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My experience after craniotomy to remove a meningioma

Posted by lovestocook @lovestocook, Jul 11 8:53am

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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ladytri | @ladytri | 7 hours ago
In reply to @kdog1957 "@ladytri I had radiation six months after the craniotomy. I remember the neurosurgeon mentioning the possibility..." + (show)
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@ladytri
I had radiation six months after the craniotomy. I remember the neurosurgeon mentioning the possibility of radiation treatments pre surgery. Maybe they say that to everyone. Once the tumor is removed a sample will go to a pathology lab where it will be analyzed and given a WHO grade from 1 to 3. Grade 1 (most common) is considered benign and may or may not be recommended for radiation. Grade 2 (what I had) is benign but more aggressive than grade 1 and radiation is usually recommended. Grade 3 (very rare) is considered malignant and radiation is always recommended, and maybe chemotherapy is added. Periodic follow up MRIs may be needed to monitor the tumor. I get to have one once a year probably forever. Yay.

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@kdog1957. Thank you. I was given choice of surgery or radiation. I chose surgery so I could get a biopsy. It has triple in size over the past 2 years. (I am only phone and dont have the measurements with me. Thank you and all the best with your treatment

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methel | @methel | 1 hour ago
In reply to @kdog1957 "@ladytri I had radiation six months after the craniotomy. I remember the neurosurgeon mentioning the possibility..." + (show)
Profile picture for kdog1957 @kdog1957

@ladytri
I had radiation six months after the craniotomy. I remember the neurosurgeon mentioning the possibility of radiation treatments pre surgery. Maybe they say that to everyone. Once the tumor is removed a sample will go to a pathology lab where it will be analyzed and given a WHO grade from 1 to 3. Grade 1 (most common) is considered benign and may or may not be recommended for radiation. Grade 2 (what I had) is benign but more aggressive than grade 1 and radiation is usually recommended. Grade 3 (very rare) is considered malignant and radiation is always recommended, and maybe chemotherapy is added. Periodic follow up MRIs may be needed to monitor the tumor. I get to have one once a year probably forever. Yay.

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@kdog1957

I had the surgery and it was a WHO grade 2 meningioma. I was referred to radiation, but the radiation oncologist said, “I might do more harm than good” and no radiation. I was still befuddled enough from the surgery that I didn’t want to know why he thought that way. Did he flip a coin?! It’s been 8 years of good MRI’s. Praying he was right.

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