Awaiting 2nd MRI for Meningioma: What are possible effects of surgery?

I also have a CPA meningioma on my right side, will have a second scan in June to determine if it has grown. I have read a lot of surgery side effects, but would welcome to hear from others.

Just had my second MRI a week ago and met with two neurosurgeons for follow up yesterday. Both say there was no change and can wait 6 months for MRI. Said it may never change. Glad I waited to have craniotomy after first MRI

@jvo2020neb1
I have left frontal lobe with edema.

I have my second MRI in June. Having a few headaches but not to bad .I Also have itp(low platelet count) so I have to be careful what pain medication I take. Prayers for all.

I have a second MRI scheduled for the last week of July. My skull-based left side meningioma, diagnosed in February, is near the optic nerve. Good luck to everyone on this site.

@bonjimhome and others, considering surgery or choosing watch and wait can be nerve wracking. You may appreciate these related discussions:

- How did you prepare mentally for Meningioma surgery?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/meningioma-surgery/
- Cerebellopontine Angle (CPA) Meningioma Surgery: Recovery tips?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cpa-meningioma-surgery/
- Large right sphenoid wing meningioma: Surgery or Watch & Wait?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/large-right-sphenoid-wing-meningioma/

@bonjimhome, when will you have the second MRI? Do you know the grade of the meningioma?

@jvo2020neb1 Hi--I'm so sorry you are going through this. Watch and wait can be so anxiety provoking. I watched my right CPA meningioma for just over a year under the care of my neurosurgeons. It showed some slow growth, but also resulted in very painful facial trigeminal neuralgia that couldn't be treated well with medications. I had near removal of meningioma by retrosigmoid crainiotomy last June at Mayo Rochester, so I'm about 10 months out in my recovery. My tumor was grade 1 but did have a mitosis rate. Post-surgery, I still have occasional facial neuralgia that seems to relate to headaches or fatigue and occasionally, a general feeling of swelling at the surgical site. Overall, I'm doing well and getting back to my exercise and activity levels before surgery. I initially had balance issues that required several months of vestibular therapy, and eye tracking/nystagmus issues that are finally resolving with eye therapy. I also have partial right side hearing loss and a new hearing aid that works really well. If anyone has any specific questions, I'm always happy to message. Best wishes.

@colleenyoung My neurosurgeons could only guess at my tumor's grade by its appearance and growth rate shown through repeated MRIs. It was graded after removal.

@jvo2020neb1

Nine years ago I had a stage 2 meningioma which bled, a stroke. Then emergency surgery which started at 3:30 am to remove the meningioma and stop the brain bleed. When I awoke in the neuro ICU, my 30-something son was at the foot of my bed and a tear rolled down his cheek. I thought, “why is he crying?” and passed out again. When I awoke again, a nurse was telling me where I was.

Honestly, from there, it was easy. No pain, but a general fuzziness which lasted off and on for a year. Some loss of function in my left hand which required PT, and I developed epilepsy which is now controlled, but these are probably due to the stroke. Overall a very easy recovery, more like my cataract surgery (without the drops) than my hip surgery.

Best wishes as you go forward.

@jnf
What kind of hearing aid? Thanks, Dolly