Meningioma: Anyone else? I'm frightened

That’s a long time on w&w. I’ve been 7 years. May I ask your tumors location and did it grow every year? Was it calcified and causing you issues? I hope you have a great recovery.

i just had a Meningioma surgically removed after being on watch & wait for almost 8 years

You got this!!

I still haven’t had an appointment yet for a CT. It’s been 6 months.

Mary: I went to the ER 3 years ago b/c of tingling down my arm. My husband was worried about a stroke. (It was a nerve issue in my neck.) But, the MRI showed I had a meningioma. I informed my primary care doctor and he said not to worry b/c they found meningiomas all the time when screening for strokes and they usually were benign and didn't cause any real problems. Interestingly enough, I had seen this same doctor at least 4 times about these vague symptoms I had been having over the course of 3 or 4 years. Finally, I put 2 and 2 together and asked him for a referral to a neurologist. I told the neurologist I suspected that maybe these symptoms I had been complaining of were from the meningioma. ( Symptoms are correlated to where the meningioma is and what nerve or struture it is pressing on.) I asked the neurologist where the meningioma was. He actually had the report in hand from the prior MRI. He said, and this is a direct quote, "I don't know." He then excused himself from the room and said he was going to call the radiologist. I heard them talking for 5-10 minutes in the room next to me. The neurologist came back and told me, per the radiologist, that it was pressing on my trigeminal nerve and, yes, those symptoms I had been complaining of could definitely be associated. The neurologist referred me to a neurosurgeon. I will always respect the neurologist for being honest and not trying to b.s. his way through a question he did not know the answer to. I have since been told that a neurologist specializes in diseases of the brain. So, I tend to be long-winded, but you will get an answer to your question most definitively from a radiologist (but we, as patients, don't consult with them) or a neurosurgeon. You didn't mention in your post whether the doctor who is ordering the MRIs is a neurosurgeion but if he is not, I would definitely ask for a referral to one. Also, educate yourself as much as you can before any consultations. Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkin all have good websites discussing meningiomas. Then, I always write down questions I have which I take with me during the consult.

Thank you for sharing your experience. Sounds like something I could handle. I mean, to be realistic, I can't expect to breeze through it without any side effects at all.

Hello, when i had my gamma knife procedure (mar 22) recovery was difficult for a few days and some headaches for a couple of wks and tiredness but afterwards I was ok. Mind you im 52 and still experiencing brain fog and some memory issues but not sure if it's due to my 2 meningiomas or menopause or Hashimotos.

@dbicher, sounds like your story might be a good one for this discussion:
- What Pets Can Do: Health and Healing https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-pets-can-do-health-and-healing/

What helps you with the balance issues?

Hopefully you’ll get one soon.

Yes most if not all are benign. Stay connected with your neurosurgeon and your M.D