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My experience after craniotomy to remove a meningioma
I had craniotomy for my 4 cm meningioma on the 2nd of July. I get my staples out in 4 more days at my post op appointment. For the most part I feel pretty good. I have some sight issues that should improve as the swelling goes down. I woke up being able to write but not read. I have problems with compound words and consonant blends. Certain sight words I can not figure out or sound out. It’s a lot of work to read but it is slowly getting better.
I’m not in much pain other than where they stapled the bandage on and stapled the scalp together. My surgery was my left occipital lobe for the most part. They couldn’t get the first drain to seal so had to go back in and put a new drain in. It didn’t seal right away either. Every time they came in and emptied the drain I could hear the air in the area move but felt immediately a release of pressure.
I’m not sue they were able to get it all. I read something on my post surgery ct that mentioned a 5 mm image. Hopefully we got it all. I should find out in a few days. My doctor did his best and I’m so grateful for him and his surgery staff. The mri said the sinuses were occluded and when he got in there and cut into them they weren’t. Also the meningioma had grown into the skull and they had to grind it out in places. He said it was a pretty hard surgery. Thank God for good neurosurgeons.
I’m feeling pretty lucky that I tripped walking my dog at 61 and found it.
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Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope everyday brings new improvements!
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2 ReactionsAll in all, it seems you had a pretty good outcome. And it sounds like you are well on your way to a successful recovery. Thank you for posting as it helps others to see that a craniotomy doesn't have to be the nightmare one imagines. (At least, in my case, the nightmare I had imagined.)
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1 ReactionBonus points for having a brilliant dog.
Your 61 y.o. How has your employer responded?
I hope you continue to improve.
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1 ReactionThis is an amazing story! Thanks so much for posting it and I wish you a complete recovery! Where did you have the surgery? I have a second MRI on July 30th and might have to make a treatment decision.
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1 Reaction@vernicek I had a referral to Polin Nuerosurgery in Portland Oregon. The surgery was done at Providence Hospital on Glisan. Dr Polin takes several insurances so that was the one my insurance would take. He selected most of the people in the or and had worked with them before.
I had just switched insurance 4 days before I fell so it took a long time to get established with a doctor to get referred on to Polin. However, I had heard about Radiology Assist, a program to get deeply discounted scans and I showed up at the doctor with the scan on a disk and they sent me for more specific scans and that saved time. The original scan with Radiology Assist was only $300 in Arizona. They are around $700 in Oregon. I gad called a local well known hospital and they quoted $5000 so I went ahead and got it through radiology assist the next couple of days.
I wasn’t having any simptoms, but due to the size I was afraid I might have a stroke or seizures so I elected to get it out. Some issues my doctor thought were not related have disappeared so I’m pretty happy. The reading is coming back slowly but making progress. Good luck wth your issues and progress.
@k5t I’m retired but I still cover my own business. Before I went in I reworked my will and my DNR to make sure my bases were covered. I made sure I had a month of runway for billings etc because I knew I might be tired or confused. I am a little slower in the head but part of that is brain fog that is getting better. I just had back surgery 2 months ago from the same surgeon so I kind of expected to be down 2-3 weeks but getting better each day.
The haircut is a doozy but I’m sleeping better than I have in a decade and I think I will be back to putting by the end of the week. I’m very pleased with the results, frustrated with how slow I read but improving.
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2 Reactions@lovestocook Back surgery too! You’ve been through a lot. I’m impressed that you are able to write so well, and hope your ability to read returns.
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1 Reaction@lovestocook
Sleeping well is good medicine.
Executive talents sound like you are on the right hiway. Just driving in the slow lane.
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1 Reaction@vernicek crazy thing, when I went to see Dr Polin he asked if I was having any other issues and I described a problem I was having with my left leg. He sent me for a scan of the L4 L5 while I was getting the other scans. He saw a syst and spinal stinosis so he let me choose which surgery first.. since I could hardly walk or stand I chose the back first. Immediate relief. I’ve been able to walk since my 2nd day after brain surgery. I’m grateful for that.
I too had craniotomy surgery in Portland, at Providence St. Vincent’s. Dr. Antezana of the Oregon Clinic was the surgeon. The surgery was a year and a half ago to remove a tennis ball sized frontal lobe meningioma. Had follow-up radiation treatment starting a year ago. 18 months on I don’t feel any different. I bike almost daily and the helmet makes contact with some cranial hardware in the forehead which irritates them. That’s the only leftover from the surgery. At age almost 69 I’m completely independent and don’t think I lost much mentally. Hope your recovery journey is smooth sailing.
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