A Little Introduction

My name is Amy...and I ALWAYS have a headache.  I was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation Type I at 21.  Now four and a half years later at age 25, I am having the decompression surgery to get rid of my, well as I like to call them, "brain tonsils". 

When trying to explain to friends that my surgery will eliminate my cerebral tonsils, some attempted to comfort me with kind words such as, "I will bring you ice cream!" or "Drink lots of liquids."  I responded with a nice smile, however when I came home to my mom I would say, "DO THEY THINK I HAVE A SORE THROAT?"

I don't have a sore throat.  Actually, knock on wood, I rarely get sick.  However, I ALWAYS have a headache.  I have a horrible headache. I have excruciating pain in my lower neck, right shoulder and all the way down to my hand.  I feel like my face is constantly droopy, when in reality it looks perfectly normal.  I drop things all day long due to the weakness in my hands.  I have a frequent tingling in my right hand and right foot.  I fall...a lot...like a toddler learning to walk.  Also, my lips tingle. As a 25 year old single girl, that is not my most flattering symptom.  My body is tired.  My mind is tired.  I struggle to live day to day as a normal girl my age.  There are days I feel like a 90 year old living in a 25 year old's body. 

Okay, now that I made you feel bad for me, there is something you need to know about me...I always have a headache, but I am also always happy.  If I may say so myself, I am one of the most optimistic people I know.  I HATE negativity.  It annoys me.  Life happens.  My mom has told me since I was just a little girl "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it".  All I have to say to that is AMEN. 

I don't want to give all my life details in one post, but let me just tell you that my life in the last two years has been nothing short of a whirlwind.  Mama was diagnosed with breast cancer about a year ago (she's cancer free now! Yipee!), my sister has been in and out of rehab three times in the last year (she is doing well in Florida now! Yipee again!), my parents just sold the house that we grew up in (we are moving mid-recovery), my grandmother passed away last January (I miss her lots), the Phillies got rid of Jayson Werth and then just a year later, got rid of Hunter Pence mid-season (I also miss him lots) and now I am trying to mentally prepare myself to try to worry about ME for the next few months.  Its just hard when Hunter is in San Fran. ;-)   

Basically I am using this blog as an outlet to vent and brag.  I also want to share my journey with friends, family and fellow Chiarians.  Looking at blogs and reading about others' experience with Chiari has really helped me.  I admit, at first it scared the poop out of me, but as I found more positive blogs, it made me more hopeful and drove me to start this one. 

Okay, its time for Monday night shows.  Another fun fact about me ... I LOVE TV... we will see if I say the same after my 6-10 week recovery!  Goodnight!