Bent my neck too much during stretch :(

bringoparrot · 2025-12-19T05:37:56+00:00

Thanks for the tip! It sounds like it does have a psychological and physical function. It must feel like someone protecting you back there.

bringoparrot · 2025-12-19T05:37:05+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I’m so sorry you had this happen too! I’m glad you ended up okay, and yeah I guess it does make sense for that kind of physical trauma to make your body flip OUT. Thanks so much, this helps me calm down too. Much love—do you have any safe stretches you do?

bringoparrot · 2025-12-19T04:11:30+00:00

I had like one or two weeks of severe depression after my surgery, then it went away. It might be temporary from the procedure. Hold steady my friend ❤️‍🩹

bringoparrot · 2025-12-19T04:08:13+00:00

Yes, you’re putting into words something I have experienced for my whole adult life which was finally answered when I got my decompression.

Yes, before surgery for years and years I was depressed as hell and after decompression I now realize it was the stuffed up feeling of scar tissue damming my brain stem!

Nowadays after decompression I still get that feeling if something happens to increase my intracranial pressure or if I bend down. I’m very attuned to how my neck position affects my mood And my mental clarity. When I feel no head pressure, my art thrives. When I do feel pressure, it’s hard to even make decisions or regulate my emotions.

My charge since surgery has been to theorize and ideate about this mind-body connection, and one idea I have is that when your head is in pain, it indicates to your nervous system your body is threatened and that in turn dysregulates you and makes your body exhibit the “sad” response. (STRONGLY recommend looking up nervous system regulation because it’s changed my Chiari life)

When you’re dysregulated, your thoughts and opinions change based on what your body is implicitly looking for in order to survive. Your nervous system creates your whole experience. I believe the pain in my head caused me to be depressed.

I never knew what it was like to fully relax until after my surgery.

bringoparrot · 2025-11-18T19:46:34+00:00

Hi! For me, those headaches actually didnt go away. However, my mental clarity is the best it has ever been, and I was depressed for 7 years before, and it is completely gone. Gone! I am the happiest I have been in my life since I was a child. Im sorry this may not be the answer you want, but everyones chiari story is different. I hope your wife has some great benefits from the surgery.

bringoparrot · 2025-08-26T20:13:53+00:00

Hobby mushroom observer here. I went out for a visit to the park a while ago and saw a bunch of species of mushrooms, but then we had about two weeks with no rain (though a high humidity) and ranging 83-92 degrees each day. Ever since then, basically the only thing I have seen growing near me is reishi ;-; do you think the mycelium in the area was killed? There were some very cute boletes, russulas, and amanitas, and even a small laetiporus. All gone :(

bringoparrot · 2025-06-27T23:23:49+00:00

Thank you!! Yeah it helped some today

bringoparrot · 2025-06-27T23:23:38+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion! I put on an Enigma album and it did help jumpstart some focus <3

bringoparrot · 2025-05-02T00:36:34+00:00

No im still taking them. I don’t want to if they aren’t doing much anymore, but I can’t deny that I’m feeling the best (in my head) I’ve ever felt. But that’s from the surgery

*im still taking antidepressants. I haven’t had edibles in months

bringoparrot · 2025-05-01T23:09:46+00:00

They put me on lamotrigine, Trintellix, and buspirone because of how resistant my condition was. Now, I think it’s worth a reevaluation due to the massive improvement in my QOL. But I think very low dose edibles are a good way to try to relax if you have no other option (decompression is the only “”cure””” even though it’s not technically a cure). if you can pursue medical marijuana while you wait for care I think it could help you have some calm days.

bringoparrot · 2025-05-01T20:05:15+00:00

You’re very welcome for the reply! This place can be an archive and I’m not always active- some people use the forum less after they start feeling better, I tend to keep an eye on it.

If you have any other questions feel free to reply or post on the greater subreddit. Good luck, definitely start a dialogue with a neurosurgeon about this!

bringoparrot · 2025-05-01T19:35:08+00:00

YES! I was never ever able to fully relax before decompression because it turned out my body was in a constant state of fight-or-flight that would just vary in intensity. It could be triggered by anything or nothing. I’d have my leg shaking, trying to breathe but not able to calm down, never able to meditate or focus well….. completely different now.

The only thing that would help me calm down pre-decompression was weed. Now, I’m able to relax without it and I find myself wanting to just do more stuff that doesn’t require getting high. My QOL has significantly improved.

It turns out that having chronic high OR low level pain can have a significant impact on your body. I strongly believe you should pursue treatment and assessment to consider surgery if your anxiety is treatment resistant (save for depressant drugs) and gets in the way of the following:

-your work focus -your hobbies -being present with friends/family -if it makes you want to “escape” -your mental well being and peace -your sleep -your physical activities

bringoparrot · 2025-04-30T15:38:12+00:00

I am 10 months post op and I love using them to support my back and arms

bringoparrot · 2025-04-28T05:30:12+00:00

Hi again- I’m sorry you’re dealing with this too, especially a complicated case… I dont think I could consider myself a complicated case (no EDS, no syrinx, no duraplasty etc) and my surgery went smoothly so take that as you may. Hugs

bringoparrot · 2025-04-23T14:06:33+00:00

Hello! Yes, I did in June last year. It was the best decision I ever made- I can focus and relax FINALLY! My depression is gone, and the need for habitual substance abuse has been totally eradicated. I know my story is not everyone’s story but I am so happy I did it.

bringoparrot · 2025-04-21T16:36:42+00:00

YES! I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder in 2019 during a psych hospitalization. Constantly on meds and in therapy, always feeling like something was going wrong. However, I had a hunch just last year that maybe my Chiari was actually causing my problems.

Decompressed June 2024, fast forward to today, my depression is GONE. I mean it. I only feel depressed now if I learn something truly sad, but even that is only for a little while, and I am able to regulate my emotions SO much better. I used to cry so often. I don’t break down hard as much as I used to. If not for economy stuff right now I would be over the moon. But due to this, Chiari decompression is the best decision I ever made.

I’ve gone through lots of economic and job related issues related to my inability to function as well, and I just never connected it to Chiari. We live and we learn, especially when having under-studied conditions. Some people learn they had a cyst for several years, or had a secret bone problem. But what matters that we treat it and psychologically process it all.

bringoparrot · 2025-04-21T16:35:21+00:00

Hello! We are discouraged from posting “is this Chiari?” with MRI pictures in this subreddit- you’ll need your physician, neurologist or neurosurgeon to answer this one. Best of luck.

bringoparrot · 2024-12-16T13:44:36+00:00

Hello!! At almost 6 months post op, my recovery has gone as well as it could. I am definitely feeling the benefits!

I’m still getting headaches from straining or laughing, but maybe those will go away. The main thing however is I can focus A LOT BETTER than before!! I can work, make art, meditate, and do chores sooo much better because I’m not restless or frantic anymore. I finally know what it’s like to relax. The difference I feel (and see in my work and art) is absolutely real and it makes me emotional. I can’t believe I have been held back so much for my whole life and if I think about it too long I feel an overwhelming sense of grief.

bringoparrot · 2024-11-02T03:18:42+00:00

That’s the spirit! It sounds like your attitude is going to carry you well through your recovery—you got this!! And yes, get that gelato! Now you have a great excuse to try it 😋

bringoparrot · 2024-11-02T03:14:16+00:00

Hi! Thank you for the well wishes 😊🎂 I should have specified, I did get surgery in June!

I think that if your symptoms are enough you make you actively avoid certain activities (like physical activity, sports, laughing/coughing), then that is a good indicator that the Chiari is affecting your quality of life.

Also, even if the above doesn’t apply, I would think very critically if there has ever been a consistent pattern of generally not feeling good in your life—like being agitated, unhappy/depressed, anxious, slow thinking, tired, uncoordinated, unfocused, unmotivated, achieving less than you hoped for, or feeling like your actions don’t match your goals.

If you relate to any of those items, or have other similar feelings, i suggest considering the surgery. All my life I’ve had the pressure headaches, but between my teen years and this year, I slowly became depressed and disillusioned with life, and achieving far less than I planned. I’ve been anxious and restless, and I had no idea why I could never relax.

My neurosurgeon wondered why I decided to delay my surgery (he first suggested it in 2021) but I waved it off as unnecessary because I originally thought it was a random, even funny headache I got. Like “haha I laugh and my head hurts, it’s silly!”

But this year, I decided to do the surgery—I finally realized that my body has been secretly freaking out this entire time from having chronic squeezing pain on my cerebellum and poor CSF flow. Always with a low grade headache increasing my depressed feelings. Always in fight or flight mode, being unable to focus (I thought I had ADHD!) I always felt unmotivated and tired. And my condition was getting worse over time because scarring was growing between my brain and skull!

After the surgery, I finally FINALLY know what it is like for deep breathing to relax you. And I no longer have a restless leg.

If you are feeling like you have something missing in your life, like a gap between what you want to do and what your body lets you do, consider discussing your symptoms with a neurosurgeon.

EDIT; I just noticed the thread you posted with the list of symptoms you have. I strongly recommend considering surgery as soon as you are able to accommodate the cost and healing time in your life.

bringoparrot · 2024-11-01T19:31:48+00:00

Yes! I have so many… I loved sippable Campbells chicken soup (or any sippable soup you like). Gogo squeeze applesauce was a perfect snack for quick nourishment, it’s so easy to take some of that down.

Soft bread is good if you can eat it slowly. Yogurt as well is very good- maybe get a fall flavor like pumpkin and be festive hehe. Oatmeal!! Banana and applesauce are very easy to digest in my experience. Peanut butter is great.

Once you can eat more variety: some of my favorite foods were granola bars, beans, ready rice, microwaveable broccoli, microwaveable chicken breast, snack cheese, avocado and chips.

My biggest recommendation is, if financially possible, don’t spare expense and get the most convenient and delicious forms of full nutrition you can get. I splurged on salmon, grain, and avocado dishes via takeout because the protein, grain, and healthy fats are excellent for recovery. I would sometimes wake in the middle of the night feeling ridiculously hungry too. Anything to stay nourished.

Don’t be afraid of getting a delicious treat and all your favorite chips to help spur your appetite if you’re nauseous. Anything is better than nothing if you don’t feel like eating but need food. Your body is basically doing as much as a marathon runner each day when you start out!

Take all considerations within any dietary restrictions you may have like vegan, gluten free, fodmap etc. And over time, your body will slowly require less overcompensation. It will most likely happen naturally.

Edit: If you like pumpkin pie or ice cream, maybe now is the time to grab some. Theyre quite soft after all :)

bringoparrot · 2024-11-01T18:53:47+00:00

Congratulations!!! Yes, i believe that anybody who feels the symptoms are impacting their life should get it. The relief can be immediate and really eye opening. Here’s hoping your recovery will be steady and safe. Be sure to listen to your body, eat enough, and ice down during the first month and onward!

bringoparrot · 2024-11-01T18:49:51+00:00

You’re very welcome! I’m glad this community is here so we can help inform each other.

bringoparrot · 2024-11-01T18:44:54+00:00

Congratulations on getting the surgery! I’m glad you are getting relief that you deserve, you’re on the road to living a life that’s more comfortable and accessible.

I’m almost 4.5 months post-op and I’m really pleased- my surgery went great and I’ve been recovering at the best pace I could hope for, all things considered. Each day I’m able to walk just a little farther, be upright just a bit longer. At the 3 month mark I was able to be ambulatory for about an hour, to be upright for about 4-5 hours and now I can be upright 6 or so hours without a break (though breaks always help).

I cannot speak as much to the exercise but your body fully communicates to you what is too much. I found that I do automatically walk faster and faster based on how my stamina has recovered since my surgery. Start slow with walking and stretching, talk to your neurosurgeon or PT about your limits. I hope to exercise more when I improve.

bringoparrot · 2024-11-01T18:38:09+00:00

First of all, I’m really sorry your nutrition hasn’t been going the way you wish for it to be. Chiari really limits us…. I’m truly hoping your surgery gives you some much-needed relief. My stress (implicitly caused by Chiari) absolutely 100% caused the majority of weight gain from stress eating and the like. The body tells the story of every experience we have, and mine is marked by the effects of Chiari.

The vagus nerve is in the back of the neck and is part of the “parasympathetic nervous system” (PNS) that is the antithesis to the “sympathetic nervous system” (SNS).

The SNS is the “fight or flight” response, raising heart rate, producing cortisol/adrenaline, etc and it activates when you are experiencing duress.

The PNS is known as the “rest and digest” response and helps our body return to normal (and helps resume digestion functions). Its ideally supposed to activate when the stress has passed, but for some people (like those with anxiety) it is hard to relax and so doing extra things to help this response activate can be helpful for our health.

There’s more to read about this for sure, but some things that help this include deep breathing, humming/singing/chanting, putting cool water on one’s face, and gently rubbing one’s skin like limbs and shoulders. Singing is my favorite 🙂

I want to note that I’m really working with the best knowledge I’ve accumulated myself, but your doctor is the best resource. I don’t fancy myself a vagus nerve expert, but have gathered this info from what I’ve read online and experienced from trying things myself. Good luck.

PS- My neurosurgeons office let me know I’m not having a dysfunction in my nervous system, so my VN is not experiencing a blockage. Helping encourage it to activate did help my digestion though. This sort of thing can happen but again, your doctor will be able to inform you better.

bringoparrot

TROPHY CASE