Does anyone else experience pressure in your body upon standing with a sudden rise in pulse? I have been experiencing this for a long time but the issue seems to be lasting for days. when it starts the first day is not to bad, but as the days go by the pressure gets worse and i have experienced blurry vision and bad balance(more than normal) and one time my vision went completely black and i collapsed. i didn't pass out, and it only lasted about 30secs. The pressure builds up from my legs, my chest gets heavy, and it just works its way up. It only lasts a few days and then its gone, and comes back every couple of weeks. I'm just curious if anyone else has experienced anything like this and if it is Chiari related or possibly something else. I have also noticed that my arms have started tingling almost numb all the way down to my ring and pinky finger. it gets worse if i lean on that arm or hold the phone. last night my right leg was doing the same thing and got worse while seated and i had to shift my weight to my left side. I'm not sure if the two things are related, but wondering if anyone can relate and know what it could be caused by or how to relieve the symptoms? Thanks for listening, and I hope everyone is doing well! :)
Kristi,
What you are describing sounds like POTS-Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia. Many Chiarians have it also. I was diagnosed in December myself. I will add a good link about it. I had the same symptoms, but I have broken bones and had multiple concussions from either passing out and falling or just falling. Please let me know if you have any questions. You should definitely follow up with your PCP or NL , then they can order diagnostics to see what is going on with you. I feel so much better after just being on medication to raise my BP. Some people with POTS have high BP. I hope this helps. We also have a Chiari and POTS Group.
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/postural_tachycardia_syndrome/postural_tachycardia_syndrome.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postural_orthostatic_tachycardia_syndrome
http://www.dinet.org/pots_an_overview.htm
Tracy Z.
Thank you Tracy. I have been wonering if POTS could be a possibility for me, but wasn't sure if these symptoms were chiari related or not. Originally, the drs had been looking for a heart condition because of my symptoms. I was hospitalized for possible heart condition a few times over the last few years and they ran every test and found nothing. They ended up dx me w/ SVT, but the meds have not helped. My PCP was looking for a blockage or aneurism(sp?) when they found the Chiari. I've heard there is a blood test they can do for POTS, can I ask my PCP to order one? I dont want to see another cardiologist yet because they keep trying to dx me with anxiety and tell me im too young for a heart condition, even though I have a family history. On another note, I am scheduled to see Dr. Gilmer in Royal Oak, MI next month, so perhaps she will look into that. I want to try and avoid surgery for the time being with all our problems at home, finances, no family, and have to move because our landlord stopped paing the mortgage and our home sold at auction 3wks ago. So, with all that added stress and uncertainty, i dont think i would recover well. Sorry, tmi, but it helps to get off my chest. Thank you for responding, and for the links. I will be looking those up today. I hope all is going well for you and you are felling better. The support you give everyone is so wonderful, and I am so grateful for all that you do.