Meningioma: Anyone else? I'm frightened

I was diagnosed with meningioma 2 and a half years ago. They were confirming a torn retina and found the tumor by chance. Yes they are almost always benign. I was just having mine monitored annually with MRI, no growth until 2 months ago and now I have to have it removed. I totally understand the fear that you feel when they tell you that you have a brain tumor. But it truly can be managed and may never cause you any problems. My advice is find a good neurosurgeon that you trust and follow their advice.

my mri just found a meningioma on my right on my pituitary gland. They found it as I was having vision loss, i still see 20/20 but only out of the center of my vision, all peripheral on my left eye is blurry. I have 3 children, almost 42 and super stressed. @pixie49247 what were the results of your meningioma as its been a year, i am curious to how it resuloved.

I had an MRI in 2018 that showed a meningioma that was growing. I was eligible for Gamma Ray Knife surgery. The surgery was successful in stopping the growth. If the docs offer that surgery, let me know and I can walk you through it. I have had no problems and now I only need an MRI every 2 years to monitor it. Oh, the surgery is like having an MRI as it's non invasive.
Have a great day.

Mine is in the same spot. I am scheduled for surgery at the end of the month to remove as much as possible. It’s pressing on my optic nerve too and I’m getting some blurry vision. It’s definitely stressful and scary. I have 2 kids and want to see them graduate and play with my grandkids someday!

Is the blurry vision your only symptom? How did the meningioma come to light?

Jason, perhaps you have seen prior posts from me. I also had a meningioma, 2.7 centimeters,
1/16th of an inch from my optic nerve. The neurosurgeon at UCSF was able to remove it all when two other neuro doctors said the location was too risky. Resection (removal of the tumor) is always preferred, so you are "lucky" that you were given that choice. You are young and will do well. I was 71 when my meningioma was removed 8 months ago. The craniotomy was not the nightmare I was worried it would be. I was in the hospital 2 days, not even in the intensive care unit, and except for whatever pain meds they gave me during the surgery I was only on tylenol. I did have double vision for three months after my surgery, not because of damage to my optic nerve, but rather my cranial nerve #4 was compromised in some way. Good luck to you and I am sure you'll get to see your kids graduate and play with a passel of grandchildren some day.

Your post has lifted my spirit. I'm 64 and having a craniotomy this fall. You said it wasn't so bad, I'm trying to stay positive that will be the case for me.

Yes only the blurry vision. I have always had trouble with my ears plugging up. I went to ENT and they said they couldn’t find anything wrong with my ears. I mentioned I could hear my heartbeat and he immediately ordered a CT angiogram that’s where the mass was noted an hour and a half later they had me in for an MRI with him without contrast, and they immediately referred me to neurosurgery

Thank you, that helps with the stress and anxiety a bit. I appreciate it! I’ve been somewhat of a mess leading up to surgery. I’m glad to hear everything went well for you and hope to have the same experience soon. I just want to have a good life with family and friends and start working again.

i have similar types of vision problems and have for many years. Supposedly, it’s unrelated to my small meningioma that was found “incidentally” during a brain MRI in 2018. There is a remedy for that type of vision loss. It’s called “prisms” and is prescribed as part of a glasses RX. You want to find the most qualified practioner in your area fitting prisms. I happen to live in South Florida where the top eye institute in the country is located. I see a neuro-opthamologist who partners with a highly specialized optometrist who fits prisms. They can be designed to open your field of vision considerably. You don’t see prisms when you look at a pair of glasses but
they are designed and constructed to create an optical illusion.