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Doctors Failed my Daughter

My daughter, Sagan, had Arnold Chiari Syndrome. She had severe headaches most of her life, especially the last three years when she had severe daily headaches. She had severe problems with restless leg syndrome and tingling and numbness although the hand tingling and pain was helped with bilateral carpal tunnel surgery in 2021, after recovering from a leg fracture. She had to delay the surgery because she couldn't have the surgery while on crutches - couldn't use her hands. She also had five autoimmune diseases that she suffered with since childhood, including Diabetes Mellitus 1 and Celiac Disease. She developed seizure like episodes the past year that left her in a post ictal state after episodes, with unbearable headaches and inability to speak or move for a period of time. She had a cardiac workup to make sure there were no cardiac causes - there weren't. However, her neurosurgeon in St. Louis told her that her 5 mm herniation did not need surgery; that hers wasn't bad enough. She did not have a standing MRI or cine flow studies; nor was she offered those. The neurosurgeon said he would refer her "urgently" to a headache neurologist. That appointment was over 8 months later. My daugher suffered with unbearable pain and was told that surgery would not help her, without further evaluating with appropriate tests or referrals. On April 16th, at the age of 34, she had such severe pain with such severe symptoms that she took her own life, leaving a young husband and 13 year old daughter. I am sad, and angry. No one should go through what she did, including the doubt and humiliation instilled by DOCTORS. I am an ER doctor myself and still could not get her the help she needed.

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