Living with Fibromyalgia, IIH and Chiari Malformation

Living with these illness'es is tough to say the least, the Fibromyalgia (fibro) is  chronic pain ,it affects all the muscles in the body . IIH (Idopahtic Intercrainial Hypertension) this is where there is pressure on the brain,which cause's chronic headache's feels like your head is about to burst, ringing/whooshing/hear your own heart beat in your ears. and Chiari Malformation this is where your brain slips down the back of your neck and can press on your spinal coloumn there are a lot of syptoms with this including chronic headaches,pain in neck/shoulders/back,tremours in arms and legs, loss of balance, memory loss,ect ..... please see below for a list of syptoms of all these conditions.


http://www.ukfibromyalgia.com/

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain, stiffness, and tenderness of the muscles, tendons, and joints. Fibromyalgia is also characterized by restless sleep, awakening feeling tired, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, and disturbances in bowel function. Fibromyalgia is sometimes referred to as fibromyalgia syndrome and abbreviated FMS.While fibromyalgia is one of the most common diseases affecting the muscles, its cause is currently unknown. The painful tissues involved are not accompanied by tissue inflammation. Therefore, despite potentially disabling body pain, patients with fibromyalgia do not develop body damage or deformity. Fibromyalgia also does not cause damage to internal body organs. In this sense, fibromyalgia is different from many other rheumatic conditions.

Widespread Pain	Morning Stiffness	Fatigue	Vision Problems
Nausea	Sleep Disorders	Urinary and Pelvic Problems	Weight Gain
Dizziness	Chronic Headaches	Cold Symptoms
Temperomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome	Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndromes	"Fibrofog": Cognitive or Memory Impairment
Skin Complaints	Chest Symptoms	Anxiety
Depression	Dysmenorrhea	Aggravating Factors
Myofascial Pain Syndrome	Muscle Twitches and Weakness	Memory Loss: Is it Real?
Weather Changes	The Menstrual Cycle	Troubles Breathing?

IIH Idiopathic Intercrainial Hypertension.
 http://www.iih.org.uk/

Intracranial Hypertension is a condition in which the body either produces too much cerebrospinal fluid pressure or doesn't absorb it well, resulting in increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure.

It is likely due to high pressure caused by the buildup or poor absorption of cerebrospinal fluid in the subarachnoid space surrounding the brain, but the reason for the buildup or poor absorption are also unknown. The disorder is most common in women between the ages of 20 and 50. Being overweight seems to be a a possible contributing factor, but IH/PTC should not be ruled out based only on body weight, age, or gender.

Symptoms of IIH

The most common symptoms of IIH are:
 severe headache,*
 papilloedema,
temporary loss of vision, *
transient visual obscurations (blurred vision), *
double vision and decreased visual acuity, *
pulsatile tinnitus ("whooshing noise" in the ears in time with the pulse),*
 and pain behind the eye and with eye movement.*
Other symptoms reported by people with IIH include:
nausea,*
 vomiting,
fatigue, *
photophobia (dislike of and pain caused by bright light), *
problems with balance and spatial awareness,*
 aphasia (difficulty using or understanding words), *
disorientation, loss of short-term memory (sometimes also long-term memory loss),*
confusion,*
 feeling 'spaced out',
and lack of depth perception (for example judging the depth of stairs, steps, and curbs can be a problem)*. People with IIH may find unfamiliar (and even familiar) places, and traffic, confusing and overwhelming.*

Arnold chiari malformation.
 http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/chiari/chiari.htm

Chiari malformations (CMs) are structural defects in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance.  Normally the cerebellum and parts of the brain stem sit in an indented space at the lower rear of the skull, above the foramen magnum (a funnel-like opening to the spinal canal).  When part of the cerebellum is located below the foramen magnum, it is called a Chiari malformation.
CMs may develop when the bony space is smaller than normal, causing the cerebellum and brain stem to be pushed downward into the foramen magnum and into the upper spinal canal.  The resulting pressure on the cerebellum and brain stem may affect functions controlled by these areas and block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the clear liquid that surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord — to and from the brain.

• Headache (esp. if daily or at lower back of head)*
• Painful tension in neck *
• Fatigue *
• Migraines*
• Dizziness *
• Visual disturbances / loss of vision / spots in vision / double vision / seeing spots or "halos" / nystagmus*
• Tingling / numbness in the extremeties *
• General imbalance / clumsiness *
• Memory loss*
• Restricted movement *
• Intolerance to bright light / difficulty adjusting to light change *
• Vertigo from position change or sudden standing *
• Difficulty walking on uneven ground / feeling ground under feet *
• Poor / degraded motor skills *
• Difficulty driving
• Difficulty negotiating steps
• Pressure / pain in the neck *
• Pressure / pain behind the eyes (soreness in the eyeballs) *
• Back pain *
• Neck spasms *
• Insomnia
• Ringing in ears (like the tone heard in a hearing test)*
• Swaying *
• Pain when changing position *
• Tingling / crawling feeling on scalp *
• Intolerance to loud / confusing sounds *
• Decreased sensation to touch in extremeties *
• Decreased sensitivity to temperature *
• Pain & tension along ear / eye / jawline *
• Difficulty swallowing / lump in throat / sore throat / swollen lymph nodes *
• Drooling
• Spontaneous vertigo *
• Hand tremors*
• Poor blood circulation / cold hands & feet*
• Sinus / mucous problems *
• Sleep apnea *
• Decreased muscle tone
• Pressure in ears / ears feel stopped up *
• Nausea *
• Difficulty reading / focusing on text *
• Depth perception problems *
• Burning sensation in extremeties / shoulder blades *
• Menstrual problems / severe cramping during period *
• Fluid-like sound in ears (like water running) *
• Loss of sexual interest / lack of sensation in pelvic area *
• Pulling sensation while sitting / standing
• Intense itchiness w/profuse sweating
• Slurred speech*
• Gag reflex problems / lack of gag reflex *
• Pressure / tightness in chest *
• Loss of bladder control
• Frequent urination *
• Dehydration / excessive thirst *
• Electric like burning sensations*
• Unequal pupil size
• Loss of taste *
• Popping / cracking sounds in neck or upper back when stretching *
• Dizziness *
• Loss of smell / problems with sense of smell *
• Dry skin and lips *
• Sudden / abrupt changes in blood pressure due to awkward position of head
• Hiccups associated with drinking carbonated beverages *
• Skin problems

Other: migraines, oscillopsia, lump in throat, colour blindness, albinism, visual floaters, astymosism, thinning hair, hear heartbeat in ears, throat closes when lying flat, vomit in sleep, swollen face, low body temperature, low blood pressure, legs feel heavy, "strangling" feeling, "floating" sensation, thickening of finger joints.

all underlined above are symptoms i have




here are some of the sypmtoms i live with evey day:/ including ones marked with a star above..

tinglin - in fingers, feet and somtimes in my arms
rollin / jumpin eyes
shakin limbs
stiffness / numbness in arms and legs
jerkin
headaches to the point where my head feels as though its going to explode
eye aches
neck aches
cant walk unadied as balance is non existant
dizzy
neausea
blurry
slurry words
back trouble
light headed
VERY senitive eyes to any form of bright light
achy joints - knees, wrist, ankles, all over body
more emotional
balance affected
memory useless , in fact almost non exsitant
very forgetful
no concentration
exploding head ache when i cough, snezze.
dizzy when i bend over.
get confused and nervous when in strange and sometimes familiar places
also noise : loud music/tv/ lots of people talking get very fstrated and cannot concentrate on anything....sensory overload.
Sleep............... have to have a nap most days. constantley tired, no matter how much sleep i get
this is just a few symptoms that i can think of, off the top of my head.

I have got to the point where i dont know what syptoms go with which  condition !!!!! as a lot of them overlap.