brain tumour

[Ballantyne56]

Hi,

I have a 9mm acoustic neuroma I had a CT scan done this April I was told in July that it has grown but in the last 8 weeks I have had headaches every day and night.

I eventually went / got to see my GP who says she is not sure my white cells are down she said she THINKS my CT scan would have shown if it was a brain tumour.

Any advice to what I should do.

Regards Margaret

[Busyrobyn]

I would think the only way of finding out if the AN has grown is by repeat MRI scan ,possibly with contrast medium.

[whitefishbay]

Sounds like you need another MRI.

[LikeBillyo]

Contact your consultant or support nurse again for a chat. Also, please don't underestimate how stressful this kind of diagnosis is. You might feel like you've got everything under control emotionally, but these things can creep up and hit you later.

They have with me, and I didnt realise it until i saw my GP for fatigue symptoms and he pointed out that stress has lots of ways of showing itself.

[Ballantyne56 in reply to LikeBillyo]

Thank you for your reply I am exhausted go to bed during the day I have my consultant’s secretaries number I will phone her and ask if she can ask if another kind of tumour would have been noticed while they were looking at the Neuroma.

[Brightness14]

What about a MRI with contrast this would show an acoustic neuroma.

[Kristyll]

I would want the GP to find out exactly what’s happening or ring the consultants sec for an appointment. If you get one write all your questions down and if poss have someone with you. Good luck

[Poppies4life]

I would agree with everyone, use the support network, I also have a 9mm AN following MRI in April and now waiting for a contrast dye to look for growth and changes. I think I have underestimated the emotional effect this has had on myself, trying to continue to work with hearing, tinnitus and balance issues. I need to be kinder to myself and have decide I need time away from working at the moment. I too have started waking up with a heavy muggy head each morning which is different and occasional tingling on left side so will be contacting my specialist nurse to discuss.

I hope you get some answers really soon, best of luck in the coming months as it is a worrying time when faced with a brain tumour.

[Ballantyne56 in reply to Poppies4life]

thank you

[flappers]

The first year or so is immensely stressful and awful, trying to understand what is happening and managing the symptoms, etc. I promise it really does get much easier as you adapt and work out how to live alongside our little squatters. Remembering they will NOT kill us, and being able to nurture ourselves and manage the stress they induce is key. Contact the fantastic Brainstrust charity, they have one to one support and groups for those with acoustic neuromas, offer hypnotherapy and also peer support so you can talk with someone in similar position to you who is further down the line. This bit is definitely the trickiest, breathe, finding brainstrust support and BANA ( British Acoustic Neuroma Association) was very helpful. You’ll be fine x Lin

[Ballantyne56]

thank you so much for taking the time so reply it’s very much appreciated.