Whose handwriting is this?

[NeverTalksToStrangers]

What would you assume about the person who wrote this? Sex? Age? Just curious. I have a reason for asking.

Im no neurosurgeon either but I would have thought whatever compensatory effe t may have gone in in the non-cyst side of his brain will be fairly entrenched at 9/10? So would hang around after surgery? especially if he doesnt have it until 12/13. Don't they say most language ability is fixed by then?

Definitely the same person flumpy, lol. Possibly a sharper pencil. It was the 1st week back at school so just getting into his stride again.

calpop no idea. Unfortunately there's so much unknown about the brain and these cysts in particular. What scares me is that where his is, they are pretty rare (only 5% in frontal lobe) and left frontal lobe cysts are linked to depression. Nothing proven, but still, I'd rather it was gone asap. Alas, NHS waiting lists.

Not mine too tidy.

Is it an arachnoid cyst? Those are usually removed endoscopically, with a high success rate. Are you on a waiting list for treatment?

missconduct Yes. We are on nhs waiting list for appointment with paediatric neurology but we've already went private for that. He has another unrelated paed appointment in October and the neurologist told us to ask that consultant to refer us for MRI because she couldn't (as they don't like you moving from private to bid apparently). She said she would try to though as initial scan was nhs. I think MRI waiting list is about 6 months, which should line up ok with the neurology waiting list appointment (about a year). I know they can be removed endoscopically but it's a relatively new thing and I don't know if it's done in NI at all. Google says no. Most are left untreated though as they are deemed to be asymptomatic. He doesn't get headaches but imo he is affected in other ways, some, if I'm right about the handwriting, positive, others not so much.

Are YOU a neurosurgeon? My dream right now is to talk to one, lol.

*Bid = nhs

The left brain/right brain thing has some merit but only if the patient has had hemispheric lateralisation, usually as a last ditch attempt to manage severe epilepsy. Without the surgery there is a bundle of nerves that enable communication between the hemispheres so in reality both sides are responsible for both. There are different parts of the brain associated with artistic skills (e.g. occipital lobe controls visual processing) but they are split equally across both hemispheres.

bobbie I stand corrected then. So I can stop feeling guilty at the prospect of surgery making him less artistic? I can't believe that a huge cyst doesn't affect the part of the brain it's sitting on though. How can it not?

No, I am an RN in the US with some neurology experience. We've been treating them here endoscopically for ages. Asymptomatic pediatric cases are often treated with watchful waiting. Parents are much better judges of what's "normal" for their child than a doctor who only sees them occasionally, so if you see possible symptoms document them. Take notes, note dates, outward signs, behavioral changes, etc. The doc is going to need some specific indications in your son's chart to press for surgery.

It could be any age. Neat writing. So could be 8 could be 14

missconduct we discussed a lot of anomalies with the neurologist. She did seem quite concerned once she had examined him and seen the images, whereas she hadn't been that concerned at the start of the appointment. I think there are some neurosurgeons who would remove a cyst simply if it's large, but not all do. It's a weird feeling wanting your kid to have brain surgery, high success rates or not.

What started off as a light hearted thread has gotten very serious. Sorry folks.

A boy, age 9ish

There is no such thing as risk free surgery and the first principle is to do no harm. But if your son is symptomatic and the cyst is large I'd be inclined to treat it as well. Can you have the procedure done privately? I'm sorry, I'm mostly clueless about the relationship between private and NHS care and what restrictions there are. The cysts can recur, even years later, so you have to consider follow up care as well.

We may go privately, (we did intend on taking out insurance before the accident, but alas did not, I have cover through work). The MRIs alone would be the guts of £1000. Dread to think how much surgery would be. Waiting to see how the referral goes and how long the waiting lists are.

Boy 10 years +

Okay. This is about the limit of my knowledge on the topic but feel free to pm me if you think it would be helpful.

11 year old boy

Yes you can stop feeling guilty, partly because of the theory and also because you wouldn't put your boy through surgery unless it was necessary ao nothing to feel guilty about. The part of the brain it is sitting on may be affected but things like artistic ability and language are controlled by many areas. Also the brain can be taught to regain skills they have lost.