Bethany found out Thursday, Oct 24th that she has to undergo a specific type of decompression surgery on her skull and C1 to help her brain. This comes with finding out she has Chiari Malformation Type 1.

She was in a lot of pain the week prior, not able to move her neck and head, having migraine-like symptoms. With some convincing, she went into the ER. The first doctor thought it was a separation in her vertebrae, surrounded by some arthritis found with an X-ray of the neck. She then followed up the next day with her Regular Doctor. The x-ray was explained better, but her doctor wasn’t full set on that diagnosis. Beth was told if her if symptoms got worse to go in and get a CT scan. She gave herself some time, and on day 6 after her symptoms didn’t get better, along with her noticing blurry spots in her vision, she was told to go in by her PCP to get a CT. The next morning Beth’s PCP called and told her that she needed to see a neurosurgeon asap. That’s when the neurologist ordered an MRI to confirm the diagnosis and progress of the Chiari Malformation Type 1.

In simple terms, part of her brain that controls her thinking, movement, moods, and vision is getting pulled down towards her spine, making too narrow of an opening for spinal fluid to pass into the brain area while squeezing it. (Google has helped me learn so much about this).

Everything’s happened so fast and it has been difficult for her to process all this. Beth has been working at Kimberly-Clark as an Operator. She was told that she isn’t able to work because of what is going on symptom-wise along with the news of the decompression surgery and recovery time.

Typically, the surgeon will go in and remove a portion of the skull to allow more room for the brain and open up the area where spinal fluid needs to pass. This is a 4-6 hour surgery followed by a minimum 8-12 week recovery time (at least).

She currently has a constant pressure-like migraine, and everything is blurry in her left eye, and her right eye has various blurred spots. There is a constant ringing in her ears with in and out hearing loss. Her balance is not normal, and she has a permanent pins and needles feeling in her hands and feet.

She has a long road ahead of her, but she is glad that her PCP found this and took action right away, sending her to the neurologist. Chiari Malformation Type 1 is something you can be born with. Most people that have it are asymptomatic. And go their whole lives never noticing. Some don’t. (Beth would say “lucky me!”)

With all that said, I’m setting up this to help Beth with all the extra costs. The travel for multiple doctors visits and after surgery therapy visits. The extra medical bill costs that aren’t covered, time stuck not working, and the fact that all this is happening over the holidays. Beth often doesn’t ask for much, but she’s often very willing to give. With her fun-loving spirit, she can make anyone smile with her smile and little jokes. I know that she would never be more thankful than with this help.

(We will keep this updated as she progresses through this journey.)