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Meet Debbie Banahasky. Debbie responded to our request for good news
stories and surprised us with a twist. Debbie was diagnosed and had
surgery over 20 years ago!
She graciously agreed to share her story, so that others may realize that
Chiari isn't always as bad as it seems...
How did you come to find out you had Chiari?
When I was just getting my job - I was about 18 - I had to get an eye
test. When the eye doctor looked at my eyes he said, there's something
going on in there, you need to see a neurologist. So I saw a
neurologist on and off for probably 10 years. They finally said we
don't know what's going on and they sent me to the head of neurosurgery at a
local hospital. He put me in the hospital for about a week and did
tests and he found it [Chiari].
Do you remember what tests you had? Did you have an MRI?
Actually, I was one of the first MRI's in the city. I'm kind of an
antique. That was early in 1982.
Were you surprised when he found something? Were you having any
symptoms?
The only symptoms that I was aware of was that I had a lot of trouble
seeing at night to drive. People told me when they looked at me that
my eyes jiggled back and forth, but I didn't feel that. They did test
me originally for MS.
What did you think when they told you it was Chiari?
I guess because I was young and I'd never heard of it, I just trusted
the doctor and said do what you gotta do. I was more worried about
them shaving my head.
Do you know why he recommended surgery if you didn't have a lot of
symptoms?
I don't know. I didn't ask any questions and I didn't have anyone
to talk to about it at the time.
So the decision to have surgery was an easy one?
Yes, here's how he put it. He said you can have surgery or you can
leave the hospital and be in a wheelchair ten years from now. So for
me there was no decision. I didn't even get a second opinion.
Did you have a syrinx?
No. And I had an MRI not too long ago, I still don't have one.
I never developed one.
What was the surgery like, was it pretty much the same as is done today?
I'm pretty much cut from the top of my head to the base of my neck.
They did a laminectomy on C1, C2, and C3. I never actually heard the
word duraplasty, but he told me when he got in he would decide whether he
would use something artificial or material from my own body.
How did he characterize the surgery for you? Did he say it would be
traumatic?
He said it would be uncomfortable...he didn't even come close!
How long were you in the hospital?
I was in Intensive Care for 3 days and in the hospital for 10 days all
together. I didn't have any complications.
Was your recovery quick?
I was off work for about 3 months. Didn't have any kind of
physical therapy. He just told me to learn to turn my neck myself.
Turn a little bit to the right, to the left. At that point I never
thought I was going to move my neck again! I didn't even think, gee
they may be cutting my nerves. I didn't really think about it.
How are you doing today?
Actually, pretty good. Every now and then I get headaches.
They think I have complicated migraines. But I've only had two of those
spells over the past 10 years. Sometimes I get shortness of breath or
swallowing problems. I don't know if it's coming back.
How often do you get MRI's?
I just had them when I was having the headaches. Not on a regular
basis.
Do you consider yourself lucky?
Definitely. I know I had it from birth. Looking back, when I
was little, I can remember running around outside and coming in and telling
my Mom I had a headache in the back of my neck. Of course back then
she just said go lie down you'll be fine.
Does anyone else in your family have Chiari?
I think my one sister might. She's 70 so she's not going to get it
checked out. She has balance problems and headaches and a lot of the
things I had. And my Mom always complained about pain in her neck and
her head.
What would you say to someone who has just been diagnosed?
I think you have to go with what you feel, get a doctor that you trust,
and trust things will work out.
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