Watching a Meningioma Brain Tumor

hello - five yrs ago on Oct
17/2013, I had a seizure (my one & only). And that's when a grade 1 benign mengioma - 3 cm was discovered. That was on a Friday evening - I had sold my house & HAD to move on the following Monday. They wanted to operate o that same day!!! No warning, no family, no social work or help with an horribe decision to be made - never been ill or in hospital. Terrified beyond belief - even now - what I went thru was awful beyond belief. BUT I checked myself out of hospital and got on with my life. If it was to be short, so be it.
And I was in OK shape - tumour was not growing, in fact reduced in size/shape.
Underlying all of this was my treme dous fear of someone, allbeit a top neurosurgeon, was going to open my brain. I just couldnt cope with that and so, took my chances.
But in May 207, my cognitive abilities went downhill and I had to make THE decision to have the craniotomy. I still to this day, don't know how I managed to walk thru the doors of the hospital!!!
As 70 yr old single woman, I enjoyed four pretty good years of life, all the while knowing I jad something inside of my head, pressing down on my beloved brain.
Somehow I overcame my tremendous fea of the surgery, and the tumour was completely removed.
I do not regret waiting all those years - perhaps I was lucky.
It is NOT an easy decision to reach ( LO) but I truly wish you well as you travel along this new path in your life.
Please free to "chat" with me as you need.
Peace & Happiness!
Gloria

Gloria Jean how is your recovery going? You are such a brave person!

Kind words but I was truly so scared that really I was "choosing" to have the tumour tale me away rather than to have my brain cut open!!!! That is not bei brave.

What now keeps me somewhat on track is that I was only on the operating table for 1.5 hrs..- incision closed with 34 staples - main chewing muscles on the left side of my face - oh, I can go on and on. I was not informed about so many elements of my "short" brain surgery! My balance is ruined BUT then my cogntive abilities are very good and getti g back to where I was before I had the deadly seizure.
I have been grieving about the tumour and now I am in the angry phase of this process.
And I have not even touched upon the severe depression I endured for several months fter having my brain opened up.
Hard, hard decision to be reached without family or support.

Gloria Jean my story is similar to yours in the beginning. The ER admitted me after finding a mass in my brain after a ct scan. I felt like they were pushing me toward brain surgery the second morning after admission so I checked myself out with a possible diagnosis of acoustic Neuroma 3.3 cm
I needed more insurance and to do my research. I am 68 years old and have had a # of surgeries and hospitalizations. I knew i might be facing a serious surgery and wanted a very experienced surgeon to drill into my head. I called Mayo Clinic at the advice of a doctor friend of mine. My husband drove me the 7 hours to meet with surgeons. I believe i had the 2 best in the west. A few weeks later I went for surgery armed with a lot a research and additional insurance. The surgery lasted 8 hours and all four of my adult children were there along with my dear husband of 42 years. It was so sad to learn that you went through surgery all alone. After 5 days in the hospital i went to rehab for 8 days. I am now in the 3rd week of home health care and think i am progressing well. I am hoping to be able to drive again but my balance needs more work. I have to fight feelings of self pity and some anger at times but I turn to doing things that cheer me up and press on.

Goodness, 8 hrs of surgery! Ad you were pleased with the surgeons' abilities. And you have your husband and your children. What a team you have!. There is the good side of an earth-shattering point in your life.
have your dpctors addressed the balance provlem that so many of us who have had brai n surgery endure
Weren't you afraid going into the hospital? I didn't even want to undress - the nirse wouldn't give me the pill promised by the neurosurgeon "as soon as I walked thru the front door of the hospital".
I behaved worse than a child until I got sedated.
What are you now finding the most difficult ?
Peace & Happiness

Gloria Jean
The hardest thing for me is not being able to drive. I can't go see my kids or grandkids. I have to wait for my hubby who still works or to take me or for them to come to see me.

Hello @kkenn

I would like to add my welcome, along with Lisa's, @lisalucier, to Mayo Connect. I looked at the National Institute of Health website that discusses this type of surgery. Here is the link to the article,
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4831269/
Have you had any paresis or symptoms other than the migraines?

I fell while at work. It was an accident and not at all related to any other problems. I hit my head pretty hard when I fell resulting in a concussion. I had headaches and dizziness for several weeks following that and it was during an MRI for that when the meningioma was discovered.
I hate to admit that I still haynot gone in for the follow-up to look more closely at the meningioma. I know it’s something I should do. I just keep thinking that it’s probably nothing. I know that’s probably not the best decision.

I tripped and fell again today, another accidental fall. I’m experiencing some mild concussion symptoms again (headache, dizziness) but haven’t called my doctor. It does make me think about the meningioma again.