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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

Scared I might have a brain tumour

33 replies

shocked2 · 13/09/2011 04:02

Hi
I have posted about my recent numbness down the left side of my body (as if I had had an injection at the dentist and it had only half worn off) and the fact that I have been smelling a weird smell that is not there for about three months (I only realised it was me and not my house about two weeks ago when we went away).
I am waiting for a CT scan which I need more information about which hopefully my GP will provide.
I am really scared I might have a brain tumour as both the above symtoms come up in the list of relevant ones.
Has anybody had these symptoms and found them to be nothing serious?
Thank you. I was shaking like a leaf when I came across the brain tumour website that listed both the numbness and the phantosmia (smelling smells that are noth there) as possibly symptoms amongst others.

OP posts:

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littlebabynothing · 13/09/2011 04:28

I know it's scary and our natural tendency is to think the worst but these symptoms could be caused by many many things. My immediate thoughts are: have you had any dental work lately? Are you prone to migraines? Both of these could explain this. Good luck

Aftereightsaremine · 13/09/2011 06:38

Sorry no symptoms like yours but I know how worrying it us having a brain scan. I had an MRI recently because of facial pain & various other issues & i think the waiting was so worrying.

When is your scan?

On the numbness issue I pulled a muscle in my back & couldn't move or feel my left side for about 2 weeks.

Best if luck

Aftereightsaremine · 13/09/2011 06:38

Sorry should be best OF luck

Elibean · 13/09/2011 10:23

From what I've read/heard, those are possible symptoms of a brain tumour but not, by far, the most common ones. I agree with the others, far far more likely to be something else

shocked2 · 13/09/2011 10:49

Thank you. I don't have a scan date yet but have dropped a note to my GP to tell her about the recent numbness and see if that speeds things up.
Thanks for your messages. I have become unbelievably self-obsessed over this but suppose I can only live in the present. The smell is annoying though and a constant reminder that something may be / is wrong.

OP posts:

slowcooker · 13/09/2011 13:25

I wish you luck, too. It must be tough going waiting for some answers. Don't know what else to say just take care and stay positive as much as you can.

PositiveAttitude · 20/09/2011 19:00

Shocked2 How are things now? have you a date for the scan yet?

Hope no news on this thread means things are settling for you.

shocked2 · 20/09/2011 23:31

Hi positiveattitude thank you for asking. My scan is on the 27th - next Tuesday. I must admit that I am quite anxious and also started another thread specifically about the strange smell that I smell. On the plus side, there are so many things that could be causing my symptoms - the big tests are there to rule out the really horrible ones as well as to help with diagnosis - somehow I don't want to tempt fate by being too flippant about things and not acknowledging the really horrible things that can cause a change in sense of smell as well as tingling down one side of your body that I had for 12 hours about a week ago. As I sit here typing there is a massive knot of anxiety in my stomach.

OP posts:

42day · 20/09/2011 23:38

a friend had similar basic symptoms and ti turned out to be not a tumour and something treatable. there are all sorts of things less frightening and I wish you all the best I know you must be frightened but hope it is all going to be treatable.

PositiveAttitude · 21/09/2011 06:38

Thanks for updating. I will be thinking of you next Tuesday, then I suppose you will have a wait for the results.
Hope it all goes well for you.

shocked2 · 21/09/2011 09:34

Thank you very much

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BurningBridges · 21/09/2011 10:39

Hi Shocked - I have had those symptoms earlier in the year coupled with headaches and dizziness, I got a referral to a neurologist who said there didn't seem to be anything wrong, but he has referred me for an MRI which is due next week. Since then I've also developed a stomach problem and that might be connected, but I felt the same as you, sat there for a month thinking that's it I might die of a brain tumour (and very scared of scans I hate them) - then the symptoms stopped all of a sudden.

I'm still going to have the scan just in case, and am now under a different consultant for the stomach problems, but I look back and think how awful I felt, I was terrified, so I understand exactly. I am sure it will be fine - I've been using a site called No More Panic - someone on here referred me to it - for people with health anxiety, and it did help - //www.nomorepanic.co.uk

Good luck, let us know.

PositiveAttitude · 28/09/2011 07:08

How did it go Shocked. How are you feeling now? Do you have long to wait for your results?

Grockle · 28/09/2011 07:14

How did it go? I am waiting for my MRI results to rule out a brain tumour. Bit scary, isn't it?

PositiveAttitude · 28/09/2011 07:25

When do you get your results Grockle? I know what you mean. I was in your position a year ago, and had surgery for a tumour to be removed from my neck. All went well and I now feel better than I had felt for a year beforehand.

By the way, are you really a grockle?

Grockle · 28/09/2011 07:31

I don't know - the consultant said at least 10 days til he got the results and it's been 2 weeks. Am going with the 'no news is good news' thing. It might actually be better if it were a tumour as that can be removed. If it's not the likely diagnosis means having my symptoms for years with permanent hearing loss. I just want to feel well. And nit anxious!

Grockle · 28/09/2011 07:32

I'm so glad you feel better as a result of surgery. That's very good news indeed.

And yes, I am a grockle!

BurningBridges · 28/09/2011 11:03

Any news on anyone's scans? Mine is on Friday 30th, trying to be calm! The OP said theirs was yesterday. Suppose we will all be waiting and seeing.

Grockle · 28/09/2011 12:44

Hope it goes well tomorrow, burning bridges.

Grockle · 28/09/2011 12:47

There's a thread running for people who have vertigo & dizziness, if anyone wants to join us

m.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1223940-hi-does-anyone-get-vertigo

BurningBridges · 28/09/2011 12:58

I think I was on that at some point but then when I got my stomach symptoms I thought I was on the wrong track - but see a thread here today from KuckingFunt who is also suffering from stomach problems and dizziness. All very odd. Anyway, musn't hi jack this thread, this is about Shocked2's problems.

shocked2 · 29/09/2011 10:41

Hi positiveattitude and grockle - thanks for remembering and asking - the scan was over very quickly and nurse said results would be available either the next day or the day after that. It is now the "day after that" and don't know if I am supposed to call my surgery or if they will call me? I'm glad you are feeling so much better now positiveattitude - it must have been very frightening. Good luck with your results Grockle.
Thanks also burningbridges for your kind posts and telling me about "nomorepanic" which was very helpful. Good luck with your scan on Friday.

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Grockle · 01/10/2011 07:14

Hope the scan went ok burningbridges.I'm still waiting for my results and it's been 3 weeks now. Have you heard anything, shocked? Please keep us posted.

PositiveAttitude · 01/10/2011 07:28

I know how you feel about the waiting, BUT, i have to say that when things are bad news the hospital is onto it and you would get a call back within days and would not be left hanging, IME. I know its frustrating and you may not relax totally until you are told there is nothing to worry about.

BurningBridges · 01/10/2011 10:08

I had my scan yesterday, am due to see consultant again in February as we both felt it was unlikely anything would show up, so I am thinking no news will definitely be good news. Apparently the MRI suite staff can see what's what and if anything comes up they flag them up to the consultant immediately. If you want to check I'd ring consultant's secretary (if you are under consultant) or GP's surgery and ask if they can find out for you. Just be firm but polite. If I thought my problems were definitely all brain related (whereas now I think its all coming from my stomach problems) then I'd be all over them to get the results.

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