On Tuesday, March 23, 2010 I was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma. Which is basically a benign tumor near my brain. A total shocker to me. I set up this site to have a central source for people to follow my journey, I say journey but make no mistake, this is no walk in the woods and really sucks. Here I will post any updates and a lot of my thoughts, so if you don't like what I wrote, then don't come back. With this tumor, I kind of earned the right to be pissed, so I am going to put down my thoughts here.
Symptoms:
The past couple of months I have had these extreme headaches. They were awful, at times I just wanted to pound my head into a wall, and I could feel tons of pressure building up in my head. I went to the ENT and begged him to do something, this just had to stop. He scanned my sinuses with an MRI-like machine and low and behold they were clear. He gave me some stuff to shoot up my nose and I was on my merry way.
Recently, I started having perception episodes, which when I saw a doctor, the first thing I said was "don't think I am crazy, but" at times it seems as though I am moving but I know physically I am not. A good example is, have you ever been in a car that is stopped but out of the corner of your eye, the car next to you is moving and you feel like you are moving. That is similar to what I feel.
Other symptoms are, dizziness and tingling in my hands.
Diagnosis:
I went to the doctor last week, explained my symptoms and my reason it brought me in (I will discuss in a later post) and he said I should go back to my ENT but just in case, we should do an MRI of my brain to rule that out and he was confident it would be normal.
Monday, March 22nd, I had an MRI done.
Tuesday, March 23rd, a STAT report was sent to my doctor notifying him of the tumor, then I received "THE CALL" Which is kind of odd I was notified by phone, but I am actually glad it happened that way. I immediately started crying and wondering, how could this happen to me? I called my mom, which I knew would be hard, but she is the only person I wanted to talk to, she obviously did not take it well. It is kind of tough news to take.... We talked for a bit, then I drove home and on my way I called Jeff. Since he was in Norfolk, I knew he would want to comfort me, so I put on best voice and called him. I didn't let him know of my concerns, just told him they found a tumor but I thought it was nothing and that I would be fine. I cried most of the ride home, pulled into Isabelle's daycare, powdered my face, then went inside. Isabelle won't understand what is going on so there was no reason for her to see me upset. My sister met me at home and hugged me, which is what I needed.
I am pretty exhausted now, I will update with more tomorrow.
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Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI want you to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you! I can honestly say that I know exactly what you are thinking and how you are feeling right about now. I too was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I got my call in May of 2006 and I just knew that nothing good was going to come out of my new news! My Jeff was out, underway, and I just did not know how I was going to tell him or my family. I broke down in tears thinking the most horrible thoughts about life without me. The next couple of conversations and months were very tough and then in Nov. 2006, I went for my six month MRI and don't you know, there was another brain tumor. I knew then that my life as I knew it would forever be changed. My nuero-surgeon and nuerologist did not know what to do with me because one was operable but the other was not. I was starting to lose my peripheral vision and my numbness and tingling was getting worse by the day. My specialists then at that time got together and made a packet of all of my MRI's, tests, blood work, and most recent medical reports as well as symptoms and sent it off to the University of Virginia for Dr. Edward Laws the world's top neuro-surgeon to review and make a decision of whether or not he could help me. We waited patiently for almost three months and then on Feb. 9, 2007 I got the call from UVA. They wanted to see me and they wanted to see me ASAP. My family packed up and we went there for a few days. I underwent several tests and then they made a plan for my treatment. With alot of prayers and with alot of doctors not giving up on me, I was sent home with some meds and a new hope on life. My six month MRI was better and my tumors were slowing in growth and one actually seemed to be getting smaller. I continued with my treatment and I can say that now I am tumor free! I got my clean bill of health in March 2009. I went back up to UVA and they completed the same tests as always and let me know that my brain was beautiful and that there were no more tumors. I want you to have hope and to know that all will be okay! You have ever right to be mad and scared but know that you have a great family who will be there when you need a shoulder to cry on and that you also have several great friends that are here to listen and to lean a shoulder to cry on as well. Hell, I will even cry with you girl even though I am here in Suffolk, VA. I am only a phone call away if you need anything! Please stay strong and keep your faith in God! I will keep you in my prayers!
Love: Melissa
I'm pissed too and ready to use my sweet kung fu moves to help you through this...
ReplyDeleteI knew there was a reason we crossed paths in the weirdest of places (really, is a strip club that weird? Anyways...) and somehow I can't imagine my days without you and your unending humor. I adore you and I'm here for anything at all that you need, or even want...except cleaning your house, cause I don't even do that to mine...all you have to do is call me.
I love ya, girl. xoxo
Amy