My name is Nikita. I am a 17-year-old mother of a 4-month-old boy. About two years ago, I started getting really bad headaches and fainting. I went to the hospital, and they told me nothing was wrong. I had an MRI, and they said it was clear. I went home and still suffered the horrible headaches for a few months.
I went to my local doctor and told them I was still getting the really bad headaches. They sent me for another MRI scan, so I called straight away and booked it for two days later. I found out I was pregnant the day after going to my doctor’s, so I called and canceled the MRI and left it at that until I fainted when I was pregnant. I went to my doctor, and they said it was just high blood pressure. So I went home and was told bed rest, so that’s what I did.
I had my son, and all of a sudden, I got worse. Now, my headache never goes away. It never gets better. It either stays the same or hurts a lot more, so I decided I was going to get another MRI scan. I got my results two days later, and my doctor called me in. I went to the doctor, and I was told that I have Chiari malformation, type 1. Being a young mum, I got really freaked out. All I could tell myself was to be positive, and all of a sudden, I blurted out to my doctor, “Can this kill me?” She said she has never dealt with anyone that has lost their life to Chairi malformation. All I could think was, so that wasn’t a “no, it can’t kill you.” It was just she’s never dealt with it.
I now have worse symptoms than ever. I randomly swell and bruise and always have a headache. My hair falls out in chunks, and I get a rash. I am always taking medication. I wanted to post here because I need some support from someone who knows exactly what I am going through. 🙁 I see a Rheumy in August!!
Nikita
Australia
Submitted 07/17/2015
The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.
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This story is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.
