Surgery for pilocytic astrocytoma: When will I feel like myself again?

Posted by jkenser @jkenser, Feb 9, 2017

Hello everyone. 6 weeks ago I had a brain surgery to remove a tumor out of my right temporal lobe. They were able to remove the entire tumor (thank the good Lord). I have never had any surgery so I am unsure how I should be feeling. I still feel as though I am walking around in a fog, I am tired and just do not feel 100% like myself. I am also having pretty bad anxiety and am not sleeping well. I am a registered nurse and am also a full time student pursuing my doctoral degree for family nurse practitioner. I have been able to keep up with classwork and have postponed clinical until the first week in March. Well March is coming quick. I am supposed to go back to work on February 20th and then clinical starts 2 weeks after, but I still feel so foggy. I do not know if the fog is from the surgery or from my anxiety. Some days I just want to cry. I am able to start driving again tomorrow which for some reason scares me. Ugh, I just want to feel like myself again. I want my life back! I know I am so very blessed and I should really focus on all of my blessing. My surgery was a success and my tumor was a grade 1 pilocytic astrocytoma (Thank you Jesus). I just find myself so scared still. If anyone can shed some light on how long I will feel like this that would be great. I know we are all different, and no 2 surgeries are the same. I will keep praying for 100% healing, as I know my Lord will not fail me. Maybe I just need to be patient as it has only been 6 weeks? Although, 6 weeks seems like such a long time.

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@lynda1992

Hi @jkenser,
You just had brain surgery to remove a brain tumor and you survived! That's right, you survived! You need to keep telling yourself that. Maybe it would help if you would start keeping a journal. Write down all your thoughts, feelings & fears. Why do you feel like you're one big mess, etc. Is there a support group in your area? If there isn't, seek a professional who you can talk too. This fall, it will be 25 years since my brain surgery. I still have some high anxiety days. You're not alone. You need to give yourself a break. Take a deep breathe. Relax..... For now, stay away from the internet. Focus your attention on something else. Do you have any hobbies?

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I had Brain surgery in December, 2019 and still have numbness on right side of face/head. I started playing golf again in early March but this virus garbage has curtailed that. Medications were horrible in first month but none taken now. As my PCP says "you had brain surgery and now you play golf so shut up and try to make all your putts".

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@bobhills

I had Brain surgery in December, 2019 and still have numbness on right side of face/head. I started playing golf again in early March but this virus garbage has curtailed that. Medications were horrible in first month but none taken now. As my PCP says "you had brain surgery and now you play golf so shut up and try to make all your putts".

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@bobhills without the golf course, what is keeping you fit and occupied these days?

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@colleenyoung

@bobhills without the golf course, what is keeping you fit and occupied these days?

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I plan to play next week if the weather holds but in the meantime I am keeping fit and occupied surfing the internet and eating ice cream

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@bobhills

I plan to play next week if the weather holds but in the meantime I am keeping fit and occupied surfing the internet and eating ice cream

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I have no intention of living until I am 136 yrs old but while I am here I plan to enjoy every minute.

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Good for you. Good luck and long life. Enjoy every minute. Even in hard time life is priceless and deserves our fight.

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