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Meningioma: Anyone else? I'm frightened

Brain Tumor | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (362)

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@mary963

Hello, my name is Mary. I am 51y female. I was diagnosed with a meningioma this past year. I am about to have my second mri in January. Do you know where I can find more information on symptoms and treatment. The doctor I have gone to hasn't even shown me EXACTLY where I have this in my head. I tried looking for information myself but it is not very clear. Any information would be really helpful.
Thanks

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Replies to "Hello, my name is Mary. I am 51y female. I was diagnosed with a meningioma this..."

I went to two doctors to make sure this was what i was dealing with, and both doctors (in totally different cities) told and showed me exactly where this was. Ask your doctor who did the MRI or your neurosurgeon.

Mary: I went to the ER 3 years ago b/c of tingling down my arm. My husband was worried about a stroke. (It was a nerve issue in my neck.) But, the MRI showed I had a meningioma. I informed my primary care doctor and he said not to worry b/c they found meningiomas all the time when screening for strokes and they usually were benign and didn't cause any real problems. Interestingly enough, I had seen this same doctor at least 4 times about these vague symptoms I had been having over the course of 3 or 4 years. Finally, I put 2 and 2 together and asked him for a referral to a neurologist. I told the neurologist I suspected that maybe these symptoms I had been complaining of were from the meningioma. ( Symptoms are correlated to where the meningioma is and what nerve or struture it is pressing on.) I asked the neurologist where the meningioma was. He actually had the report in hand from the prior MRI. He said, and this is a direct quote, "I don't know." He then excused himself from the room and said he was going to call the radiologist. I heard them talking for 5-10 minutes in the room next to me. The neurologist came back and told me, per the radiologist, that it was pressing on my trigeminal nerve and, yes, those symptoms I had been complaining of could definitely be associated. The neurologist referred me to a neurosurgeon. I will always respect the neurologist for being honest and not trying to b.s. his way through a question he did not know the answer to. I have since been told that a neurologist specializes in diseases of the brain. So, I tend to be long-winded, but you will get an answer to your question most definitively from a radiologist (but we, as patients, don't consult with them) or a neurosurgeon. You didn't mention in your post whether the doctor who is ordering the MRIs is a neurosurgeion but if he is not, I would definitely ask for a referral to one. Also, educate yourself as much as you can before any consultations. Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkin all have good websites discussing meningiomas. Then, I always write down questions I have which I take with me during the consult.

I have googled and searched webs and everywhere I could to find as much research as possible. Continue to ask your doctor all the questions you have about your situation. The results of your MRI is the will show you exactly where it’s located.