Problems with Elevation

General
1

Hi. I was diagnosed with Chiari 1 about a year ago. I am 41 years old and this diagnosis explained a lot of problems I had dealt with for my entire life ( neck and back pain, migraines, etc…)

I seem to have a big problem with elevation. I got very sick on a flight about 18 months ago. This led to all the doctors appointments. Which led to an MRI that discovered my Chiari.

Now I am scared to take long flights. But they are kinda necessary in my job as a professional poker player. Also, I need to be in Bogota in January. This is a city where I got sick before, due to the high elevation in this city.

Do any fellow forum members have a similar problem with elevation? Are there any solutions that have helped you? Thanks.

Long Days and Pleasant Nights, David

2

I don't have any problems flying pre or post op or at high elevations but can't SCUBA dive because of the pressure.

A lot of Chiarians fly home after surgery.I sent this out to the total Membership so I am sure you will get some additional

information.

Definitely ask your Dr.

Please let us know how you do flying.

Tracy Z.

3

I have had some problems in a light aircraft... mainly head pressure but nothing more. I did grow up at sea level and now live in high altitude. I do know Charians are affected by barometric pressure such as weather changes... I wonder if this could be an issue for you as well.

4

Just throwing this out there… Some people take diamox when high altitude mountain climbing. Maybe talk to your doctor. Don’t think this would be appropriate right off the cuff but maybe?

5

Thanks for the replies so far. I seem to feel lightheaded and a bit queasy, similar to seasickness. The plane episode was much worse than the times in the elevation cities, not sure why. I have flown a few times since the episode. I was nervous, and kept flights to 4 hours or less and have been ok.

Anyone else with similar issues or solutions?

6

Have you tried Dramamine ?

7

Yes I Had This Two Years Ago. Found OutMy Intracranial Pressure Was Far Too high. You May Want To Ask Your Dr To Test Yours With A LumbaR Puncture.If Test Is Positive, My Neuro Treats Some Patients With Diamox. In My Case, I HaD To To Have A Shunt Surgery. The Great News Is Im Currently On My First Long Flight Trip…DC To Hawaii. All Is Well.

8

This is seriously going to sound crazy, but than again " we" have all been told were crazy for believing in chiari- you need to start acupuncture treatments. I get my scar and head and the rest treated since April and i have improved dramaticly.

9

Ellen Icochea- Wait is this why i got sick coming into mexico. I was sick when i landed. Well after living in airports for a day.

10

I just had an episode flying...We had just about reached cruising altitude when I started to feel sick to my stomach. Shortly after I realized I was going to pass out and did! It's never happened to me before. It was quite an experience and one I would rather not repeat. I was actually coming from the Wisconsin Chiari Institute seeing Dr. Heffez. It was a great experience to finally have confirmed diagnoses. 1.) Chiari- flow is good, with minimal crowding except there is an artery between the brain stem and tonsils that isn't being allowed to expand properly (no syrinx and no EDS). 2.) C5/6 herniation with cord compression - determined to be the cause of most of my issues. 3.) Tethered cord and finally 4.) bulging disks at L4/5 and L5/S1.

Dr. Heffez during his examination really stressed my neck out to determine the culprit causing all my pain issues. I was very uncomfortable on the flight so that may have played into the syncope episode...I am SO not looking forward to flying again! I was ill for the rest of the day after getting home. My neck is still recovering, having ACDF in early December. Can't wait to feel better!

From my research and from what the flight attendants told me people pass out all the time. No cause is usually found but could be related to oxygen levels and pressure. The pressure is usually set at an equivalent of 7000 to 8000 feet in jets. Most people reported that their episodes occurred when they woke-up...personally mine didn't, 'cause I had only been on the flight for about 25 mins.

Best of luck on your next flight!

11

I don't have a problem with flying but ended up in the hospital for altitude sickness when I visited Vail. Since then, I've learned to get a prescription for Diamox to take 5 days before I go to a high elevation. It works well, the only weird side effect is all carbonated beverages taste flat. If the air pressure bothers you on the plane, I would use Sudafed and Afrin, I was a flight attendant for 10 years and never had problems related to the Chiari with flying.

12

I think it's pressure related. I can feel like I'm going to pass out just by riding an elevator, even as short as just going up 1 story in a building. Sometimes it's worse than others. I haven't been able to figure that out. I usually just have to step off the elevator and lean against a wall for support for close to 1 minute and it eventually subsides.

13

I take Diamox regularly to reduce pressure and when I go to the mountains and drive up over the first big one, my headache gets exponentially worse. It’s so painful I have felt like trying to escape the car to relieve the pain! It feels like my head is in a vice. I did this for years, as I have family in the mountains and it was very upsetting to want to see family but to know it would trigger miserable headaches that totally impacted the quality of my visit. It tool me a few years to realize it was the elevation change. After speaking with my Dr they suggested 5 days prior I double my diamox and stay on that dose the duration of my visit and a couple of days after returning home. This has helped enough that I’m willing to continue to visit, which is great. I have found though, that it is neccessary to stay at that elevation…if I continue to go up and down mountains while I’m there it gets way too painful+the pressure headache is too much. If your Dr agrees this might help u also, be sure to drink a ton of water, as kidney stones are a risk at high doses over time. Hope this helps, its helped me to see family again with less pain and for that I’m grateful.

14

I had my Decompression surgery in 2009 but still suffer a lot with pressure changes and that includes weather and elevation changes. When my husband and I were on vacation last summer we visited a couple of places that were high in elevation and I definitely felt it :( I can even feel the difference in my head when we drive over a mountain pass!

15

Thank You for the advice. I did the Diamox a few days before Bogota trip and it helped a great deal.

The flight was perfect and despite a few queasy moments I felt well during my 10 days in Bogota.

Now I am planning to travel back to the USA ( we were granted a fiancee visa ).

Hi. I am stuck in Colombia with plans to travel back to the USA, but a problem.

I could use your help.

I have Chiari 1, diagnosed about 18 months ago. I am 42 years old.

I have always had trouble with my ears and flying, but had a deviated septum surgery a few years ago that mostly fixed the problem.

However, I got a cold a few weeks ago that has my right ear very clogged up. I saw an ENT specialist Friday here in Colombia.

After some tests he perscribed an injection, Nasonex, and an antihistimine.

He said it could take 15 days for the problem to clear up, and I could be facing pain with flying elevation changes.

Saturday I started to feel better, but Sunday night I experienced 30 minutes of extreme diziness.

I discontinued the antihistimine, as I had some similar diziness issues with sudafed about 5-6 years ago before the deviated septum surgery.

I am conflicted as to what to do, so I thought of coming to this forum. I really want/need to return to the USA ( 2.75 hour flight to Miami ), but am afraid of pain/damage to my ear.

I am not sure if or how Chairi relates to this problem ( particularly with the antihistimine).

I did get very sick on a flight about 2 years ago, which directly led to my Chiari diagnosis, and I routinely have problems with elevation.

Any Advice??

16



Gunslinger said:

Thank You for the advice. I did the Diamox a few days before Bogota trip and it helped a great deal.

The flight was perfect and despite a few queasy moments I felt well during my 10 days in Bogota.

Now I am planning to travel back to the USA ( we were granted a fiancee visa ).

Hi. I am stuck in Colombia with plans to travel back to the USA, but a problem.

I could use your help.

I have Chiari 1, diagnosed about 18 months ago. I am 42 years old.

I have always had trouble with my ears and flying, but had a deviated septum surgery a few years ago that mostly fixed the problem.

However, I got a cold a few weeks ago that has my right ear very clogged up. I saw an ENT specialist Friday here in Colombia.

After some tests he perscribed an injection, Nasonex, and an antihistimine.

He said it could take 15 days for the problem to clear up, and I could be facing pain with flying elevation changes.

Saturday I started to feel better, but Sunday night I experienced 30 minutes of extreme diziness.

I discontinued the antihistimine, as I had some similar diziness issues with sudafed about 5-6 years ago before the deviated septum surgery.

I am conflicted as to what to do, so I thought of coming to this forum. I really want/need to return to the USA ( 2.75 hour flight to Miami ), but am afraid of pain/damage to my ear.

I am not sure if or how Chairi relates to this problem ( particularly with the antihistimine).

I did get very sick on a flight about 2 years ago, which directly led to my Chiari diagnosis, and I routinely have problems with elevation.

Any Advice??

Sudafed is a decongestant, not an antihistamine. I was a flight attendant for years, and did not know that I had a chiari malformation at the time. I had lots of problems with my ears. Now, when I fly, I always take Sudafed 30 mins. before take off, and ALWAYS take Afrin nasal spray 15 mins. before departure and 30 mins before landing. If I could only take one of those, it would be Afrin. I never fly without it.