybe they have something like hospital care at home, where the nurses come to your house a couple times a day and the doctor comes by once a day? Good luck man, hoping for a quick recovery for you!
     
  20. Sep 25, 2013 at 5:26 AM
    #20
    flatblack

    flatblack Well-Known Member

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    Dude! Chicks dig massive head trauma. haha!
    When it's all said and done you'll have some awesome skull scars

    Here's mine: Someone tattoo'ed me with brass-knuckles (against my will. haha)
    downsized_08120210581_zps4b17def6_a071c1b4966e4da451b161ebbd698b8edc9b1d7b.jpg

    Hope you heal up soon, man!
    Godspeed
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2013

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