In this one‑minute vlog, the speaker reflects on the 365‑day anniversary of their posterior fossa decompression for Chiari I malformation. They recount the extreme postoperative pain during the first 24 hours, including nausea and inability to lift their head, and note intermittent setbacks in the following weeks. Recovery accelerated around four to six months post‑surgery, after which they felt markedly better and now describe themselves as “fantastic.” The video serves as encouragement for others facing Chiari surgery, emphasizing the importance of choosing a skilled, trustworthy surgeon, seeking online support groups (especially on Facebook), and offering to answer questions via social media. The overall message is that despite a painful start, long‑term outcomes can be very positive.
Chapters
Alright guys. Well, I'm actually sitting here at the gym as you can see. But today's a pretty important day as far as what it represents. It was 365 days ago that I had my Chiari. My Chiari surgery, my decompression surgery. And that means 365 days ago I was literally in the worst pain that I'd ever been in. I mean, if you've seen any of my other videos, I mean, they say post op, you know, your first 24 hours after surgery is pretty bad. And it was, it was bad. I think I've shared in one of the other videos I was in so much pain, I threw up and I didn't even want them, you know, they wiped it off of me. They wanted to change the sheets but I told them to let me lay in it because there's no way I could have picked my head up. I was hurting so bad. But it got better, it got better. And if you've seen the other videos, I have, I had a couple of setbacks. It got worse there for a time or two. But I got to tell you, I feel great. And if you're watching this video and you've been diagnosed with a Chiari one malformation and the idea of surgery scares you, just the thought of what you have to go through, you're not alone. There's people out there that have had the exact same surgery that are doing fantastic now. And so I just want to encourage you watch other videos, you can watch my video and just know that, you know, make sure that you pick a great surgeon, somebody that you're comfortable with and then find some support. There's different support groups online, on Facebook and just wherever you can reach out to me if you can, you know, find me on Facebook or wherever, but I'll answer any questions that you have. But this is just one year post op and let you know that I'm doing fantastic. And I just want to encourage you that if this is something you're facing, know that it gets better. You know, just you got to put up with it. But I felt probably about six or seven months after surgery is whenever I. Maybe four or five months after surgery is when I really felt, oh my goodness, I haven't felt this good in years. You know, that feeling that let me know that it was all worth it. Since then everything's been great. So anyway, that's it. Thanks.
