This time last year I was nervously waiting in the pre op holding area with my hair in cute pig tails. This year has flown by.
Last year when Chiari knocked me down from an active professional working mother of 4 to a confused nap needing person, my outlook was very bleak and depression was beginning to set in.
I am very happy to say today I feel great.
I have had a few ups and downs during the past year but it was nothing compared to my Chiari symptoms.
I am thankful that I am able to do all the fun things with my family. This past summer we traveled to Yellowstone to camp then down to Mississippi coast and over to New Orleans. I even have a girls only Las Vegas trip planned for next month.
The question I see asked quite often on here is: How do you know when to have surgery? My answer is you will know that surgery is option when enough of your life has been taken that the hope of improvement from surgery outweighs the risks.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for this post! So nice to hear a bit of upbeat news. My daughter is scheduled to have surgery on Nov. 20 and yes, she has no options left so the potential benefit GREATLY outweighs the risk. Thank you!!!!!
I am so very happy for you. You may not know this but I share your wonderful story with Members who are pre surgical & scared. You are a true inspiration. Your success & happiness motivates so many !!!
You are an amazing and uplifting woman and have been an incredible support to me. Your story of improvement and getting your life back has done nothing but inspire and calm me as I have pressing through this process...I am so glad you are so well! :-)
So glad to read this!!! I’m at 9 months post op. I still have what I call flare ups, but more good then bad days! Glad to hear you’re at a year and feeling well! Congrats!
Diana,I am scheduled for surgery Oct.31 it is geat to hear your story. I would like to talk to you more on your opinion now on the advantages of surgery.It is a scary process but I have waited many 27 yrs. for this solution.It is exciting to realize it may finally be over,from what I have heard there's a possiability that all my symtoms may not be gone.I am not even going to cross that bridge,attitude is very important and through all this journey I have tried to not let it completly over take my life but it has sure tested my will along the way I have a faith in God and that has been my sanity,it is a shame that so many people have to suffer so long sometimes I get angery with all the Dr.s that just don't know how to diagnois this illness. My chiari is considered border line but the symtoms are life altering and as hard as I've tried to carry on there's been a lot of tears cried and days lost.It'll be good if I can hear from you,again thanks for the story.
Diana,it's so great to hear your story my surgery is scheduled for Oct.31 and of course I'm scared a little but excited too.I have had this condition for 27 yrs.It almost sounds like that's not possiable in our day that anyone has to go so long without a diagnois. I know I'm not the only one that has gone through many yrs.s of misery it's such a lonely place to be even though my husband has been a great support I'm sure he at times thought I had lost my mind.The thing that is so hard to except is the Dr.s that can't diagnois this condition,even now there's not one Dr. who agrees with the specilist that will do this surgery.My dessision to get the surgery is the fact that I have about 90% of the symtoms and Dr.Rosner can see the borderline chiari,and I am very comfortable with this whole thing. I hope to hear from you just to have your support would be great, thanks again for your story.
Lynn, its almost unbelievable to me that you have had to suffer through this for 27 years. I’m so glad and opimistic you have decided on surgery. I am praying for you to have a successful surgery and smooth recovery. I think your will be so surprised at how much better you will feel after surgery.
Remember to take all your prescriptions as prescribed and take a stool softener before and after surgery. Recovery is not a time to tough out the pain.
It is very frustrating that the Drs don’t agree on our condition.
Good luck! Be sure you have someone update us on surgery day.
Thanks Diana, I'm staying positive and I feel that surgery could't be as bad as what I'v been going through.Keep me in your prayers.,you are a great incouragement. This site has been a God send I wish I had found it sooner.Hope you continue to have a better life,maybe people on this site can get the word out to the medical community that they need to listen more to patients. I want to help others so there's never another person having to live in this kind of suffering.Again thanks
Diana Smirl said:
Lynn, its almost unbelievable to me that you have had to suffer through this for 27 years. I'm so glad and opimistic you have decided on surgery. I am praying for you to have a successful surgery and smooth recovery. I think your will be so surprised at how much better you will feel after surgery. Remember to take all your prescriptions as prescribed and take a stool softener before and after surgery. Recovery is not a time to tough out the pain. It is very frustrating that the Drs don't agree on our condition.
Good luck! Be sure you have someone update us on surgery day.
I am so happy for you! I hope you continue to keep going down this healthy road, as well as keep the positive posts, it is so uplifting for thoes who are going thru hard times!! Congratulations on your one year!!!
