Brain Injury survival guide / chiari help too :-)

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http://www.tbiguide.com/

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

SURVIVAL GUIDE

by

Dr. Glen

Clinical Neuropsychologist

Folks ...this is a guide to surviving Tramatic brain inury ( free although

the author would appreciate a donation ) ...although it isn't specific to

chiari it has LOTS of info that can help you understand what's happening to

you with chiari related problems ( chiari may cause some brain injury thats

subtle and not easily seen on MRI's and many head injury problems are shared

by chiari folks ) ...written by a neuropsychologist in REGULAR terms /words

it is much easier to understand for non health profesionsals and has chapters

that address topics like how to communicate well with your doctor and

optimise the appts /headaches /seissures / testing and what the doctor is

looking for /treatment options and what you can expect ect .

This is an excelent resource that can improve both how you communicate with

your doctor ( I REALLY like the chapter on Dealing with Doctors and the info

on headache causes beyond chiari itself ) ...he discusses the importantce of

taking your medications as ordered and how to document the effects in a way

that will help your doctor sort through if they are helpful ...and why

doctors may hesitate to prescribe something stronger if we don't do as they

ask ) ...the headache questionaire may be very helpful to your doctor /AND

the headache chapter explains well some sorts of headaches we may have

BESIDES those caused by high intercranial presure from CSF flow problems .

The seisure section may also be helpful EVEN if you've never been told your

having seisures ect . In short I'd sugest every chiari person explore whats

here in this guide ( some sections may not apply to you and don't assume the

CAUSE of a given symptom is YOUR cause ...this doesn't take the place of your

own doctors guidance and opinion but may well improve your communication and

help you understand what may be causing you difficulties EVEN when MRI's look

fine /He does discuss that that is often the case .

I found a lot of helpful information here - and hope this of value to others

..

in Paradise