I'm FINALLY scheduled for my MRI of my brain w/ & w/o contrast! It's April 25 (next friday) at 330pm! I was told I could call daily to try to get in sooner if there are any cancellations (I hope there are!)

I'm getting excited/nervous. If it's no a Chiari Malformation, I'm back to being lost. If it IS, well, that's mighty scary too.

I'll let everyone know how it goes Thank you alll!!!

Thanks for letting us know hon!!! Will keep ya in prayers that you find your answer.

God Bless you!!!!

Dawn

Hi my name is michael and i am new on here. i have been diagnosed with arnold chiari malformation and have had 2 surgeries. A craniectomy and a cervical lamenectomy. the first was done in june of 2006 and the second in march of 07. within the last couple of months or so i have been having headaches in the back of my head again and also neck pain but i had another MRI done and i was told everything looked normal with the surgeries ive had. also in the last few months ive been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. ive been having chest pains and shortness of breath but was told it was caused by the hypertyroidism. here lately through a friend ive been told that the arnold chiari malformation can cause the chest pains and the shortness of breath. i was wondering if anyone else has been through this and has had the same symptoms and maybe some possibilities on where i should go from here. any information would appreciated.

I wa s going to say Lyrica and Cymbalta together . (((((OH MY))))))))) dont think you are suppose to do that . But glad you are off. I hope you got help getting off of these 2 meds as they are quit dangerous. Especially the Cymbalta. good luck

Hey there,
I have to tell you that nothing controlled my pain like this combination of Lyrica and Cymblta. HOWEVER, there are drawbacks that you need know about (no one told me) 1. I have gained an incredible amount of weight 2. I am having problems with my legs ie. swelling and pain in my feet and ankles. 3. Lyrica is processed through the kidneys (just be aware of that one).
These are serious issues that increase with time. There are other combinations of meds that can dos good a job without the symptoms. Look into Savella .

Hope that this helps,
Cyndy

yes side effect of Lyrica is weight gain. Have you heard of a new med called Savelle

To Ambellina,

I know this is late, but I see Dr. Lu. After 10 years of pill after pill and doctors telling me it was all in my head, I wrote everything out and went to Dr. Lu. He figured out half my symptoms were from Chiari and the other half from Cervical Spondylosis. He did a cervical neck tie and the decompression surgery on me. I still have problems because some other cervical vertebre have decided to slip and I need another surgery to fix that, but I am so glad I found Dr. Lu and had the surgery. He is a great DR! I would totally recommend going to him, if you haven't already. I live in Jacksonville and went all the way to Orlando for him to treat me. And when I can actually get the time off work, I will do so again. Also, he has the most precise handwriting you will ever see from a Dr. lol

Good luck with everything! God bless!