I have come across many people from the start that have a tendency to blame "other symptoms" on Chiari and Syringomyelia.

Often in our search for answers about our condition, we tend to group all of our symptoms together and try and blame it on Chiari and / or Syringomyelia, and indeed it seems to be a common misconception.

Whilst it is true that we can say with some certainty that stress and sometimes depression can be experienced as we battle with the most simplest of day to day activities and obligations, we must also be aware that we can be suffering from other illnesses or complaints. We cannot afford just to sit back and accept these symptoms, we really do need to address them and accept treatment for them separately.

Take me for instance. I also suffer from Asthma, and there are suggestions that breathing difficulties can be experienced by Chiari sufferers. The main extent of the suggestions are that it can cause "loud breathing" or shortness of breath. I do not for one minute think that my asthma is directly caused by Chiari, but in hindsight I can offer other explanations.

I am often accused by friends and family of appearing to be wheezing either whilst in person or over the phone. When challenged, I often do not feel wheezy at all and have always thought that they were mistaken. After reading about this lesser known complication, I am guessing that I was just breathing heavily and that this was the cause of their comments.

Also, I was always able to go sea fishing on a boat until more recently without feeling sea sick. Over the last couple of years I have been unable to do so, even in the calmest of waters. Now, I do know that vertigo and balance issues are caused by Chiari and that they are a common symptom among sufferers. Therefore I can assume to a large extent that my inability to do so these days, may be attributed directly to Chiari.

What I am trying to share here, is that it is all to easy to blame everything that goes wrong with our bodies and health on our currently focussed condition. This cannot always be the case and we need to be able to stand back and evaluate all of our symptoms and seek alternative help and diagnosis when the need arises.

It is also sadly true that many Chiarians are labelled at some point as Hypocondriacs or Depressives. However, because of the nature of the complaint, the wide ranging list of attributed symptoms and our own misunderstanding then its hardly surprising at all.

If you are at all concerned with anything "out of the ordinary" or just plain and simply anything at all, I would suggest that you obtain medical advice as soon as is possible. If not just to put your own mind at rest.

Other Links:
So what is Chiari malformation?
Syringomyelia? - What is it?
Chiari and Syringomyelia Symptoms