Re: Chiari and pregnancy

[Guest guest]

I am so sorry you are going through a painful & scary time when it should only

be filled with joy & excitement.

My daughter's neurosurgeon said that a pregnancy will be a high risk one,

requiring a high risk OB to work with neurosurgeon, and a planned c-section

under general anesthesia. You might want to contact your neurosurgeon & find a

high risk OB. I have more information, but I have to find it, then I will send

it to you.

You are not a guinea pig or a total mystery, except to physicians who lack

experience.

Best wishes,

Barbara

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- Chiari and pregnancy

Hello,

My name is Anne and I have Chiari Malformation/Hydromyelia and I am 6 months

pregnant. I was decompressed in 2008 and was pretty much symptom free until

recently. The symptoms that are back are loss of feeling in my feet and hands,

headaches like crazy and blurred vision. My OB docs have consulted with so many

different neuro docs, they just don't know how I should deliver the baby. I am

getting scared and there is a burning pain in my spine and neck that all the

docs seem to be ignoring as well. I guess I am just hoping to finally hear a

response from someone who won't talk to me like I am a guinea pig or a total

mystery.

Thank you,

Anne

[Guest guest]

The article at the following link is about a survey done many years ago by

the author, Diane Mueller, ND, RN. She has worked for even more years with

Dr. Oro, a prominent CM/SM neurosurgeon. I also included, below, what I

believe to be her current contact information.

_http://www.conquerchiari.org/subs%20only/Volume%203/Issue%203(4)/Chiari%20 &

%20Pregnancy%203(4).asp_

(http://www.conquerchiari.org/subs%20only/Volume%203/Issue%203(4)/Chiari%20 & %20P\

regnancy%203(4).asp)

The Chiari Care Center at The Medical Center of Aurora

1444 S. Potomac, Suite 170

Aurora, Colorado 80012

phone

fax

In a message dated 4/9/2011 10:00:26 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

babkane@... writes:

I am so sorry you are going through a painful & scary time when it should

only be filled with joy & excitement.

My daughter's neurosurgeon said that a pregnancy will be a high risk one,

requiring a high risk OB to work with neurosurgeon, and a planned c-section

under general anesthesia. You might want to contact your neurosurgeon &

find a high risk OB. I have more information, but I have to find it, then I

will send it to you.

You are not a guinea pig or a total mystery, except to physicians who lack

experience.

Best wishes,

Barbara

----------

This AOL Mail was sent from AT & T's Wireless network using Mobile Email

- Chiari and pregnancy

Hello,

My name is Anne and I have Chiari Malformation/Hydromyelia and I am 6

months pregnant. I was decompressed in 2008 and was pretty much symptom free

until recently. The symptoms that are back are loss of feeling in my feet and

hands, headaches like crazy and blurred vision. My OB docs have consulted

with so many different neuro docs, they just don't know how I should

deliver the baby. I am getting scared and there is a burning pain in my spine

and

neck that all the docs seem to be ignoring as well. I guess I am just

hoping to finally hear a response from someone who won't talk to me like I am a

guinea pig or a total mystery.

Thank you,

Anne

[Guest guest]

Hi Anne,

I asked one of our contributing Doctors about your question and this is his

answer.....

*Epidural anesthesia may be performed. Although rare, dural puncture could

theoretically aggravate Chiari symptoms resulting from CSF leakage.

*Spinal anesthesia is not contraindicated.

*If vaginal delivery would be considered difficult or complicated, C-section

with general or spinal anesthetic can be considered.

____________________________________________________________________

I myself have a large family and have Chiari. I know I felt pretty awful at

times with many symptoms. One of the reasons can be the increase in blood volume

while pregnant. It gave me that full headed feeling, almost a car sick sort of

thing. I also now recognize the symptoms of high intracranial pressure that I

had but didn't know then what it was.

The pushing is what may really bother you and cause symptoms so consulting

with a neurosurgeon with extensive experience in Chiari/SM specifically may be

of help.

Warm Regards,

[Guest guest]

During the two pregnancy I could not have felt better. Weird and odd how our

bodies protect itself. After talking with both my high risk OBGYN and Dr.B , I

choose, what I felt was a safe way for my family, for c-section with general.

Now just like choosing our spouses, every family has it's own reason for doing

things! I know the pregnancy would be easy, so to speak, and it was only the

delivery questionable and high risk!

After having both my babies with no problems and healthy as can be I learned

other ways and I wonder now if I could to it differently. But, they and Mom are

healthy, so I leave my decision at the time to be the right one for my family!

Congrats on your pregnancy and enjoy every moment!

Bea

Sent from my iPhone

> I just found out I'm pregnant with my first child and I'm looking for

information on how Chiari might impact the pregnancy/delivery. I would love to

hear stories about other pregnant Chiarians and find something I could give my

doctors.

> I was decompressed about 15 years ago and luckily have had few symptoms since

then. The only persistant issue has been headaches, but I have gotten those

under control with regular massages. I would like to have natural birth if

possible, so I would really like to hear from people who have tried that.

Thanks!

>

> Astrid

> CM, SM, scoliosis, surgeries for all 1993-95

> feeling pretty good

>

>