someone call me name? 
Hi anissa,
Yes, a guilty one here as well... a nice head combo diagnosis. I know of one other on this site (Tampa Tim as I lovingly call him) who, last year, had surgery on his AN and Chiari simultaneously... Raydean, a site user, has a daughter with Chiari as well (but no AN.... her husband had the AN).
My cerebellum slip is not as much as your's (and your's is also deemed mild). The headaches can be excrutiating but over the years, I've learned to deal with them as they crop up.
Great when I get a head MRI... a true "BOGO" (Buy One, Get One) as my docs can view the AN and my Chiari to see how I"m doing.
Last month, had my follow up with my neurosurgeon (a NS should really follow the Chiari) to see how mine is. I am symptomatic of my Chiari but not overly. Some extremity weakness, the migraines, balance, etc. As you note, sometimes its difficult to figure out which is causing the issues. I can tell my Chiari migraines as they are localized to my occipital area of my head (top of neck area).
If your CM1 is currently at 19mm, please make sure to find a terrific NS in your area to follow up. CM1 (or CM in general) is very rare (not like AN's, huh?
) and not many NS really know how to handle them. You will need to be monitored to make sure the cerebellum slippage doesn't go any further.
A terrific website for CM1 is:
http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/chiari1.aspIt fully outlines exactly what it is, treatments, symptoms, etc.
I can share that I still live a terrific, full life and we monitor it to see how its doing. I hope it continues to stay mild for you.
I am more than happy to discuss in PM (so we keep the posts here for AN)... my inbox is open.
this reminds me to get hold of Tampa Tim... baseball season is in full season again.
Hang in there anissa. Having and AN and CM1 does make us more rare than usual.... cuz we're speshal
Remember that!
Phyl
P.S. Alka Seltzer Plus works great on colds!
Feel better!
