Arnold Chiari Malformation and Swallowing difficulties (Re-post)

[Guest guest]

I am posting this message again. I am really hoping to hear from

some parents, who's children wcf, had swallowing difficulties.

I would really like to know how they were resolved and what caused

the problem in the first place. Have any of your children been

diagnosed with Arnold Chiari malformation?

Thank you for sharing,

Gale

> Abigail(10.5 months old wcf) has been on solid food only since she

> was 8 months old. Some of what she swallows enters her lungs, she

> she is not allowed any liquids.

>

> An MRI showed that Abigail has Arnold Chiari Type I. This

> malformation allows the brain stem to protrude down into the spinal

> cord. Abby's nuerologist wants to do surgery. He will increase

the

> size of the hole in the scull and remove part of the top

vertibrate.

> This will keep the spinal fluid lding up in her head. Also, Abby's

> brain is actually resting right on the on the top vertibrate. This

> is why he wants to remove part of this vertibrate. He beleives

that

> this condition is contributing (or causing) her swallowing

> difficulties.

>

> To control Abby's reflux, she is on Prevacid, Zantec, Reglan and

> Pancreacarb. Even with all of this, she is still reluxing at least

> once every hour. We had believed that the reflux might be

irratating

> her throat. We had also read that coughing prevents the muscles

> involved in the swallowing process from developing as quickly.

>

> QUESTIONS:

> Do you know why so many children wcf seem to have swallowing

> difficulties? Have any of your children been diagnosed with Arnold

> Chiari?

>

> Thank you for any input that you may provide,

> Gale