Hello, I am new to this website. I had decompression surgery March 2008. After coming home from the hospital, I kept hearing what sounded like stitches poping. A day or so went by and I had a pone or egg come up on the surgical site on my neck. Two weeks went by with 2 seperate times visiting my neurosurgeon and having the fluid drained by needle. The second time I went in my neurosurgeon told me that he was sure that I would be back so he went ahead and scheduled me time in the OR for surgery. I went in as outpatient and had everything opened back up again and he put a new patch on. He also had to put a lumbar drain in my back to keep the fluid off of the new patch so that it could stay dry. 7 days after that surgery I regained my self after massive antibiotics and reactions that were not pleasant. It has been 18 months now and I have not had any more problems with leaks. Now I am battling with the headaches/head pressure. I am going to a neurologist in December to find out what is causing the headaches. I had an MRI in March 2009 and the neurosurgeon said that all is ok with the Chiari. So......?what is causing the headaches? Hmmm maybe the pressure from opening up the dura?..... Just my thought. I do no have a shunt and I am scared to death to have one with all the complication that it could bring......What do you do?