What is Arnold Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia?
Sat, 09/12/2009 - 12:55 | 
Chris 
What is Arnold Chiari Malformation? (Type 1)
Chiari Malformation Type I is where the cerebellar tonsils at the back of the brain descend or herniate below the base of the skull through the large opening called the Foramen Magnum into the spinal area. This results in compression of the brain stem, surrounding nerves and spinal cord, and blocks the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid throughout the skull. This in turn causes symptoms such as severe headaches, muscle weakness and general muscle pain and weakness amongst many other debilitating symptoms in sufferers. Fortunately, patients can be asymptomatic for many years. Due to the nature and number of symptoms, this can often be mis-diagnosed, and unfortunately often for years.
Welcome to Chiari Blog
Wed, 09/09/2009 - 09:52 | Chris 
Hello and welcome! If you want to know more about Chiari Malformation (kee-ahh-ree) and Syringomyelia (see-ring-oh-my-eehlia), then please feel free to browse through the menu's and read through the posts.
To navigate around the site easily, use the menu items up at the top by left clicking them. Once you have read a post, either use your browers "back" button, the menu button or the "Home" button on the site to take you back to the home page.
You will find other links to other items that maybe of interest at the bottom of most posts.
A Little About Me.
Wed, 09/02/2009 - 12:24 | Chris 
My name is Chris, I am a 40 year old bloke, married with two small children and I live in Cheshire UK. I was officially diagnosed with Chiari Malformation Type 1 and Syringomyelia in early January 2009.
I had Foramen Magnum Decompression surgery in early April of 2009 in an attempt to stop the progression of my symptoms caused by my 17mm herniation and my syrinx which covered C1 to C3.
Just like many others, when I was diagnosed I had never heard of either conditions, so I searched the internet to find some answers. What I did come across was a mix of information, some of it relevant, some of it not, some of it contradictory but mostly I found it very confusing and very scary.
The Aim of www.chiariblog.co.uk
Tue, 08/25/2009 - 13:01 | Chris The aim of this blog or website will always remain to create and raise awareness of Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia throughout the UK and beyond.
It is my aim to provide a place where people just like me can come to to gain more information about Chiari and Syringomyelia and how to get treatment and to share their own experiences, fears, advice and general support.
We have a winner!
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 16:40 | Chris 
Hi All
You may remember that I was running a newsletter competition where I was asking people to sign up and be entered into a free draw to win 2 weeks free accommodation at my holiday apartment in Lanzarote?
Well, we have a winner!!!!
I am happy to announce that Laura Pearson is the lucky winner, and hope that she will enjoy the invitation to book 2 weeks with us whenever she can and subject to availability at the time. Laura, you are able to include you and your family in this invitation and look forward to speaking to you soon!!!
Apologies that it has taken me a little time to get round to doing this, but with a new job I have very little opportunity at the moment, so am playing catch up.
There will be another competition announced soon.
Tags: Funding for Chiari Blog
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 17:24 | Chris 
I have funded the building and maintenance of this site myself as I want to raise awareness of Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia.
I do not ask for a membership fee, nor for any donation and have no future plans to, as I believe firmly that this kind of information should be available free of charge to everyone.
However, there are other ways of providing income on the internet to pay for website costs, and these do not cost you a penny.
You will notice commercial adds dotted around the page, these are all links to various companies and products that you may find of use in your everyday lives.
Christmas is nearly here and I am sure a lot of you will be looking at Amazon perhaps to purchase products on-line.
Visitors Comments
Fri, 10/16/2009 - 13:24 | Chris 
Please feel free to comment on the blog or it's content. It is wonderful to have visitors to the site, and even better if you join up and make yourself visible.
I would love to hear what you think!
If joining up is not for you, or if you have not found what you are looking for and would like to see an article here, then please let me know.
This blog is growing, and I have not yet added everything that I want to. I am also learning something new every day about Chiari and Syringomyelia and will post when I have done enough research for it to be of use.
Want to Help Chiari Blog?
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 13:06 | Chris Do you want to help Chiari Blog reach more people in the UK and beyond? Do you have Chiari? Do you know someone that has? Want to help them? Do you need more information?
Have you found any information here that has helped you?
If you would like to contribute and help increase awareness there are many ways that you can do this.
1. Bookmark my site in your favourites and keep coming back.
2. Join the forum and register as a user.
3. Subscribe to the forum and receive regular newsletters and never miss out on new posts and information. If you subscribe before the end of December 2009 you will be entered into our free draw to win 2 weeks accommodation at my self catering apartment in LANZAROTE. (see the relevant post on here for details)
How to contact me? Why should you join us?
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 16:19 | Chris The following are ways to get in touch with me or follow this blog.
email: chris@chiariblog.co.uk or click on the email icon on the top right of the home page.
Subscribe to RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/co/OyLm or click on the orange icon on the top right of the home page.
If you are new to RSS then download Feedburner here
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Downing/687235863 or click on the Facebook icon on the top right of the home page.
Haven't yet got Facebook? Click here
Twitter profile: http://twitter.com/chrisldowning or click on the blue twitter icon on the top right of the home page.
Haven't yet got twitter? Click here
Win 2 weeks free accomodation in Lanzarote!
