Yes, I just had a hemangioma the size of a grapefruit removed last November. It was benign, thank goodness, but it did leave me with some deficits. Unfortunately, I still have two smaller tumors in my skull that they’re monitoring, probably for the rest of my life. My deficits are permanent hearing loss, I’ll never be able to smell or taste food again and because they left some of the large tumor in my head, I have peripheral vision loss in my right eye. My recovery was rough, I had to go PT, OT, speech therapy, etc to get back on my feet. But all in all I’m doing very well. How are you doing overall?
I had most of my right temporal lobe removed. It was done by a skull base neurosurgeon and other than a hyper sensitive right ear am doing well. Originally told I would be in neuro ICU 4 days, moved to neuro rehab in 1 day. Told to expect 10 day stay. At day 2 exceeded discharge criteria. Not bad for a 73 year old. Now 8 months out. MRIs clean. Brain elasticity allowed normal neuro exams since O.R. Even the chemotherapy has been tolerable. Other than slight nausea after 4 days.
Back in 1992 I had a brain tumor in the right frontal lobe. The MRI also found a growth in the central part of my brain the doctors thought may have been the focus of my epilepsy. They operated quickly, but within the two months that followed the surgery I suffered a severe depression. During those 2 months, I had 3 suicide attempts. During my 3rd attempt, while I was unconscious, I had a revelation from God. He pointed His finger at me & said, "Don't you ever try this again! I've given you 2 chances at rebuilding your life already. This is your 3rd and last chance. Don't you realize how many of the people who love you would be crying if you didn't make it. I want you to share this revelation with those you encounter in your new life. Tell them how real I AM. You will change the lives of many by sharing!" I was soon after placed in the psych ward to help me overcome my depression. The doctors tried me on numerous anti-depressants that didn't work until... in my 3rd week there, they tried me on Lithium. I woke up the next morning feeling like a million bucks. They were surprised and diagnosed me with bi-polar illness, saying if I still felt this good in a week's time I 'd be released, on condition that I see a psychiatrist on a weekly basis. I did, and what a revelation!
With that help, I learned to love myself again. Interestingly I was taken off the Lithium a number of years later & had it replaced with a drug that my neurologist suggested would be better for me. It happened to be Valproic Acid, which was two drugs in one... an anti seizure med and a mood stabilizer, all in one. It became my 'happy pill.' I love my life now & to this day, I no longer suffer from the 'depression' part of bi-polar illness. I have a family that loves me, two children that love me and a 12 year marriage that I cherished. Sadly, my wife at the time didn't understand how I was improving with my mental health. She felt that I was not the man she initially fell in love with any more. She couldn't stand being around me anymore, so she asked for a divorce. I didn't blame her one bit. My attitude had changed drastically, so I gave her the house (which was almost all paid for) and the Cutlass Sierra car we had, on condition that she didn't ask for alimony or child support because I couldn't work any more... I was on welfare, waiting for a disability pension to come through.
I later joined a Seventh Day Adventist church & became a born-again Christian. My life took on a whole new meaning. My disability pension did come in & I learned to live off of it. A few years later, I did have a small period of depression & was placed in a safe house for a month. There, I met a woman who had gone through hell in her life. We went out for coffee every day and cried on each other's shoulders. Thanks to the bi-polar support group I had joined a few years earlier, I had developed a good understanding of mental illness over the years... and became a great support to her. I'd learned to become a good listener. We fell in love with each other & got married, having 5 great years together... until she sadly passed away after a case of breast cancer. I miss her so-o-o. I am now, at age 68, in constant communication with The Lord and walk around with a smile on my face all day long, regardless of the trials of my past. I am happy all day long with The Lord by my side! It makes all the difference being at peace with the life The Lord has placed in front of me. I'm a happy camper... surprising the world I encounter considering ALL I've been through! Amen!
Anyone who would not be depressed with the diagnosis would be needing another type of head exam. Sadly some of the more common antidepressants are contraindicated with some chemotherapy agents.
Yes going on a year postoperative for a high grade Glioma. Radiation therapy went well. TMZ chemo has made me lactose intolerant but otherwise I do not find the 5 days a month I take it intolerable. The OPTUNE device is my Bain. The company does not seem to have a patient satisfaction team. All the equipment makes travel difficult. There is no portable charging station to top off batteries in car or train.
I had been diagnosed with glioblastoma in September 2023. I learned the hard way to get a power of attorney. Dr kept me in the hospital for over a week because they didn’t know what to do with me. My husband and sister was up to see me every day. Anyway, after 6 weeks radiation and then Optune /chemo pill I’m still feeling fine. I continue to throw up the first 2 days when taking the chemo pill every month. But happy to be alive!!
Back in 1992 I had a brain tumor in the right frontal lobe. The MRI also found a growth in the central part of my brain the doctors thought may have been the focus of my epilepsy. They operated quickly, but within the two months that followed the surgery I suffered a severe depression. During those 2 months, I had 3 suicide attempts. During my 3rd attempt, while I was unconscious, I had a revelation from God. He pointed His finger at me & said, "Don't you ever try this again! I've given you 2 chances at rebuilding your life already. This is your 3rd and last chance. Don't you realize how many of the people who love you would be crying if you didn't make it. I want you to share this revelation with those you encounter in your new life. Tell them how real I AM. You will change the lives of many by sharing!" I was soon after placed in the psych ward to help me overcome my depression. The doctors tried me on numerous anti-depressants that didn't work until... in my 3rd week there, they tried me on Lithium. I woke up the next morning feeling like a million bucks. They were surprised and diagnosed me with bi-polar illness, saying if I still felt this good in a week's time I 'd be released, on condition that I see a psychiatrist on a weekly basis. I did, and what a revelation!
With that help, I learned to love myself again. Interestingly I was taken off the Lithium a number of years later & had it replaced with a drug that my neurologist suggested would be better for me. It happened to be Valproic Acid, which was two drugs in one... an anti seizure med and a mood stabilizer, all in one. It became my 'happy pill.' I love my life now & to this day, I no longer suffer from the 'depression' part of bi-polar illness. I have a family that loves me, two children that love me and a 12 year marriage that I cherished. Sadly, my wife at the time didn't understand how I was improving with my mental health. She felt that I was not the man she initially fell in love with any more. She couldn't stand being around me anymore, so she asked for a divorce. I didn't blame her one bit. My attitude had changed drastically, so I gave her the house (which was almost all paid for) and the Cutlass Sierra car we had, on condition that she didn't ask for alimony or child support because I couldn't work any more... I was on welfare, waiting for a disability pension to come through.
I later joined a Seventh Day Adventist church & became a born-again Christian. My life took on a whole new meaning. My disability pension did come in & I learned to live off of it. A few years later, I did have a small period of depression & was placed in a safe house for a month. There, I met a woman who had gone through hell in her life. We went out for coffee every day and cried on each other's shoulders. Thanks to the bi-polar support group I had joined a few years earlier, I had developed a good understanding of mental illness over the years... and became a great support to her. I'd learned to become a good listener. We fell in love with each other & got married, having 5 great years together... until she sadly passed away after a case of breast cancer. I miss her so-o-o. I am now, at age 68, in constant communication with The Lord and walk around with a smile on my face all day long, regardless of the trials of my past. I am happy all day long with The Lord by my side! It makes all the difference being at peace with the life The Lord has placed in front of me. I'm a happy camper... surprising the world I encounter considering ALL I've been through! Amen!
MichaelJMarion: Yours was not the usual type of a post on this forum. But I found it interesting and uplifting. For those of us with any kind of brain issues we need to do whatever we can to continue on this journey, called life, in a positive manner.
Connect
Connect
Like
Helpful
Hug
I had most of my right temporal lobe removed. It was done by a skull base neurosurgeon and other than a hyper sensitive right ear am doing well. Originally told I would be in neuro ICU 4 days, moved to neuro rehab in 1 day. Told to expect 10 day stay. At day 2 exceeded discharge criteria. Not bad for a 73 year old. Now 8 months out. MRIs clean. Brain elasticity allowed normal neuro exams since O.R. Even the chemotherapy has been tolerable. Other than slight nausea after 4 days.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionAnyone have Oligodendroglioma? Mine is stage 3. Had surgery. Did radiation. Now doing chemo(temodar).
Back in 1992 I had a brain tumor in the right frontal lobe. The MRI also found a growth in the central part of my brain the doctors thought may have been the focus of my epilepsy. They operated quickly, but within the two months that followed the surgery I suffered a severe depression. During those 2 months, I had 3 suicide attempts. During my 3rd attempt, while I was unconscious, I had a revelation from God. He pointed His finger at me & said, "Don't you ever try this again! I've given you 2 chances at rebuilding your life already. This is your 3rd and last chance. Don't you realize how many of the people who love you would be crying if you didn't make it. I want you to share this revelation with those you encounter in your new life. Tell them how real I AM. You will change the lives of many by sharing!" I was soon after placed in the psych ward to help me overcome my depression. The doctors tried me on numerous anti-depressants that didn't work until... in my 3rd week there, they tried me on Lithium. I woke up the next morning feeling like a million bucks. They were surprised and diagnosed me with bi-polar illness, saying if I still felt this good in a week's time I 'd be released, on condition that I see a psychiatrist on a weekly basis. I did, and what a revelation!
With that help, I learned to love myself again. Interestingly I was taken off the Lithium a number of years later & had it replaced with a drug that my neurologist suggested would be better for me. It happened to be Valproic Acid, which was two drugs in one... an anti seizure med and a mood stabilizer, all in one. It became my 'happy pill.' I love my life now & to this day, I no longer suffer from the 'depression' part of bi-polar illness. I have a family that loves me, two children that love me and a 12 year marriage that I cherished. Sadly, my wife at the time didn't understand how I was improving with my mental health. She felt that I was not the man she initially fell in love with any more. She couldn't stand being around me anymore, so she asked for a divorce. I didn't blame her one bit. My attitude had changed drastically, so I gave her the house (which was almost all paid for) and the Cutlass Sierra car we had, on condition that she didn't ask for alimony or child support because I couldn't work any more... I was on welfare, waiting for a disability pension to come through.
I later joined a Seventh Day Adventist church & became a born-again Christian. My life took on a whole new meaning. My disability pension did come in & I learned to live off of it. A few years later, I did have a small period of depression & was placed in a safe house for a month. There, I met a woman who had gone through hell in her life. We went out for coffee every day and cried on each other's shoulders. Thanks to the bi-polar support group I had joined a few years earlier, I had developed a good understanding of mental illness over the years... and became a great support to her. I'd learned to become a good listener. We fell in love with each other & got married, having 5 great years together... until she sadly passed away after a case of breast cancer. I miss her so-o-o. I am now, at age 68, in constant communication with The Lord and walk around with a smile on my face all day long, regardless of the trials of my past. I am happy all day long with The Lord by my side! It makes all the difference being at peace with the life The Lord has placed in front of me. I'm a happy camper... surprising the world I encounter considering ALL I've been through! Amen!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsAnyone who would not be depressed with the diagnosis would be needing another type of head exam. Sadly some of the more common antidepressants are contraindicated with some chemotherapy agents.
Yes going on a year postoperative for a high grade Glioma. Radiation therapy went well. TMZ chemo has made me lactose intolerant but otherwise I do not find the 5 days a month I take it intolerable. The OPTUNE device is my Bain. The company does not seem to have a patient satisfaction team. All the equipment makes travel difficult. There is no portable charging station to top off batteries in car or train.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI had been diagnosed with glioblastoma in September 2023. I learned the hard way to get a power of attorney. Dr kept me in the hospital for over a week because they didn’t know what to do with me. My husband and sister was up to see me every day. Anyway, after 6 weeks radiation and then Optune /chemo pill I’m still feeling fine. I continue to throw up the first 2 days when taking the chemo pill every month. But happy to be alive!!
Here are a couple of discussions related to oligodendrogliomas:
- Oligodendroglioma with IDH mutation https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/oligodendroglioma-ihd/
- Brain cancer: Anyone have an Oligodendroglioma https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/brain-cancer/
@bitzy, how are you doing on Temodar?
I have meningionoma in parasagittal falx its stable, just
Mri,s for measurement changes
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionMichaelJMarion: Yours was not the usual type of a post on this forum. But I found it interesting and uplifting. For those of us with any kind of brain issues we need to do whatever we can to continue on this journey, called life, in a positive manner.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI just completed cycle 5. Now I have 23 days off and then on to cycle 6. Overall, I’m doing well.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions