Hi, I am female 52years old. 175cm 69kg. I was diagnosed with Primary Addisons Disease in 2001. I take hydrocortisone & fludrocortisone. I started menopause in 2008, have not menstruated for about 2 years but still suffer frequent hot flushes. I have not taken any HRT. About 10 months ago I started experiencing sudden severe throbbing pains in my head (about back/centre) when I coughed, which only last about 5 - 6 seconds. Afterward I feel dull in the head. Also if I reach up or turn my head in certain ways I get the pain. Also sometimes when sneezing, yawning and going to the toilet, I will experience the pains. I originally thought I may have had sinus. I eventually visited my GP about four months ago as the pains were becoming more frequent and severe. I had CT scan and X ray of the sinuses. Also full check up from my endocrinologist. The CT scan didn t reveal anything and my sinuses were clear. The endocrinologist reported my addisons disease is well controlled and all blood tests were good. My thyroid and cholesterol level is also good. The GP suggested I see a chiropractor, which I did. I got more X rays of spine and back. The chiro said my very top bit of my spine (I don t know what it is called maybe C1?) was a little compressed and he though this was causing the problem. I went to him for about 6 visits with not one bit of improvement to my problem, so I went back to GP and he gave me carbamazepine-SZ 200mg. I took 1 tablet each night but had to stop after 5 days as they made me very dizzy and I felt very tired and heavy headed from taking them and they did not improve my problem at all. The pains are getting more severe each time and I mostly feel a bit dizzy and off balance most of the time. I bump into things often, my neck (and sometimes shoulders) feel sore most of the time and I can t seem to find a comfortable place, I usually have to rest my head on my hand. I had my most severe attack last night after having a crumb caught which made me have a coughing fit, after the pain subsided I was left with very dull headache and dizzy and had to go to bed. I will see my GP again in 2 days and I want to ask for a referral to a neurologist and maybe a MRI. I have been reading about chiari malformation, do you think I may have this? I would much appreciate your thoughts on this matter. Thank you very much, Kind regards, Deborah Dwyer