Watching a Meningioma Brain Tumor

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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

Hi, @kkenn, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

You may be interested in this Mayo Clinic information on meningioma: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/meningioma/symptoms-causes/syc-20355643.

You mentioned that after sending you for an MRI, the doctor you saw about newly acquired migraines did not think your migraines were caused by the meningioma in the falx and parasagittal regions with which you were recently diagnosed. Hoping that some of the other members in this discussion might have some thoughts about the migraines and also may have some insights for you as someone who is newly diagnosed with a meningioma. Please meet @robinem @cindyt63 @sandra511@wendyah @wkindel and others.

Did your doctor talk about what might be causing the migraines, @kkenn?

@robinem I was diagnosed early last September with a 2 cm meningioma on the front just left of center up against the big center vein (I can't remember the name of it). I am 63. My doctor said I could have it removed, but the risk of it being attached to that vein is pretty good and can complicate removal. I went for a second opinion to another neurosurgeon and a third opinion from a Neurologist that treats brain tumor patients and both of them agreed with the first doctor. I started with MRI's every 90 days and then every six months. The tumor has grown only 2mm, with room for error of 1mm. They are not concerned at this point. Friday I had my 4th MRI and will meet with my Dr. Thursday for results. Most of the time I just live like it isn't there. I too went in originally because of headaches, but turns out my headache in the middle of the night was caffeine withdrawal. (I quit Mt. Dew and the headaches quit). The only other symptom is I see auras. They last a few minutes when they come, which isn't often. So I guess I can live with it. I think my biggest concern is not knowing 100% if it is cancerous. The shape is like a grape with a tail, but no tendrils at this point so they are almost positive at this point it is not cancer. Having them go in through my skull scares me to death so I am ok with the watch and wait. I have read a lot on it and I guess it's a very common approach.

Hi I've been recently diagnosed with a 2cm meningioma in the Falx and parasagittal regions. Neurosurgeon wants to wait and watch. I was seeing a Dr for newly acquired migraines. This was a new Dr and decided an MRI but not expecting anything. Neurosurgeon says he doesn't think the meniginoma is causing my migraines. I'm just at a loss!

Thank you. My husband has the tumor, but I am the researcher!