Hi, my name is Leanne Matthews. I am from Wichita Kansas. I just got the diagnosis of Chiari malformation type 1 2 weeks ago. I have thoroughly researched my disease and I've come to the conclusion that I was born with it and started displaying symptoms when I was around 12 or 13 years old. My symptoms have progressively gotten worse over the Year and have really come to a head in the last 9 weeks. Just prior to my diagnosis I spent the weekend in the emergency room with symptoms of heart attack and stroke and the onset of a really bad stutter and migraines all in one weekend. I have my first appointment with my neurosurgeon on the 28th of this month. I have gotten signed up with the Mayo Clinic and have access to a 24-hour nurse. So as of now I guess my only question is aside from the Topamax that my doctor is prescribing me at bedtime every night is there any suggestions you can offer me as to what I can do to help ease these migraines?