Hi, I'm new, glad to have found this site. Had Chairi surgery July 15, 2009. Discovered dura leak about 6 weeks ago. Dr. suggested letting it heal on it's own. Well, the lump ( I call it my egg) on the back of my head is not going down during the day anymore, it is much firmer, and I look like I have a ridge of fat on my neck. nausea, headaches, and very irritable. I am getting another MRI & seeing my brain surgeon this coming monday about options, inc. surgery. Any questions I should ask? Anybody else had this complication. I'm very nervous....

Please do be nervous!!! if you don't get that taken care of it will cause you to have a Gran Mal seizure, I had the exact same thing I kept going in for 2 weeks to have him drain it but eventually I ended up having a seizure and now I'm on Medication for seizures for the rest of my life, I bet you feel tired all of the time, youre groggy, probably hot & sweaty and irritable just for starters, anyway I ended up with a shunt which has helped but it has its own issues, I hope the best please let us know how it works out!

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?

Hope yo u had some success with your problems,, I had Chiari surgery 8/09, went back two weeks later to neuro,, said incision looked good and pulled stitches,, told him I was getting headaches,, two days later ended back up in hospital with menigitis,,MRSA and spinal fluid leaking out of my neck,, had redo surgery,, now have severe pain all over my body in addition to sensory neuropathy,, I hatelife like this

I go in this Wednesday to have my leak repaired. I'm not sure exactly what to expect? Will it be as bad as the 1st surgery 7 weeks ago? Am I starting he recovery all over again? HELP!