This Chiari thing seems to affect more women than it does men. Not sure why, nothing has been documented why, apart from the numbers.

Scott found us at the forum after his partner joined us to find out a little more about the condition.

Just like other people with Chiari, we seem to share a common bond right away, not only with each other, but with our partners too going through exactly the same things as you do.

I think Scott has opened his heart out to the forum and it has really helped a lot of people already, he may not realise that yet, but its great to see and I am sure it's doing him well too!

Scott has had a journey, and it's by no means finished yet.

This is his story in his own words.....

I been putting writing this of for long enough. So here gose. I appoligise for the spelling in advance lol my spell check still not working lol.

Mel joined the Forum at www.chiari.co.uk a few weeks ago......and basically exploded in with a heck of a passion, lots of laughs, loadsa giggles and has just fitted right away! Mel is a bundle of fun and joy and has such a positive and addictive outlook.

Read here story....in her own words and style as I reckon it will touch many hearts, resemble many of our own stories and give you a giggle at the same time.

Rite ere goes.....

My childhood was good, just like any other spoilt kid lol til i turned 11, thats wen everything changed.

Eva is trying to get her story published and has had interest in it. Her's is a very well written piece, one that lots of people could relate to and one that that will strike a few chords for sure.

Once again, I was the last to leave the office. The silence inside the normally chaotic fundraising room emphasised the drumming of the wind-driven rain on the windows. I was quite aware that I was only really working at reduced capacity, with all that was happening at home at the time. So it wasn’t really devotion to work that made me stay late, it was better described as guilt, guilt for letting my workload pile up.

Jade really has a successful story to share. Through her own admission she has pushed herself, maybe a little too hard at times.......... but that really is the power of PMA!

Jade continues to have a positive outlook on things and has never let this condition beat her. Here's her update.

Well the past year has been a bit of a rollercoaster to put it simply, from my bad health and diagnosis to decompression and recovery and finally getting my life back!
People never seem to surprise me but somehow I seem to surprise myself a lot! When I was given the diagnosis of Chiari Malformation, it shattered my whole world and destroyed my dreams of the future I had hoped for myself, I thought I was beaten. I never imagined this would happen to me but in reality why not me???

One of the wonderful things about this blog and the Chiari forum is that I get to meet some amazing people.

Kelly is just one of those such people. We often get all wrapped up in our own little worlds and think that it couldn't possibly get more complicated.

Well it can. There is a lot of talk about Chiari being possible a hereditary disorder, there isn't much evidence either for or against as not enough research has been carried out due to the number of patients currently affected and being able to research each individual and the fact that the condition can be asymptomatic.

well, stories like this keep cropping up. Maybe there is some truth in it?

Kelly, Thank you for letting me share this on the blog.

MY LIFE WITH CHIARI MALFORMATION

It has taken me a while to get round to posting this one, to Marina I must apologise!

With one thing and another, I have left this blog lonely for too long. I am now going to try and get back into it and update it.

This is the start of that by adding peoples stories that most of you will definitely find similarities between these and your own situations.

Marina's story is no exception. She has left out "little" things like being accused by her GP of being a Hypochondriac and that "it was all in her head".......... how ironic really????

Marina has now been given a date for surgery, and so has been totally validated and now is well on the way to getting her life back at long last.

My name is Sarah, I am married with two children currently aged 9 and 6. This is my story about my diagnosis and operations. It all happened in October 2006…

“Mummy!!!” cried my then 3yr old son who needed the toilet in the middle of the night. I got out of bed and tried to walk to his bedroom. My legs wouldn’t work properly and I started to feel faint and had noticed that my legs and arms were shaking again. I managed to get to his bedroom and sat on the end of the bed until I felt a little better. After my hearing had come back to normal, and I had stopped shaking I took him to the toilet and went back to bed. In the morning I mentioned this to my husband, who said that my blood sugar must have been very low and next time to sit on our bed until I feel better.

Those of you that have been reading this blog and the stories in particular will remember Jade. This Scot's Lassie continues to be a fighter and one of those people that proves that not even Chiari can get you down.

Jade has not only got through decompression surgery with flying colours, she has got back to fitness training within 7 weeks and is now back on the front line policing in Scotland!

Jade really is a success story and through her own determination has not let this awful condition beat her.

This is the latest edition of her story and just shows how a positive attitude and a stubborn outlook can really make a difference.

GETTING BACK TO WORK

Luke's Mam got in touch a few days ago through the blog, and asked me for some help. I read the story of her son Luke, and for a minute I really didn't know what to say. Luke has had it harder already than a lot of us, and still has surgery to go for Chiari, and possibly then onto other surgeries. How could I possibly help a young man like that who is far stronger than I ever could be?

Well, it looks like I could after all and have put Luke's man, Victoria in touch with a good friend of mine on the forums who has been in a similar situation with her daughter. Brilliant news.....I am sure that Anne Marie will offer her usual wonderful level of support and help this family get through the near future.

One bonus too...we have a Cumbrian connection!