Hi, I'm Miss Priss. I live in SE North Carolina. I'm married to a wonderful man, and together we have raised six children. I'm retired from the corporate world and am quite active, volunteering for a youth soccer organization.

I've had symptoms for 25 years and have been diagnosed with everything from Fibromialgia, to hypocondria. I had unexplained menengitis twice, once at age 34 and again at age 44.

Since then, I've had swelling and pain on the back of my neck, it's always there, sometimes it's worse. When I coughed, sneezed, or otherwise strained in any way, it felt like the top of my head was exploding. I also have trouble swallowing, and have a killer gag instinct. It feels like I have something stuck in my throat.

I regularly would have horrible headaches with vomiting, which everyone thought were migraines. But the migrane medicine had no effect.

I have been to specialist after specialist, gone through MRI's, CAT Scans, Brain Scans, etc for years trying to diagnose the problem.

Finally, I gave up and stopped even going to the doctors because they couldn't provide any answers. Why bother wasting the time and money? I decided it must be normal to have migrane headaches, vomiting, and feel like the top of your head is exploding when you cough, sneeze, or strain at all. I'm so exhausted from the constant pain at this point.

Four years ago, and orthopedic doctor found bone spurs on L4, L5, and L6 and I've been treated with cortisone shots, deep tissue massage, and pain medication.

Two years ago, I started having vertigo, nausea, and constant numbness and pain in my arms and legs. It feels quite like the same pain as you would have with a toothache.

After four years on the "Pain Management Merry Go Round", I decided to go to a neurosurgeon to see about having the bone spurs removed.

This was this past Tuesday. He looked at a four year old MRI and diagnosed Chiari Malformation in ten minutes.

What a revelation!! Suddenly the puzzle pieces fell into place for me. I've been on the internet for two days now, researching this malfunction and I'm happy to report that I'm NOT a hypocondriac or a drug addict seeking pain medication!!!

I'm scheduled for another MRI next week, so the neurosurgeon can compare to the one four years ago.

Thanks for this opportunity to talk to others that have also been through this.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.